METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TRAFFIC STEERING AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

• US 20170367010A1
• Filed: 08/14/2017
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: JIA, Meiyi, XU, Haibo
• Granted Patent: US 10,440,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0835 Access entity, e.g. eNB
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/086 among access entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

This application provides a method and apparatus for controlling traffic steering and a communications system. In an implementation of the method for controlling traffic steering, the method is applicable to an RAN node and comprises: traffic steering indication information is determined; and the traffic steering indication information is transmitted to UE, so that the UE steers corresponding traffic to a traffic steering target according to the traffic steering indication information. With the method, load balance between 3GPP RAN and WLAN at an RAN level may be ensured, and in comparison with an existing mechanism, user experiences and system performance are improved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling traffic steering, applicable to an RAN node, the apparatus comprising:

a determining unit configured to determine traffic steering indication information or a traffic steering ratio; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the traffic steering indication information or the traffic steering ratio to UE, so that the UE steers corresponding traffic to a traffic steering target according to the traffic steering indication information or the traffic steering ratio.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering ratio, or a traffic steering ratio and a shift range, or a traffic steering target and a traffic steering ratio, or a traffic steering target, a traffic steering ratio and a shift range, or a traffic steering target, traffic steering and offloadable APNs and/or bearer IDs.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the UE supports an ANDSF, and the RAN node can obtain ANDSF information related to the UE, the traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering ratio, or a traffic steering target and a traffic steering ratio.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the UE supports an ANDSF, and the RAN node cannot obtain ANDSF information related to the UE, the traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering ratio and a shift range, or a traffic steering target, a traffic steering ratio and a shift range.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the UE does not support an ANDSF, the traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering target, traffic steering and offloadable APNs and/or bearer IDs.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive traffic steering indication information transmitted by UE;

the determining unit determines the traffic steering ratio according to the received traffic steering indication information.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the received traffic steering indication information comprises a traffic steering target and a suggested traffic steering ratio, or a suggested traffic steering ratio, or a suggested traffic steering ratio for measurement objects.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a second determining unit configured to, when the received traffic steering indication information comprises only a suggested traffic steering ratio, determine a traffic steering target and offloadable APNs and/or bearer IDs;

and the transmitting unit transmits the traffic steering target, the traffic steering ratio and the offloadable APNs and/or bearer IDs to the UE, so that the UE steers corresponding traffic to the traffic steering target according to the traffic steering ratio and the offloadable APNs and/or bearer IDs.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a third determining unit configured to, when the received traffic steering indication information comprises a traffic steering target and a suggested traffic steering ratio, update RAN assistant information and the traffic steering ratio according to knowledge of the RAN node;

and the transmitting unit transmits the updated traffic steering ratio to the UE, so that the UE steers corresponding traffic to the traffic steering target according to the traffic steering ratio.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a fourth determining unit configured to, when the received traffic steering indication information comprises the suggested traffic steering ratio for measurement objects, select and determine a traffic steering ratio and a traffic steering target from a suggested traffic steering ratio for measurement objects according to knowledge of the RAN node;

and the transmitting unit transmits the traffic steering ratio and the traffic steering target to the UE, so that the UE steers corresponding traffic to the traffic steering target according to the traffic steering ratio.

11. An apparatus for controlling traffic steering, applicable to UE, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive traffic steering indication information or updated traffic steering information transmitted by an RAN node; and

a processing unit configured to steer corresponding traffic to a traffic steering target according to the traffic steering indication information or the updated traffic steering information.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit comprises:

a first determining module configured to determine a traffic steering target when the traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering ratio; and

a first processing module configured to steer corresponding traffic to the traffic steering target according to the traffic steering ratio.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit comprises:

a second determining module configured to determine a traffic steering target when the traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering ratio and a shift range; and

a second processing module configured to steer corresponding traffic to the traffic steering target according to the traffic steering ratio and the shift range.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit comprises:

a third processing module configured to, when the traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering target and a traffic steering ratio, steer corresponding traffic to the traffic steering target according to the traffic steering ratio.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit comprises:

a fourth processing module configured to, when the traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering target, a traffic steering ratio and a shift range, steer corresponding traffic to the traffic steering target according to the traffic steering ratio and the shift range.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit comprises:

a fifth processing module configured to, when the traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering target, a traffic steering ratio and offloadable APNs and/or bearer IDs, steer corresponding traffic to the traffic steering target according to the traffic steering ratio and offloadable APNs and/or bearer IDs.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus further comprising:

a determining unit configured to determine traffic steering indication information; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the traffic steering indication information to an RAN node, so that the RAN node decides a traffic steering ratio and transmits the updated traffic steering information to the UE.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the transmitted traffic steering indication information is a traffic steering target and a suggested traffic steering ratio, or a suggested traffic steering ratio, or a suggested traffic steering ratio for measurement objects.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

an adjusting unit configured to, when the UE receives the updated traffic steering information fed back by the RAN node, adjust a traffic steering ratio according to the updated traffic steering information;

the processing unit steers corresponding traffic to the traffic steering target according to the traffic steering ratio.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the updated traffic steering information comprises a traffic steering ratio, or a traffic steering target and a traffic steering ratio, or a traffic steering target, a traffic steering ratio and offloadable APNs and/or bearer IDs.