CN111356205A - Method and device for processing configuration information of public land mobile network - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a method and a device for processing configuration information of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), which are used for interacting the configuration information of the PLMN between network equipment and network equipment. The method in the embodiment of the application comprises the following steps: a first network device receives a first message sent by a second network device, wherein the first message comprises configuration information of a first PLMN, the first PLMN is a PLMN corresponding to a first cell, and the first cell is a cell covered by the second network device; the first network device sends a second message to the second network device, where the second message includes configuration information of a second PLMN, the second PLMN is a PLMN of a second cell, and the second cell is a cell covered by the first network device. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first network device and the second network device may exchange the configuration information of the PLMN of the cell covered by each other through the information, so as to improve the accuracy of the configuration information of the PLMN acquired by the network device.

Description

Method and device for processing configuration information of public land mobile network

Technical Field

The embodiment of the present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for processing configuration information of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN).

Background

In a communication system, a PLMN is an operator approved by a government or government to establish and operate a network for the purpose of providing users with land mobile communication services. The network is typically interconnected with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to form a regional or national scale communications network.

In the prior art, configuration information of PLMNs corresponding to cells of the same access network device may be shared on the access network device side, and configuration information of PLMNs corresponding to cells of different access network devices may not be shared on the access network device side.

However, in the prior art, the configuration information of the PLMN of the cell of the neighboring access network device may be manually configured in the access network device, for example, the configuration information of the PLMN of the cell of the first access network device may be manually configured in the second access network device, but the configuration information of the PLMN of the cell of the neighboring access network device may be manually configured in the access network device, which may complicate the operation and easily cause an error in the configuration information of the PLMN of the cell of the neighboring access network device configured in the access network device.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a method and a device for processing PLMN configuration information, which are used for interacting the PLMN configuration information between network equipment and network equipment, and improving the accuracy of the network equipment in acquiring the PLMN configuration information.

A first aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a method for processing configuration information of a PLMN, including:

a first network device receives a first message sent by a second network device, wherein the first message comprises configuration information of a first PLMN, the first PLMN is a PLMN corresponding to a first cell, and the first cell is a cell covered by the second network device; the first network device sends a second message to the second network device, where the second message includes configuration information of a second PLMN, the second PLMN is a PLMN of a second cell, and the second cell is a cell covered by the first network device. As can be seen from the first aspect, in the embodiment of the present application, the first network device and the second network device may interact configuration information of a PLMN of a cell covered by each other by sending information, so that accuracy of acquiring, by the first network device, the configuration information of the PLMN of the cell of the second network device is improved.

Based on the first aspect of the present application, in a first implementation manner of the first aspect of the present application, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes at least one of reservation (reserved) indication information of the first cell and a core network type supported by the first PLMN.

Based on the first aspect of the present embodiment and the first implementation manner of the first aspect of the present embodiment, in a second implementation manner of the first aspect of the present embodiment, the configuration information of the second PLMN includes at least one of reservation (reserved) indication information of the second cell and a core network type supported by the second PLMN.

Based on the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application and the first implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application to the second implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, in a third implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the first message is an X2 establishment request message, the second message is an X2 establishment request response message, and the X2 is a connection interface between enbs.

Based on the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application and the first implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application to the third implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, in a fourth implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the first information is an XN establishment request message, the second information is an XN establishment request response message, and XN is a connection interface between 5G access network devices in a fifth generation mobile communication technology.

Based on the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application and the first implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application to the fourth implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, in a fifth implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the first information is an EN-DC X2 establishment request message, the second information is an EN-DC X2 establishment request response message, and the EN-DC X2 is a dual connection between an eNB and a 5G access network device.

Based on the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application and the first implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application to the fifth implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, in a sixth implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the first message is a first configuration update message of the second network device.

Based on the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application and the first implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application to the sixth implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, in a seventh implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the second message is a second configuration update message of the first network device.

Based on the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application and the first implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application through the seventh implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, in an eighth implementation manner of the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the first network device determines, based on the configuration information of the first PLMN, whether the second network device allows the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell, where the first terminal device is in the second cell; if the first network device determines that the second network device allows the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell, the first network device initiates a switching preparation request to the second network device, and the switching preparation request indicates that the first terminal device is switched to the first cell.

A second aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a first network device, where the first network device includes: a memory having instructions stored therein, a transceiver, and at least one processor; the memory, the transceiver, and the at least one processor are connected by wires; the at least one processor invokes the instruction to perform the message processing or control operation performed on the first network device side in the first aspect and any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

A third aspect of embodiments of the present application provides a computer program product including instructions, which when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

A fourth aspect of embodiments of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is characterized by instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect.

According to the technical scheme, the embodiment of the application has the following advantages:

in this embodiment, the second network device carries the configuration information of the first PLMN in the first message, so that the first network device may determine the configuration information of the first PLMN of the second network device from the first message, and the first network device carries the configuration information of the second PLMN in the second message, so that the second network device may determine the configuration information of the second PLMN of the first network device from the second message.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an application scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing configuration information of a PLMN according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart of another PLMN configuration information processing method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing configuration information of a PLMN according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a first network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic hardware structure diagram of a first network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it is to be understood that the described embodiments are merely illustrative of some, but not all, embodiments of the present application. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, with the advent of new technologies, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like in the description and in the claims of the embodiments of the application and in the drawings described above, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the data so used is interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the application described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to those steps or elements expressly listed, but may include other steps or elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

The embodiment of the application provides a method and a device for processing PLMN configuration information, which are used for interacting the PLMN configuration information between network equipment and network equipment, and improving the accuracy of the network equipment in acquiring the PLMN configuration information.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic view of an application scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 1, the schematic view of the application scenario includes a first terminal device 101, a first network device 102, and a second network device 103. The first network device 102 is connected to the second network device 103, the terminal device communicates with the first network device 102 in the second cell, and the first terminal device 101 may send a measurement report to the first network device to trigger the first network device 102 to initiate a handover preparation request to the second network device, where the first network device is requested to be handed over to the first cell, where the first cell is a cell covered by the second network device.

The first terminal device 101 provided in this embodiment may refer to a User Equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user equipment. The terminal device may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal in a future 5G network or a terminal in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and the like, which is not limited in this embodiment.

The first network device 102 provided in this embodiment may be a device for communicating with the first terminal device 101, where the first network device 102 may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (GSM) system or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a base station (nodeB, NB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, an evolved node b (eNB, or eNodeB) in an LTE system, a base station (gdnodeb, or gNB) in a fifth Generation mobile communication technology (5th-Generation, 5G) network, a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, network n), or a vehicle-mounted radio access point (cra, relay station, wearable, and transceiver device, TRP) or network equipment in a future evolved PLMN network, etc.

The second network device 103 provided in the embodiment of the present application may be a device for communicating with the first terminal device 101, where the second network device 103 is similar to the first network device 102, and is not described herein again.

The embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: a global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, a LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, a LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), a universal mobile telecommunications system (universal mobile telecommunications system, UMTS), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, a fifth generation (5G) system, or a New Radio (NR), etc.

The application scenario provided in the embodiment of the present application is described above, and a method for processing PLMN configuration information provided in the embodiment of the present application is described below.

Referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing PLMN configuration information according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 2, the schematic flowchart may include the following steps:

201. the second network device sends a first message to the first network device.

The second network device sends a first message to the first network device, wherein the first message includes configuration information of a first PLMN, the first PLMN is a PLMN of a first cell, and the first cell is a cell covered by the second network device. In this embodiment, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes at least one of reserved indication information of the first cell and a core network type supported by the first PLMN.

The following describes the configuration information of the first PLMN including reserved indication information of the first cell and the core network type supported by the first PLMN respectively:

201-1, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes reserved indication information of the first cell.

Specifically, the reserved indication information of the first cell indicates the operator reserved by the first cell. For example, when the first operator is reserved by the first cell, the reserved indication information of the first cell indicates that the first operator is reserved in the first cell, that is, the second network device informs the first network device of the configuration information of the first PLMN sent to the first network device, where the first operator is reserved in the first cell. It can be understood that when the first operator is reserved in the first cell, the terminal device of the first operator cannot be handed over into the first cell. For example, when the first operator is china mobile and china mobile is reserved by the first cell, the second network device does not allow the terminal device of china mobile to access the first cell.

201-2, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes core network types supported by the first PLMN.

Specifically, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes core network types supported by the first PLMN. For example, when the first cell includes multiple PLMNs, that is, the first PLMN includes multiple PLMNs, where each PLMN in the multiple PLMNs supports only 4G core networks (EPCs), the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first cell supports the EPC, that is, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the second network device allows the terminal device supporting 4G to handover to the first cell. It can be understood that, when the second network device allows the terminal device supporting 4G to be replaced to the first cell, the second network device may also support the terminal device supporting 5G to be replaced to the first cell.

When each PLMN of the multiple PLMNs included in the first PLMN only supports the 5G core network, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first cell only supports the 5G core network, that is, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the second network device only allows the terminal device supporting 5G to handover to the first cell. It should be noted that, when the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the second network device only allows the terminal device supporting 5G to be replaced to the first cell, the second network device does not allow the terminal device not supporting 5G to be switched to the first cell, for example, does not allow the terminal device supporting only 4G to be replaced to the first cell.

When at least one PLMN of a plurality of PLMNs included in the first PLMN supports a 5G core network and at least one PLMN supports an EPC, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first cell supports a 5G core network and an EPC. That is, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the second network device allows the 5G capable terminal device and the 4G capable mobile terminal to handover to the first cell.

It can be understood that the terminal device supporting 5G may refer to that a core network supported by the terminal device is a 5G core network, and the terminal device supporting 4G may refer to that a core network supported by the terminal device is an EPC.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the first message may be a request message for establishing a connection interface between the first network device and the second network device. Specifically, when the first network device is an evolved node b (eNB) and the second network device is also an eNB, the first message is an X2 interface setup request message, where an X2 interface is an interconnection interface between the eNB and the eNB. When the first network device is an eNB and the second network device is a 5G access network device (gbnodeb, or gNB), the first message is an EN-DC X2 interface establishment request message, where an EN-DC X2 interface is a dual connection interface between the eNB and the gNB. When the first network device is a gNB and the first network device is also a gNB, the first message is an XN interface establishment request message, wherein the XN interface is an interconnection interface between the gNB and the gNB.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the first message may also be another message, for example, the first message may also be a private message between the first network device and the second network device, which is not limited herein.

202. The first network device sends a second message to the second network device.

The first network equipment receives a first message sent by the second network equipment, and determines the configuration information of the first PLMN from the first message. The first network device sends a second message to the second network device. The second message includes configuration information of a second PLMN, where the second PLMN is a PLMN of a second cell, and the second cell is a cell covered by the first network device. The configuration information of the second PLMN includes reserved indication information of the second cell and/or a core network type supported by the second PLMN.

The following describes the configuration information of the second PLMN including reserved indication information of the second cell and the core network type supported by the second PLMN respectively:

202-1, the configuration information of the second PLMN includes reserved indication information of the second cell.

Specifically, the reserved indication information of the second cell indicates an operator reserved by the second cell. For example, when the second operator is reserved by the second cell, the reserved indication information of the second cell indicates that the second operator is reserved in the second cell, that is, the first network device informs the second network device of the configuration information of the second PLMN, which is sent to the second network device, that the second operator is reserved in the second cell. It can be understood that when the second operator is reserved in the second cell, the terminal device of the second operator cannot be handed over into the second cell. For example, when the second operator is china unicom and china unicom is reserved by the second cell, the first network device does not allow the terminal device of china unicom to access the second cell.

202-2, the configuration information of the second PLMN includes core network types supported by the second PLMN.

Specifically, the configuration information of the second PLMN includes core network types supported by the second PLMN. For example, when the second cell includes multiple PLMNs, that is, the second PLMN includes multiple PLMNs, where each PLMN in the multiple PLMNs supports only the EPC, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the second cell supports the EPC, that is, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the first network device allows the terminal device supporting 4G to be handed over to the second cell. It is understood that, when the first network device allows the terminal device supporting 4G to be replaced to the second cell, the first network device may also allow the terminal device supporting 5G to be replaced to the second cell.

When each PLMN of the multiple PLMNs included in the second PLMN only supports the 5G core network, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the second cell only supports the 5G core network, that is, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the first network device only allows the terminal device supporting 5G to be handed over to the second cell. It should be noted that, when the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the first network device only allows the terminal device supporting 5G to be replaced to the second cell, the first network device does not allow the terminal device not supporting 5G to be switched to the second cell, for example, does not allow the terminal device supporting only 4G to be replaced to the second cell.

When at least one PLMN of the PLMNs included in the second PLMN supports the 5G core network and at least one PLMN supports the EPC, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the second cell supports the 5G core network and the EPC. That is, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the first network device allows the 5G capable terminal device and the 4G capable mobile terminal to handover to the second cell.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the second message may be a response message of the first message, for example, when the first message is a request message for establishing a connection interface between the first network device and the second network device, the second message is a request message for establishing a connection interface between the first network device and the second network device. Specifically, when the first message X2 interface setup request message, the second message is an X2 interface setup request response message. When the first message is an EN-DC X2 interface establishment request message, the second message is an EN-DC X2 interface establishment request response message. And when the first message is an XN interface establishment request message, the second message is an XN interface establishment request response message.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the second message may also be another message, for example, the second message may also be a private message between the first network device and the second network device, which is not limited herein.

In this embodiment, the second network device carries the configuration information of the first PLMN in the first message, so that the first network device may determine the configuration information of the first PLMN of the second network device from the first message, and the first network device carries the configuration information of the second PLMN in the second message, so that the second network device may determine the configuration information of the second PLMN of the first network device from the second message.

The above describes a method for processing PLMN configuration information provided in this embodiment of the present application, and the following describes another method for processing PLMN configuration information provided in this embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 3, fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart of another method for processing PLMN configuration information according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 3, the schematic flowchart may include the following steps:

301. the second network device sends a first message to the first network device.

302. The first network device sends a second message to the second network device.

In this embodiment, steps 301 to 302 are similar to steps 201 to 202 of the embodiment corresponding to fig. 2, and are not repeated here.

303. The first terminal device sends a measurement report to the first network device.

The first terminal device sends a measurement report to the first network device. The measurement report indicates a first cell of the second network device, the first terminal device is in the second cell, and the second cell is a cell covered by the first network device.

304. The first network device determines whether the second network device allows the first terminal device to switch to the first cell, if yes, step 305 is executed, and if no, step 306 is executed.

The first network equipment receives the measurement report sent by the first terminal equipment, and determines a first cell of the second network equipment to which the first terminal equipment requests to switch from the measurement report. When the first network device determines that the first terminal device requests to switch to a first cell of the second network device, the first network device determines whether the second network device allows the first terminal device to switch to the first cell according to the configuration information of the first PLMN. It should be noted that the configuration information of the first PLMN may only include reserved indication information of the first cell; the configuration information of the first PLMN may also only include core network types supported by the first PLMN; the configuration information of the first PLMN may further include reserved indication information of the first cell and core network types supported by the first PLMN.

The following describes in detail that the first network device determines whether the second network device allows the first terminal device to switch to the first cell according to the configuration information of the first PLMN:

304-1, the configuration information of the first PLMN only includes reserved indication information of the first cell.

When the configuration information of the first PLMN only includes reserved indication information of the first cell, the first network device determines the reserved indication information of the first cell from the configuration information of the first PLMN, and determines an operator corresponding to the first terminal device according to the device information of the first terminal device, and then determines whether the second network device allows the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell according to the reserved indication information of the first cell and the operator corresponding to the first terminal device.

For example, when the reserved indication information of the first cell indicates that the operator of the reserved in the first cell is china mobile and the operator corresponding to the first mobile terminal is china unicom, the first network device determines that the second network device allows the first terminal device to be switched from the current cell to the first cell. When the reserved indication information of the first cell indicates that the operator of the reserved of the first cell is China Mobile and the operator corresponding to the first mobile terminal is China Mobile, the first network device determines that the second network device does not allow the first terminal device to be switched from the current cell to the first cell.

It can be understood that, when the reserved indication information of the first cell indicates that the first cell does not reserve any operator, the first network device may determine, according to the reserved indication information of the first cell, that the second network device allows the first terminal device to switch from the current cell to the first cell.

304-2, the configuration information of the first PLMN only includes core network types supported by the first PLMN.

When the configuration information of the first PLMN only includes the core network type supported by the first PLMN, the first network device determines the core network supported by the first cell from the configuration information of the first PLMN, and determines the core network supported by the first terminal device according to the device information of the first terminal device, and then determines whether the second network device allows the first terminal device to switch to the first cell according to the core network type supported by the first cell and the core network supported by the first terminal device.

Specifically, when the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the core networks supported by the first PLMN include a 5G core network and an EPC, and the core network supported by the first mobile terminal is the EPC, the first network device determines that the second network device allows the first terminal device to be handed over from the current cell to the first cell. It can be understood that, when the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the core networks supported by the first PLMN include a 5G core network and an EPC, and the core network supported by the first mobile terminal is a 5G core network, the first network device may also determine that the second network device allows the first terminal device to be handed over from the current cell to the first cell.

For another example, when the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first PLMN only supports a 5G core network, and the core network supported by the first mobile terminal is EPC, the first network device determines that the second network device does not allow the first terminal device to handover from the current cell to the first cell. It can be understood that, when the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first PLMN only supports a 5G core network and the core network supported by the first mobile terminal is a 5G core network, the first network device determines that the second network device allows the first terminal device to handover from the current cell to the first cell.

For another example, when the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates an EPC supported by the first PLMN, the first network device may also determine that the second network device allows the first terminal device to handover from the current cell to the first cell, regardless of whether the core network supported by the first mobile terminal is the EPC or the 5G core network.

304-3, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes reserved indication information of the first cell and core network types supported by the first PLMN.

In this embodiment, the first network device determines reserved indication information of the first cell and a core network type supported by the first cell from configuration information of the first PLMN, determines an operator corresponding to the first terminal device and a core network supported by the first terminal device from device information of the first terminal device, and then determines whether the second network device allows the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell according to the reserved indication information of the first cell, the operator corresponding to the first terminal device, the core network type supported by the first cell, and the core network supported by the terminal device.

Specifically, the first network device determines whether an operator of the first cell reserved is the same as an operator corresponding to the first mobile terminal, and when the operator of the first cell reserved is different from the operator corresponding to the first mobile terminal, the first network device further determines whether a core network type supported by the first PLMN is matched with a core network type supported by the terminal device, and when the core network type supported by the first PLMN is matched with the core network type supported by the terminal device, the first network device determines that the second network device allows the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell. That is to say, when the operator of the first cell reserved is different from the operator corresponding to the first mobile terminal, and the core network type supported by the first PLMN is matched with the core network type supported by the first terminal device, the first network device determines that the second network device allows the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell. It can be understood that, when the operator of the first cell reserved is the same as the operator corresponding to the first mobile terminal, the first network device directly determines that the second network device does not allow the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell, and does not need to determine whether the core network type supported by the first PLMN and the core network type supported by the terminal device are matched.

In this embodiment, matching the core network type supported by the first PLMN and the core network type supported by the first terminal device may include the following cases:

for example, when the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the core networks supported by the first PLMN include a 5G core network and an EPC, and the core network supported by the first mobile terminal is the EPC, the core network type supported by the first PLMN is matched with the core network type supported by the terminal device. It can be understood that, when the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the core networks supported by the first PLMN include a 5G core network and an EPC, the core network supported by the first mobile terminal is the 5G core network, and the core network type supported by the first cell is also matched with the core network type supported by the terminal device.

When the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first PLMN only supports the 5G core network, and the core network supported by the first mobile terminal is EPC, the type of the core network supported by the first cell is not matched with the type of the core network supported by the terminal device.

When the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first PLMN only supports the EPC, the core network type supported by the first cell matches the core network type supported by the terminal device, regardless of whether the core network supported by the first mobile terminal is the EPC or the 5G core network.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, as long as there is one item that an operator of the first cell reserved is the same as an operator corresponding to the first mobile terminal and a core network type supported by the first cell and a core network type supported by the terminal device are not matched, the first network device may determine that the second network device does not allow the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell.

305. The first network device sends a handover preparation request to the second network device.

When the first network device determines that the second network device allows the first terminal device to switch to the first cell, the first network device sends a switching preparation request to the second network device, wherein the switching preparation request indicates that the first terminal device switches to the first cell.

306. The first network device does not send a handover preparation request to the second network device.

When the first network device determines that the second network device does not allow the first terminal device to handover to the first cell, the first network device does not initiate a handover preparation request to the second network device.

In this embodiment, the second network device carries the configuration information of the first PLMN in the first message, so that the first network device may determine whether the first terminal device may be handed over to the cell of the second network device from the reserved indication information of the first cell and/or the core network type supported by the first PLMN, which are carried in the first message. Therefore, in this embodiment, before the first network device initiates a handover preparation request to the second network device, the first network device may determine, from the configuration information of the first PLMN, whether the second network device allows the terminal device to handover to a cell of the second network device, thereby avoiding blind handover initiated from the first network device to the second network device, and improving a success rate of inter-station cell handover.

The above describes a method for processing PLMN configuration information provided in this embodiment of the present application, and the following describes another method for processing PLMN configuration information provided in this embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart of another method for processing PLMN configuration information according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 4, the schematic flowchart may include the following steps:

401. the second network device changes the configuration information.

The second network device may change its configuration information in this embodiment. The change of the configuration information may refer to a change of frequency point information, a change of cell information, and/or a change of PLMN information. For example, the change of the frequency point information may be to change the frequency point of the cell, the change of the cell information may be to add a cell or delete a cell, and the change of the PLMN information may be to add a PLMN or delete a PLMN.

It should be noted that, the change of the configuration information of the second network device provided in this embodiment may be a change of frequency point information, a change of cell information, and/or a change of PLMN information, and may also be a change of other configurations, which is not limited herein.

402. The second network device sends a first configuration update message to the first network device.

After the second network device changes the configuration information, the second network device sends a first configuration update message to the first network device, where the first configuration update message includes configuration information of a first PLMN, the first PLMN is a PLMN of a first cell, and the first cell is a cell covered by the second network device.

Specifically, the configuration information of the first PLMN may include reserved indication information of the first cell and/or core network types supported by the first PLMN. The following describes the configuration information of the first PLMN including reserved indication information of the first cell and the core network type supported by the first PLMN respectively:

402-1, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes reserved indication information of the first cell.

Specifically, the reserved indication information of the first cell indicates the operator reserved by the first cell. For example, when the first operator is reserved by the first cell, the reserved indication information of the first cell indicates that the first operator is reserved in the first cell, that is, the second network device informs the first network device of the first configuration update message sent to the first network device, that the first operator is reserved in the first cell. It can be understood that when the first operator is reserved in the first cell, the terminal device of the first operator cannot be handed over into the first cell. For example, when the first operator is china mobile and china mobile is reserved by the first cell, the second network device does not allow the terminal device of china mobile to access the first cell.

402-2, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes core network types supported by the first PLMN.

Specifically, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes core network types supported by the first PLMN. For example, when the first cell includes multiple PLMNs, that is, the first PLMN includes multiple PLMNs, where each PLMN in the multiple PLMNs supports only 4G core networks (EPCs), the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first cell supports the EPC, that is, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the second network device allows the terminal device supporting 4G to handover to the first cell. It can be understood that, when the second network device allows the terminal device supporting 4G to be replaced to the first cell, the second network device may also support the terminal device supporting 5G to be replaced to the first cell.

When each PLMN of the multiple PLMNs included in the first PLMN only supports the 5G core network, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first cell only supports the 5G core network, that is, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the second network device only allows the terminal device supporting 5G to handover to the first cell. It should be noted that, when the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the second network device only allows the terminal device supporting 5G to be replaced to the first cell, the second network device does not allow the terminal device not supporting 5G to be switched to the first cell, for example, does not allow the terminal device supporting only 4G to be replaced to the first cell.

When at least one PLMN of a plurality of PLMNs included in the first PLMN supports a 5G core network and at least one PLMN supports an EPC, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the first cell supports a 5G core network and an EPC. That is, the configuration information of the first PLMN indicates that the second network device allows the 5G capable terminal device and the 4G capable mobile terminal to handover to the first cell.

It can be understood that the terminal device supporting 5G may refer to that a core network supported by the terminal device is a 5G core network, and the terminal device supporting 4G may refer to that a core network supported by the terminal device is an EPC.

403. The first network device changes the configuration information.

The first network device may alter its configuration information. The change of the configuration information may refer to a change of frequency point information, a change of cell information, and/or a change of PLMN information. For example, the change of the frequency point information may be to change the frequency point of the cell, the change of the cell information may be to add a cell or delete a cell, and the change of the PLMN information may be to add a PLMN or delete a PLMN.

It should be noted that, the change of the configuration information of the first network device provided in this embodiment may be a change of frequency point information, a change of cell information, and/or a change of PLMN information, and may also be a change of other configurations, which is not limited herein.

404. The first network device sends a second configuration update message to the second network device.

After the first network device changes the configuration information, the first network device sends a second configuration update message to the second network device, where the second configuration update message includes configuration information of a second PLMN, the second PLMN is a PLMN of a second cell, and the second cell is a cell covered by the first network device.

Specifically, the configuration information of the second PLMN may include reserved indication information of the second cell and/or core network types supported by the second PLMN. The following describes the configuration information of the second PLMN including reserved indication information of the second cell and the core network type supported by the second PLMN respectively:

404-1, the configuration information of the second PLMN includes reserved indication information of the second cell.

Specifically, the reserved indication information of the second cell indicates an operator reserved by the second cell. For example, when the second operator is reserved by the second cell, the reserved indication information of the second cell indicates that the second operator is reserved in the second cell, that is, the first network device informs the second network device of the configuration information of the second PLMN, which is sent to the second network device, that the second operator is reserved in the second cell. It can be understood that when the second operator is reserved in the second cell, the terminal device of the second operator cannot be handed over into the second cell. For example, when the second operator is china unicom and china unicom is reserved by the second cell, the first network device does not allow the terminal device of china unicom to access the second cell.

404-2, the configuration information of the second PLMN includes core network types supported by the second PLMN.

Specifically, the configuration information of the second PLMN includes core network types supported by the second PLMN. For example, when the second cell includes multiple PLMNs, that is, the second PLMN includes multiple PLMNs, where each PLMN in the multiple PLMNs supports only the EPC, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the second cell supports the EPC, that is, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the first network device allows the terminal device supporting 4G to be handed over to the second cell. It is understood that, when the first network device allows the terminal device supporting 4G to be replaced to the second cell, the first network device may also allow the terminal device supporting 5G to be replaced to the second cell.

When each PLMN of the multiple PLMNs included in the second PLMN only supports the 5G core network, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the second cell only supports the 5G core network, that is, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the first network device only allows the terminal device supporting 5G to be handed over to the second cell. It should be noted that, when the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the first network device only allows the terminal device supporting 5G to be replaced to the second cell, the first network device does not allow the terminal device not supporting 5G to be switched to the second cell, for example, does not allow the terminal device supporting only 4G to be replaced to the second cell.

When at least one PLMN of the PLMNs included in the second PLMN supports the 5G core network and at least one PLMN supports the EPC, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the second cell supports the 5G core network and the EPC. That is, the configuration information of the second PLMN indicates that the second network device allows the 5G capable terminal device and the 4G capable mobile terminal to handover to the second cell.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, steps 403 to 404 are optional steps, and may or may not be executed in practical applications.

405. The first terminal device sends a measurement report to the first network device.

406. The first network device determines whether the second network device allows the first terminal device to switch to the first cell, if yes, step 407 is executed, and if no, step 408 is executed.

407. The first network device sends a handover preparation request to the second network device.

408. The first network device does not send a handover preparation request to the second network device.

In this embodiment, steps 405 to 408 are similar to steps 303 to 306 corresponding to the embodiment of fig. 3, and are not described again here.

In this embodiment, the second network device carries the configuration information of the first PLMN in the first configuration update message, so that the first network device can determine whether the first terminal device can be switched to the cell of the second network device from the reserved indication information of the first cell and/or the core network type supported by the first PLMN, which is carried in the first configuration update message. The first network device carries the configuration information of the second PLMN in the second configuration update message, so that the second network device can determine whether the terminal device accessing the second network device can be switched to the cell of the first network device from the reserved indication information of the second cell carried in the second configuration update message and/or the core network type supported by the second PLMN. Therefore, in this embodiment, before the first network device initiates a handover preparation request to the second network device, the first network device may determine, from the configuration information of the first PLMN in the first configuration update message, whether the second network device allows the terminal device to handover to a cell of the second network device, thereby avoiding blind handover initiated by the first network device to the second network device, and improving a success rate of inter-station cell handover.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment of the application, the configuration information of the first PLMN may also be used to indicate Secondary Component Carrier (SCC) addition of Carrier Aggregation (CA), or other information, which is not limited herein.

The foregoing describes a method for processing PLMN configuration information provided in an embodiment of the present application, and the following describes an apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a first network device according to an embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 5, a first network device 50 includes:

a receiving unit 501, configured to receive a first message sent by a second network device, where the first message includes configuration information of a first PLMN, where the first PLMN is a PLMN corresponding to a first cell, and the first cell is a cell covered by the second network device;

a sending unit 502, configured to send a second message to the second network device, where the second message includes configuration information of a second PLMN, the second PLMN is a PLMN of a second cell, and the second cell is a cell covered by the first network device.

Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the configuration information of the first PLMN includes at least one of reserved (reserved) indication information of the first cell and a core network type supported by the first PLMN.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the configuration information of the second PLMN includes at least one of reserved indication information of the second cell and a core network type supported by the second PLMN.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the first message is an X2 establishment request message, the second message is an X2 establishment request response message, and the X2 is a connection interface between enbs.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the first information is an XN establishment request message, the second information is an XN establishment request response message, and the XN is a connection interface between fifth-generation mobile communication technology 5G access network devices.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the first information is an EN-DC X2 establishment request message, the second information is an EN-DC X2 establishment request response message, and the EN-DC X2 is dual connectivity between an eNB and a 5G access network device.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the first message is a first configuration update message of the second network device.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the second message is a second configuration update message of the first network device.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the network device further includes a processing unit 503, where the processing unit 503 is configured to:

determining, based on the configuration information of the first PLMN, whether a second network device allows a first terminal device to handover to a first cell, the first terminal device being in the second cell;

if the second network device is determined to allow the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell, a switching preparation request is initiated to the second network device, and the switching preparation request indicates that the first terminal device is switched to the first cell.

In this embodiment, the receiving unit 501 carries the configuration information of the first PLMN in the first message, so that the processing unit 503 may determine the configuration information of the first PLMN of the second network device from the first message, and the sending unit 502 carries the configuration information of the second PLMN in the second message, so that the second network device may determine the configuration information of the second PLMN of the first network device from the second message.

The above describes a first network device provided in the embodiment of the present application, and the following describes another first network device provided in the embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is a schematic hardware structure diagram of a first network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and as shown in fig. 6, the first network device 60 includes:

at least one processor 610, a memory 650, and a transceiver 630. The transceiver 630 may include a receiver and a transmitter and the memory 650 may include read-only memory and/or random access memory and provide operating instructions and data to the processor 610. A portion of the memory 650 may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). The memory and the processor can be connected independently through a bus or an interface, or can be integrated together.

In some embodiments, memory 650 stores elements, executable modules or data structures, or a subset thereof, or an expanded set thereof.

In the embodiment of the present application, the corresponding operation is performed by calling the operation instruction stored in the memory 650 (the operation instruction may be stored in the operating system). Processor 610 controls the operation of first network device 60, and processor 610 may also be referred to as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Memory 650 may include both read-only memory and random-access memory, and provides instructions and data to processor 610. A portion of the memory 650 may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). In a particular application, the various components of first network device 60 are coupled together by a bus system 620, where bus system 620 may include a power bus, a control bus, a status signal bus, etc., in addition to a data bus. For clarity of illustration, however, the various buses are labeled in the figure as bus system 620.

The method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be applied to the processor 610, or implemented by the processor 610. The processor 610 may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, the steps of the above method may be performed by integrated logic circuits of hardware or instructions in the form of software in the processor 610. The processor 610 may be a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components. The various methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or performed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory 650, the memory 650 may be a physically separate unit or integrated with the processor 610, and the processor 610 reads the information in the memory 650 and performs the steps of the method in combination with the hardware.

In this embodiment, the transceiver 630 may be used to execute the operation steps related to receiving and transmitting on the first network device side in the embodiment corresponding to fig. 2, the embodiment corresponding to fig. 3, or the embodiment corresponding to fig. 4, respectively. Or for performing the steps of data transmission and reception at the first network device side in other alternative embodiments.

The processor 610 may be configured to perform steps of data processing at the first network device side according to the embodiment corresponding to fig. 2, the embodiment corresponding to fig. 3, or the embodiment corresponding to fig. 4, respectively. Or for performing the steps of the data processing at the first network device side in other optional embodiments.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.

The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be substantially implemented or contributed to by the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution may be embodied in a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a U-disk, a removable hard disk, a Read-only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and other various media capable of storing program codes.

The above embodiments are only used for illustrating the technical solutions of the present application, and not for limiting the same; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some technical features may be equivalently replaced; and such modifications or substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the corresponding technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application.

Claims (19)

1. A method for processing configuration information of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), comprising:

a first network device receives a first message sent by a second network device, wherein the first message comprises configuration information of a first PLMN, the first PLMN is a PLMN corresponding to a first cell, and the first cell is a cell covered by the second network device;

the first network device sends a second message to the second network device, where the second message includes configuration information of a second PLMN, the second PLMN is a PLMN of a second cell, and the second cell is a cell covered by the first network device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information of the first PLMN comprises at least one of reserved indication information of the first cell and core network types supported by the first PLMN.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the configuration information of the second PLMN comprises at least one of reserved indication information of the second cell and core network types supported by the second PLMN.

4. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first message is an X2 setup request message, the second message is an X2 setup request response message, and the X2 is a connection interface between evolved node Bs (eNBs).

5. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first information is an XN setup request message, the second information is an XN setup request response message, and the XN is a connection interface between fifth generation mobile communication technology 5G access network devices.

6. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first information is an EN-DC X2 setup request message, wherein the second information is an EN-DC X2 setup request response message, and wherein the EN-DC X2 is a dual connection between the eNB and a 5G access network device.

7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first message is a first configuration update message of the second network device.

8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3 or 7, wherein the second message is a second configuration update message of the first network device.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

the first network device determining whether the second network device allows the first terminal device to handover to a first cell based on configuration information of the first PLMN, the first terminal device being in the second cell;

if the first network device determines that the second network device allows the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell, the first network device initiates a switching preparation request to the second network device, and the switching preparation request indicates that the first terminal device is switched to the first cell.

10. A network device, comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive a first message sent by a second network device, where the first message includes configuration information of a first PLMN, where the first PLMN is a PLMN corresponding to a first cell, and the first cell is a cell covered by the second network device;

a sending unit, configured to send a second message to the second network device, where the second message includes configuration information of a second PLMN, and the second PLMN is a PLMN of a second cell, and the second cell is a cell covered by the network device.

11. The network device of claim 10, wherein the configuration information of the first PLMN comprises at least one of reserved indication information of the first cell and core network types supported by the first PLMN.

12. The network device of claim 10 or 11, wherein the configuration information of the second PLMN comprises at least one of reserved indication information of the second cell and core network types supported by the second PLMN.

13. The network device according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the first message is an X2 setup request message, the second message is an X2 setup request response message, and the X2 is a connection interface between evolved base stations, enbs.

14. The network device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the first information is an XN setup request message, the second information is an XN setup request response message, and the XN is a connection interface between fifth generation mobile communication technology 5G access network devices.

15. The network device of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the first information is an EN-DCX2 setup request message, the second information is an EN-DC X2 setup request response message, and the EN-DC X2 is a dual connection between the eNB and the 5G access network device.

16. The network device of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the first message is a first configuration update message of the second network device.

17. The network device of any of claims 10 to 12 or 16, wherein the second message is a second configuration update message of the network device.

18. The network device of any of claims 10 to 17, further comprising a processing unit configured to:

determining, based on configuration information of the first PLMN, whether the second network device allows a first terminal device to handover to a first cell, the first terminal device being in the second cell;

if the second network device is determined to allow the first terminal device to be switched to the first cell, a switching preparation request is initiated to the second network device, and the switching preparation request indicates that the first terminal device is switched to the first cell.

19. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer device to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 9.

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