Method and apparatus for implementing access to machine to machine (M2M) core network

• US 9,271,222 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Xie, Baoguo, Li, Zhijun, Tao, Quanjun
• Primary Examiner(s): LAMONT, BENJAMIN S
• Application Number:
  US13/520,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for implementing an access to a Machine to Machine (M2M) core network. In the method, a network element receives an access request message carrying equipment identity indication information, wherein the access request message is initiated by terminal equipment; the network element determines that the terminal equipment is M2M equipment according to the equipment identity indication information; and the network element selects a corresponding M2M core network for the terminal equipment to implement the access of the terminal equipment. According to the technical solution provided by the present invention, the existing network can meet the M2M service requirement while providing services for existing Human to Human (H2H) equipment, without any need of enhancement and mass expansion.

Claims

1. A method for implementing an access to a Machine to Machine (M2M) core network, comprising:

receiving, by a network element, an access request message carrying equipment identity indication information, wherein the access request message is initiated by terminal equipment;

determining, by the network element, that the terminal equipment is M2M equipment according to the equipment identity indication information; and

selecting, by the network element, a corresponding M2M core network for the terminal equipment to implement the access of the terminal equipment, wherein based on that the terminal equipment is a H2H (Human to Human) equipment terminal, an Mobility Management Entity (MME) in an existing core network is selected for the terminal equipment to implement the access of the terminal equipment; and

based on that the terminal equipment is an M2M equipment terminal, an M2M-Mobility Management Entity (M-MME) in an M2M core network is selected for the terminal equipment to implement the access of the terminal equipment, wherein the network element comprises one of the following;

a radio access network node and a virtual gateway;

wherein the step of selecting, by the radio access network node, the corresponding M2M core network for the terminal equipment to implement the access of the terminal equipment comprises;

selecting, by the radio access network node, a corresponding first core network address for the terminal equipment according to information of a preconfigured corresponding relationship between a terminal equipment identity and the M2M core network; and

initiating, by an enhanced radio access network, an access request to the corresponding M2M core network according to the first core network address;

or

the step of selecting, by the virtual gateway, the corresponding M2M core network for the terminal equipment to implement the access of the terminal equipment comprises;

selecting, by the virtual gateway, a corresponding second core network address for the terminal equipment according to information of a preconfigured corresponding relationship between a terminal equipment identity and the M2M core network;

sending, by the virtual gateway, the second core network address to the radio access network node; and

initiating, by the radio access network node, an access request to the corresponding M2M core network according to the second core network address;

or

selecting, by the virtual gateway, a corresponding third core network address for the terminal equipment according to information of a preconfigured corresponding relationship between a terminal equipment identity and the M2M core network; and

initiating, by the virtual gateway, an access request to the corresponding M2M core network according to the third core network address.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the equipment identity indication information comprises at least one of the following:

equipment type information, equipment access capability information and equipment identification information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein before the step of selecting, by the virtual gateway, the corresponding second core network address for the terminal equipment, the method further comprises:

after the radio access network node receives the access request message from the terminal equipment, requesting, by the radio access network node, the second core network address from the virtual gateway.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the terminal equipment has accessed the M2M core network, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the virtual gateway, an access accepted response from the M2M core network;

returning, by the virtual gateway, the access accepted response to the radio access network node; and

forwarding, by the virtual gateway, a subsequent signaling message interacted between the radio access network node and the M2M core network.

5. An apparatus for implementing an access to an M2M core network, comprising a hardware processor configured to execute following units:

a receiving unit, configured to receive an access request message carrying equipment identity indication information, wherein the access request message is initiated by terminal equipment;

a determination unit, configured to determine that the terminal equipment is M2M equipment according to the equipment identity indication information; and

an implementation unit, configured to select a corresponding M2M core network for the terminal equipment to implement the access of the terminal equipment, wherein based on that the terminal equipment is a H2H (Human to Human) equipment terminal, an Mobility Management Entity (MME) in an existing core network is selected for the terminal equipment to implement the access of the terminal equipment; and

based on that the terminal equipment is an M2M equipment terminal, an M2M-Mobility Management Entity (M-MME) in an M2M core network is selected for the terminal equipment to implement the access of the terminal equipment, wherein the apparatus comprises one of the following;

a radio access network node and a virtual gateway;

when the apparatus is the radio access network node, the implementation unit comprises;

a first selection module, configured to select a corresponding first core network address for the terminal equipment according to information of a preconfigured corresponding relationship between a terminal equipment identity and the M2M core network; and

a first sending module, configured to initiate an access request to the corresponding M2M core network according to the first core network address;

when the apparatus is the virtual gateway, the implementation unit comprises;

a second selection module, configured to select a corresponding second core network address for the terminal equipment according to information of a preconfigured corresponding relationship between a terminal equipment identity and the M2M core network; and

a second sending module, configured to send the second core network address to the radio access network node; and

a first access request module, configured to initiate an access request to the corresponding M2M core network according to the second core network address;

or

a third selection module, configured to select a corresponding third core network address for the terminal equipment according to information of a preconfigured corresponding relationship between a terminal equipment identity and the M2M core network; and

a second access request module, configured to initiate an access request to the corresponding M2M core network according to the third core network address.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the apparatus is further configured to serve as a proxy server to forward a signaling message between the radio access network node and the M2M core network.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the apparatus is integrated into the radio access network node;

or

the apparatus is an independent network element arranged outside the radio access network node.