Method and access node for transmitting information

• US 8,755,801 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Xi, Jin, Liu, Lei, Wang, Shengming
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajayi, Joel
• Application Number:
  US13/258,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455436-448
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/087 between radio units of access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/065 involving selection of the user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for information transmission, the method including: in a process of a terminal initial accessing and/or the terminal handing over, an upper level access node belonging to a hierarchical architecture access network notifying a final access node belonging to the same hierarchical architecture access network of information of a mobility management entity (MME) to which the terminal accesses. The present invention also discloses an access node. The present invention makes the final access node acquire the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses so that the final access node can perform X2 handover via the acquired information of the MME.

Claims

1. A method for information transmission, comprising:

in a process of a terminal initial accessing and/or the terminal handing over, an upper level access node belonging to a hierarchical architecture access network notifying a final access node belonging to the same hierarchical architecture access network of information of a mobility management entity (MME) to which the terminal accesses.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the process of the terminal initial accessing, the step of the upper level access node notifying the final access node of the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses comprises:

in the process of the terminal initial accessing, after the upper level access node receives an initial context setup request message sent by the MME to which the terminal accesses, the information of the MME is carried in an initial access signaling sent by the upper level access node to the final access node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in the process of the terminal handing over, the step of the upper level access node notifying the final access node of the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses comprises;

in the process of the terminal handing over, after the upper level access node receives a first handover request message sent by the MME to which the terminal accesses, the information of the MME is carried in a second handover request message sent by the upper level access node to the final access node.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the final access node receives the information of the MME sent by the upper level access node, recording the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

when the final access node determines that the terminal needs to be performed a X2 handover, and determines that the X2 handover is able to be initiated according to the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses, sending a third handover request message to the target access node, and the information of the MME is carried in the third handover request message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

if the target access node is the final access node in the hierarchical architecture access network, then, after the target access node receives the third handover request message, the target access node sending a path switch message to the upper level access node that serves for the local target access node, and the information of the MME is carried in the message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the information of the MME comprises one or more of the following information;

a MME identification, a MME load instruction, and a S1 signaling identification assigned by the MME to the terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein,

the final access node is a home base station, and the upper level access node is a home base station gateway;

or

the final access node is a relay node, and the upper level access node is a macro base station that provides a backhaul link to the relay node.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

after the final access node receives the information of the MME sent by the upper level access node, recording the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

when the final access node determines that the terminal needs to be performed a X2 handover, and determines that the X2 handover is able to be initiated according to the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses, sending a third handover request message to the target access node, and the information of the MME is carried in the third handover request message.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

if the target access node is the final access node in the hierarchical architecture access network, then, after the target access node receives the third handover request message, the target access node sending a path switch message to the upper level access node that serves for the local target access node, and the information of the MME is carried in the message.

17. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

after the final access node receives the information of the MME sent by the upper level access node, recording the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

when the final access node determines that the terminal needs to be performed a X2 handover, and determines that the X2 handover is able to be initiated according to the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses, sending a third handover request message to the target access node, and the information of the MME is carried in the third handover request message.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

if the target access node is the final access node in the hierarchical architecture access network, then, after the target access node receives the third handover request message, the target access node sending a path switch message to the upper level access node that serves for the local target access node, and the information of the MME is carried in the message.

20. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the information of the MME comprises one or more of the following information;

a MME identification, a MME load instruction, and a S1 signaling identification assigned by the MME to the terminal.

9. An access node, wherein, the access node is an upper level access node, and a final access node accesses to a core network via the upper level access node, wherein,

the upper level access node is configured to:

in a process of a terminal initial accessing and/or the terminal handing over, notify the final access node of information of a mobility management entity (MME) to which the terminal accesses.

10. The access node of claim 9, wherein:

the upper level access node is configured to, in the process of the terminal initial accessing, notify the final access node of the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses according to the following way;

in the process of the terminal initial accessing, after the upper level access node receives an initial context setup request message sent by the MME to which the terminal accesses, carry the information of the MME in an initial access signaling sent to the final access node,

the initial access signaling comprises one or more of the following messages;

an initial context setup request message, an evolved radio access bearer setup request message, a user context modification request message, and a preset downlink dedicated message.

11. The access node of claim 9, wherein:

the upper level access node is configured to, in the process of the terminal handing over, notify the final access node of the information of the MME to which the terminal accesses according to the following way;

in the process of the terminal handing over, after the upper level access node receives a first handover request message sent by the MME to which the terminal accesses, carry the information of the MME in a second handover request message sent to the final access node.

12. The access node of claim 9, wherein:

the information of the MME comprises one or more of the following information;

a MME identification, a MME load instruction, and a S1 signaling identification assigned by the MME to the terminal.

13. The access node of claim 9, wherein:

the final access node is a home base station, and the upper level access node is a home base station gateway;

or

the final access node is a relay node, and the upper level access node is a macro base station that provides a backhaul link to the relay node.