Called service processing method, mobility management entity, and home subscriber server

The present invention discloses a called service processing method, a mobility management entity, and a home subscriber server. The method includes: generating, by an MME, VOPS capability indication information according to a faulty state of a PGW after determining that the PGW in which UE is located is faulty, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to indicate that a network in which the UE is located does not support VOPS; and sending, by the MME, the VOPS capability indication information to an HSS. According to the called service processing method, the mobility management entity, and the home subscriber server provided in embodiments of the present invention, a called service is not affected after a PGW is faulty.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the communications field, and more specifically, to a called service processing method, a mobility management entity, and a home subscriber server.

BACKGROUND

With development of Long Term Evolution (LTE) network technologies, an LTE network has covered some urban areas and traffic hotspot areas. In a current communications network, the LTE network coexists with a 2ndGeneration (2G)/a 3rdGeneration (3G) network. Because the LTE network is in a construction phase, some LTE networks may not support a voice service, but some LTE networks may support a voice service. In the LTE network that supports the voice service, user equipment (UE) may initiate a voice service by using voice over LTE (VoLTE). VoLTE is a technical solution in which only an LTE network is used and a voice packet is transmitted by using an LTE packet switched (PS) network. Therefore, network elements in the LTE network need to work normally, so that the voice service can be normally used. In addition, when initiating the voice service, the user equipment in the LTE network may first fall back to a 2G/3G network that has a circuit switched (CS) domain, performs the voice service in the 2G/3G network that has the circuit switched domain, and then returns to the LTE network after a conversation is completed. The technology of switching from a packet switched domain of an LTE network to a circuit switched domain of a 2G/3G network is referred to as a CSFB technology.

In the prior art, when both CSFB and VoLTE exist in a network, there is a complete mechanism for selecting CSFB or VoLTE to make a voice conversation. For a calling scenario, a user equipment performs selection based on a capability of the user equipment and a network capability. For example, if the user equipment supports both VoLTE and CSFB, and a network side also supports both VoLTE and CSFB, the user equipment preferably selects VoLTE or CSFB according to a preference of the user equipment. If the user equipment supports only CSFB, the user equipment selects only CSFB even if a network side supports both VoLTE and CSFB. For a called scenario, a network side selects a path (called party domain selection) for a voice service. For example, when a user equipment has performed Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) registration, and the network side supports VoLTE, the network side preferably selects VoLTE for the user equipment to perform a service. However, in this case, if a packet data network gateway (PGW) is faulty, a called party cannot be connected.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a called service processing method, a mobility management entity, and a home subscriber server, so that a called service is not affected after a PGW is faulty.

According to a first aspect, a called service processing method is provided, including:

generating, by a mobility management entity MME, voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information according to a faulty state of a packet data network gateway PGW after determining that the PGW in which a user equipment UE is located is faulty, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to indicate that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS; and

sending, by the MME, the VOPS capability indication information to a home subscriber server HSS.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, the generating, by a mobility management entity MME, voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information according to a faulty state of a packet data network gateway PGW after determining that the PGW in which a user equipment UE is located is faulty includes:

after determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, receiving, by the MME, a domain selection data query request sent by the HSS, and generating the VOPS capability indication information according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW.

With reference to the first aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, before the generating voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information according to a faulty state of a PGW, the method further includes:

determining, by the MME, that the PGW is faulty; and

sending, by the MME, a network element notification message to the HSS, where the network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

According to a second aspect, a called service processing method is provided, including:

receiving, by a home subscriber server HSS, voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information sent by a mobility management entity MME, where the VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to a faulty state of a packet data network gateway PGW after the MME determines that the PGW in which a user equipment UE is located is faulty; and

sending, by the HSS, the VOPS capability indication information to an application server AS, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to instruct the application server to process a called service of the user equipment by means of circuit switched fallback CSFB.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, before the receiving, by a home subscriber server HSS, voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information sent by a mobility management entity MME, the method further includes:

receiving, by the HSS, a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server; and

responding, by the HSS, to the domain selection data query notification, and sending a domain selection data query request to the MME; and

the receiving, by a home subscriber server HSS, voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information sent by a mobility management entity MME includes:

receiving, by the HSS, the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, where the VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the packet data network gateway PGW after the MME determines that the PGW in which the user equipment UE is located is faulty.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, before the receiving, by the HSS, a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server, the method further includes:

receiving, by the HSS, a network element notification message sent by the MME, where the network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

With reference to the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, before the receiving, by the HSS, a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server, the method further includes:

receiving, by the HSS, a network element notification message sent by the MME, where the network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

According to a third aspect, a mobility management entity MME is provided, including:

a determining module, configured to determine that a packet data network gateway PGW in which a user equipment UE is located is faulty;

a generation module, configured to generate voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information according to a faulty state of the PGW after the determining module determines that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to indicate that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS; and

a sending module, configured to send the VOPS capability indication information to a home subscriber server HSS.

With reference to the third aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, the generation module is specifically configured to: after the determining module determines that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, receive a domain selection data query request sent by the HSS, and generate the VOPS capability indication information according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW.

With reference to the third aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, the sending module is further configured to send a network element notification message to the HSS after the determining module determines that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty and before the generation module generates the VOPS capability indication information, where the network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

According to a fourth aspect, a home subscriber server HSS is provided, including:

a receiving module, configured to receive voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information sent by a mobility management entity MME, where the VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to a faulty state of a packet data network gateway PGW after the MME determines that the PGW in which a user equipment UE is located is faulty; and

a sending module, configured to send the VOPS capability indication information to an application server AS, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to instruct the application server to process a called service of the user equipment by means of circuit switched fallback CSFB.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, the receiving module is further configured to receive, before receiving the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server;

the sending module is further configured to: respond to the domain selection data query notification, and send a domain selection data query request to the MME; and

the receiving module is specifically configured to receive the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, where the VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW after the MME determines that the packet data network gateway PGW in which the user equipment UE is located is faulty.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, the receiving module is further configured to receive, before receiving the domain selection data query notification sent by the application server, a network element notification message sent by the MME, where the network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the receiving module is further configured to:

receive, before receiving the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server; and

the sending module is specifically configured to: respond to the domain selection data query notification, and send the VOPS capability indication information to the application server AS.

According to a fifth aspect, a system is provided, including:

the mobility management entity MME according to the third aspect and the home subscriber server HSS according to the fourth aspect.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, the system further includes:

an application server AS, configured to process a called service of a user equipment UE according to voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information by means of circuit switched fallback CSFB.

According to a sixth aspect, an MME is provided, including: a processor and a memory, where

the memory stores a program, and the processor executes the program to perform the called service processing method described in any one of the first aspect or the possible implementation manners of the first aspect.

According to a seventh aspect, an HSS is provided, including: a processor and a memory, where

the memory stores a program, and the processor executes the program to perform the called service processing method described in any one of the second aspect or the possible implementation manners of the second aspect.

Based on the foregoing technical solutions, in the embodiments of the present invention, VOPS capability indication information that is generated according to a faulty state of a PGW in which a user equipment is located and that indicates that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS is sent to an HSS, and a called service of the user equipment may be processed by means of CSFB, so as to avoid a prior-art problem that a called party of the user equipment cannot be connected because the called service of the user equipment is still processed by means of VOLTE. Therefore, the called service is not affected after the PGW is faulty.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of an application scenario according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the scenario shown inFIG. 1, a network side and a user equipment support both CSFB and VoLTE. The user equipment performs IMS registration after accessing a network, and subsequently, a network side of a called service preferably selects a VoLTE processing manner for the user equipment. In the VoLTE manner, data needs to pass through a PGW during transmission. If the VoLTE manner is still selected for the user equipment after the PGW is faulty, data transmission fails due to a PGW fault. Consequently, a called party cannot be connected.

It should be understood that, in the embodiments of the present invention, each entity such as a mobility management entity (MME), a home subscriber server (HSS), or an application server (AS) may be described as a network element or a device. Each entity may be a standalone device or may be a device disposed in another device.

It should be further understood that, in the embodiments of the present invention, user equipment (UE) may be referred to as a terminal, a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal, or the like. The user equipment may communicate with one or more core networks through a radio access network (RAN). For example, the user equipment may be a mobile phone (also referred to as a “cellular” phone) or a computer with a mobile terminal. For example, the user equipment may also be a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer built-in, or in-vehicle mobile apparatus that exchanges a voice and/or data with the radio access network.

FIG. 2shows a schematic flowchart of a called service processing method200according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method200is performed by an MME. As shown inFIG. 2, the method200includes the following steps:

S210. An MME generates VOPS capability indication information according to a faulty state of a PGW after determining that the PGW in which a user equipment is located is faulty, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to indicate that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS.

S220. The MME sends the VOPS capability indication information to an HSS.

In this embodiment of the present invention, when the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME generates, according to the faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located, the VOPS capability indication information indicating that the network in which the user equipment is located does not support voice over packet switch (VOPS), and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the faulty state of the PGW indicates that the PGW is faulty and cannot work normally. A state corresponding to the faulty state is a normal state of the PGW, and the normal state indicates that the PGW works normally and is not faulty. The faulty state of the PGW may be recorded when the PGW is faulty. During generation of the VOPS capability indication information, a status of the PGW may be queried, and the VOPS capability indication information is generated according to the faulty state, obtained by means of querying, of the PGW.

During called party domain selection, the HSS may send the VOPS capability indication information to an application server, and the application server may process a called service of the user equipment according to the VOPS capability indication information by means of CSFB, that is, the called service of the user equipment is continued by means of CSFB. In this way, a problem that a called party cannot be connected in a long time after the PGW is faulty can be avoided, and instantaneous sharp increase of signaling caused in voice service recovery after the PGW is faulty can also be avoided.

Therefore, according to the called service processing method provided in this embodiment of the present invention, VOPS capability indication information that is generated according to a faulty state of a PGW in which a user equipment is located and that indicates that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS is sent to an HSS, and a called service of the user equipment may be processed by means of CSFB, so that the called service is not affected after the PGW is faulty.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, that the MME generates VOPS capability indication information according to a faulty state of a PGW after determining that the PGW in which a user equipment is located is faulty includes:

after determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME receives a domain selection data query request sent by the HSS, and generates the VOPS capability indication information according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW.

This embodiment may be applied to a scenario in which the HSS supports real-time domain selection data query. When receiving the domain selection data query request sent by the HSS, the MME generates the VOPS capability indication information according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, before the generating the voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information according to the faulty state of the PGW, the method200further includes:

the MME determines that the PGW is faulty; and

the MME sends a network element notification message to the HSS, where the network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

Specifically, if the HSS supports real-time domain selection data query, when determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME may instruct the HSS to subsequently query the domain selection data in real time, and the HSS subsequently queries the domain selection data in real time according to the instruction. Alternatively, the HSS may query the domain selection data in real time without an instruction. The two cases are separately described in the following.

In an embodiment, after determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME sends the network element notification message to the HSS and instructs the HSS to subsequently query the domain selection data in real time. The network element notification message is a device-level message, that is, the network element notification message carries device-level information rather than specific-user information, so that no extra signaling overheads are caused. According to the network element notification message, the HSS needs to subsequently query the domain selection data in real time, that is, the domain selection data needs to be queried during called party domain selection. When a called service arrives at the application server, the application server sends a domain selection data query notification such as a user information request to the HSS. The HSS queries the domain selection data in real time and sends a domain selection data query request such as a T-ADS (Terminating Access Domain Selection) data request to the MME. After receiving the domain selection data query request, the MME generates, according to the faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located, the VOPS capability indication information indicating that the network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS. The HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to the application server. The application server continues the called service of the user equipment according to the VOPS capability indication information by means of CSFB. In this way, the user equipment falls back to a GU (GSM/UMTS) (Global System for Mobile communication/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network by means of CSFB, to connect a called phone.

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of an interaction procedure according to an embodiment.

301. An MME determines that a PGW in which a user equipment is located is faulty.

302. The MME sends a network element notification message to an HSS.

For example, the network element notification message may be a NE Notification. The network element notification message indicates that the HSS needs to subsequently query domain selection data in real time.

303. An application server sends a domain selection data query notification to the HSS.

When a called service arrives at the application server, the application server selects a called party domain, and sends the domain selection data query notification to the HSS.

304. The HSS sends a domain selection data query request to the MME.

The HSS queries the domain selection data in real time, and sends the domain selection data query request to the MME. For example, the domain selection data query request may be an insert subscriber data request.

305. The MME sends VOPS capability indication information to the HSS.

After receiving the domain selection data query request sent by the HSS, the MME generates, according to a faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located, the VOPS capability indication information indicating that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS. For example, the MME sends, to the HSS, an insert subscriber data answer that carries the VOPS capability indication information.

306. The HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to the application server.

307. The application server continues a called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB.

The application server continues the called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB according to the VOPS capability indication information indicating that the network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS.

308. The user equipment falls back to a GSM/UMTS network and connects a called phone.

In another embodiment, a network element notification message does not need to be sent to the HSS. Specifically, in this embodiment, after determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME does not need to send the network element notification message to the HSS. When a called service arrives at the application server, the application server sends a domain selection data query notification to the HSS. The HSS queries domain selection data in real time, and sends a domain selection data query request to the MME. After receiving the domain selection data query request, the MME generates, according to a faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located, VOPS capability indication information indicating that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS. The HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to the application server. The application server continues the called service of the user equipment according to the VOPS capability indication information by means of CSFB. In this way, the user equipment falls back to a GSM/UMTS network by means of CSFB, to connect a called phone.

FIG. 4is a schematic diagram of an interaction procedure according to an embodiment.

401. An MME determines that a PGW in which a user equipment is located is faulty.

402. An application server sends a domain selection data query notification to an HSS.

When a called service arrives at the application server, the application server selects a called party domain, and sends the domain selection data query notification to the HSS.

403. The HSS sends a domain selection data query request to the MME.

The HSS queries domain selection data in real time, and sends the domain selection data query request to the MME. For example, the domain selection data query request may be an insert subscriber data request.

404. The MME sends VOPS capability indication information to the HSS.

After receiving the domain selection data query request sent by the HSS, the MME generates, according to a faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located, the VOPS capability indication information indicating that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS. For example, the MME sends, to the HSS, an insert subscriber data answer that carries the VOPS capability indication information.

405. The HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to the application server.

406. The application server continues a called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB.

The application server continues the called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB according to the VOPS capability indication information indicating that the network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS.

407. The user equipment falls back to a GSM/UMTS network and connects a called phone.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, in a scenario in which the HSS does not support real-time domain selection data query, after determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME directly generates, according to a faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located, VOPS capability indication information indicating that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS. The MME may send the VOPS capability indication information by using a user-level message. The user-level message indicates that specific-user information is carried. For example, the MME may send a user-level message notification request (Notify Request) that carries the VOPS capability indication information. When a called service arrives at the application server, the application server sends a domain selection data query notification to the HSS. The HSS sends the previously received VOPS capability indication information to the application server. The application server continues the called service of the user equipment according to the VOPS capability indication information by means of CSFB. In this way, the user equipment falls back to a GSM/UMTS network by means of CSFB, to connect a called phone.

FIG. 5is a schematic diagram of an interaction procedure according to an embodiment.

501. An MME determines that a PGW in which a user equipment is located is faulty.

502. The MME sends VOPS capability indication information to an HSS.

After determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME generates, according to a faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located, the VOPS capability indication information indicating that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS. For example, the MME sends, to the HSS, a notify request that carries the VOPS capability indication information.

503. An application server sends a domain selection data query notification to the HSS.

When a called service arrives at the application server, the application server selects a called party domain, and sends the domain selection data query notification to the HSS.

504. The HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to the application server.

The HSS does not query domain selection data in real time, but sends the previously received VOPS capability indication information to the application server.

505. The application server continues a called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB.

The application server continues the called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB according to the VOPS capability indication information indicating that the network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS.

506. The user equipment falls back to a GSM/UMTS network and connects a called phone.

According to the called service processing method provided in this embodiment of the present invention, a called service is not affected after a PGW is faulty, and instantaneous sharp increase of signaling caused in voice service recovery after the PGW is faulty can also be avoided.

The called service processing method according to embodiments of the present invention is described above in detail from a perspective of an MME, and a called service processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in the following from a perspective of an HSS.

FIG. 6shows a schematic flowchart of a called service processing method600according to another embodiment of the present invention. The method600is performed by an HSS. As shown inFIG. 6, the method600includes the following steps:

S610. An HSS receives VOPS capability indication information sent by an MME, where the VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to a faulty state of a PGW after the MME determines that the PGW in which a user equipment is located is faulty.

S620. The HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to an application server, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to instruct the application server to process a called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB.

In this embodiment of the present invention, when the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME generates the VOPS capability indication information according to the faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located. The VOPS capability indication information indicates that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS. The MME sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS, and the HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to the application server. The application server may process the called service of the user equipment according to the VOPS capability indication information by means of CSFB, that is, the application server continues the called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB. In this way, a problem that a called party cannot be connected in a long time after the PGW is faulty can be avoided, and instantaneous sharp increase of signaling caused in voice service recovery after the PGW is faulty can also be avoided.

Therefore, according to the called service processing method provided in this embodiment of the present invention, VOPS capability indication information generated by an MME according to a faulty state of a PGW in which a user equipment is located is received, and the VOPS capability indication information is sent to an application server, so that the application server may process a called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB. Therefore, the called service is not affected after the PGW is faulty.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, before the HSS receives the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, the method600further includes:

the HSS receives a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server; and

the HSS responds to the domain selection data query notification, and sends a domain selection data query request to the MME.

In this case, that an HSS receives VOPS capability indication information sent by an MME includes:

the HSS receives the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, where the VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW after the MME determines that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty.

This embodiment may be applied to a scenario in which the HSS supports real-time domain selection data query. When receiving the domain selection data query notification sent by the application server, the HSS queries domain selection data in real time, and sends the domain selection data query request to the MME. When receiving the domain selection data query request sent by the HSS, the MME generates the VOPS capability indication information according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, before the HSS receives the domain selection data query notification sent by the application server, the method600further includes:

the HSS receives a network element notification message sent by the MME, where the network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

Specifically, if the HSS supports real-time domain selection data query, when determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME may instruct the HSS to subsequently query the domain selection data in real time, and the HSS subsequently queries the domain selection data in real time according to the instruction. Alternatively, the HSS may query the domain selection data in real time without an instruction.

In an embodiment, after determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME sends the network element notification message to the HSS and instructs the HSS to subsequently query domain selection data in real time. The network element notification message is a device-level message. According to the network element notification message, the HSS needs to subsequently query the domain selection data in real time, that is, the domain selection data needs to be queried during called party domain selection. When a called service arrives at the application server, the application server sends a domain selection data query notification to the HSS. The HSS queries the domain selection data in real time, and sends a domain selection data query request to the MME. After receiving the domain selection data query request, the MME generates, according to a faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located, VOPS capability indication information indicating that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS. The HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to the application server. The application server continues the called service of the user equipment according to the VOPS capability indication information by means of CSFB. In this way, the user equipment falls back to a GSM/UMTS network by means of CSFB, to connect a called phone.

In another embodiment, a network element notification message does not need to be sent to the HSS. Specifically, in this embodiment, after determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME does not need to send the network element notification message to the HSS. When a called service arrives at the application server, the application server sends a domain selection data query notification to the HSS. The HSS queries domain selection data in real time, and sends a domain selection data query request to the MME. After receiving the domain selection data query request, the MME generates, according to a faulty state of the PGW in which the user equipment is located, VOPS capability indication information indicating that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS. The HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to the application server. The application server continues the called service of the user equipment according to the VOPS capability indication information by means of CSFB. In this way, the user equipment falls back to a GSM/UMTS network by means of CSFB, to connect a called phone.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, after the HSS receives the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, the method600further includes:

the HSS receives a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server.

In this case, that the HSS sends the VOPS capability indication information to an application server includes:

the HSS responds to the domain selection data query notification, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the application server AS.

This embodiment may be applied to a scenario in which the HSS does not support real-time domain selection data query. Specifically, in this embodiment, after determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, the MME directly generates, according to the faulty state of PGW in which the user equipment is located, the VOPS capability indication information indicating that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to the HSS. The MME may send the VOPS capability indication information by using a user-level message. For example, the MME may send a user-level message Notify Request that carries the VOPS capability indication information. When a called service arrives at the application server, the application server sends a domain selection data query notification to the HSS. The HSS sends the previously received VOPS capability indication information to the application server. The application server continues the called service of the user equipment according to the VOPS capability indication information by means of CSFB. In this way, the user equipment falls back to a GSM/UMTS network by means of CSFB, to connect a called phone.

It should be understood that, in embodiments of the present invention, interaction between network elements, related features, functions, and the like that are described on an MME side are corresponding to those that are described on an HSS side. For brevity, details are not described herein.

According to the called service processing method provided in this embodiment of the present invention, a called service is not affected after a PGW is faulty, and instantaneous sharp increase of signaling caused in voice service recovery after the PGW is faulty can also be avoided.

The called service processing methods according to the embodiments of the present invention are described above, and an MME and an HSS according to the embodiments of the present invention are described in the following.

FIG. 7shows a schematic block diagram of an MME700according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 7, the MME700includes:

a determining module710, configured to determine that a packet data network gateway PGW in which user equipment UE is located is faulty;

a generation module720, configured to generate voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information according to a faulty state of the PGW after the determining module710determines that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to indicate that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS; and

a sending module730, configured to send the VOPS capability indication information to a home subscriber server HSS.

The MME provided in this embodiment of the present invention sends, to an HSS, VOPS capability indication information that is generated according to a faulty state of a PGW in which a user equipment is located and that indicates that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS, and may process a called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB, so that the called service is not affected after the PGW is faulty.

In an example of the present invention, optionally, the generation module720is specifically configured to: after the determining module710determines that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, receive a domain selection data query request sent by the HSS, and generate the VOPS capability indication information according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW.

In an example of the present invention, optionally, the domain selection data query request may be received by a separate receiving module. For example, as shown inFIG. 8, the MME700further includes:

a receiving module740, configured to receive, after the determining module710determines that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, a domain selection data query request sent by the HSS.

The generation module720is specifically configured to generate the VOPS capability indication information according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW.

In an example of the present invention, optionally, the sending module730is further configured to send a network element notification message to the HSS after the determining module710determines that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty and before the generation module720generates the VOPS capability indication information. The network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

The MME700according to this embodiment of the present invention may be corresponding to an MME in the called service processing method according to the embodiments of the present invention, and the foregoing and other operations and/or functions of modules in the MME700are separately used to implement corresponding procedures of the foregoing methods. For brevity, details are not described herein.

According to the MME provided in this embodiment of the present invention, a called service is not affected after a PGW is faulty, and instantaneous sharp increase of signaling caused in voice service recovery after the PGW is faulty can also be avoided.

FIG. 9shows a schematic block diagram of an HSS900according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 9, the HSS900includes:

a receiving module910, configured to receive voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information sent by a mobility management entity MME, where the VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to a faulty state of a packet data network gateway PGW after the MME determines that the PGW in which user equipment UE is located is faulty; and

a sending module920, configured to send the VOPS capability indication information to an application server AS, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to instruct the application server to process a called service of the user equipment by means of circuit switched fallback CSFB.

The HSS in this embodiment of the present invention receives VOPS capability indication information generated by an MME according to a faulty state of a PGW in which a user equipment is located, and sends the VOPS capability indication information to an application server, so that the application server may process a called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB. Therefore, the called service is not affected after the PGW is faulty.

In an example of the present invention, optionally, the receiving module910is further configured to receive, before receiving the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server.

The sending module920is further configured to: respond to the domain selection data query notification, and send a domain selection data query request to the MME.

The receiving module910is specifically configured to receive the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, where the VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW after the MME determines that the packet data network gateway PGW in which the user equipment UE is located is faulty.

In an example of the present invention, optionally, the receiving module910is further configured to receive, before receiving the domain selection data query notification sent by the application server, a network element notification message sent by the MME. The network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

In an example of the present invention, optionally, the receiving module910is further configured to:

receive, before receiving the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME, a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server; and

the sending module920is specifically configured to: respond to the domain selection data query notification, and send the VOPS capability indication information to the application server AS.

The HSS900according to this embodiment of the present invention may be corresponding to an HSS in the called service processing method according to the embodiments of the present invention, and the foregoing and other operations and/or functions of modules in the HSS900are separately used to implement corresponding procedures of the foregoing methods. For brevity, details are not described herein.

According to the HSS in this embodiment of the present invention, a called service is not affected after a PGW is faulty, and instantaneous sharp increase of signaling caused in voice service recovery after the PGW is faulty can also be avoided.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a system. As shown inFIG. 10, a system1000includes:

the MME700in the foregoing embodiment of the present invention and the HSS900in the embodiment of the present invention.

In an example of the present invention, optionally, as shown inFIG. 11, the system1000further includes:

an application server1010, configured to process a called service of user equipment UE according to voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information by means of circuit switched fallback CSFB.

The application server1010may be corresponding to an application server in the called service processing method according to the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12shows a structure of an MME according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The MME includes at least one processor1202(for example, a central processing unit (CPU)), at least one network interface1205or another communications interface, a memory1206, and at least one communications bus1203that is configured to implement connection and communication between these apparatuses. The processor1202is configured to execute an executable module, such as a computer program, stored in the memory1206. The memory1206may include a high-speed random access memory (RAM), or may also include a non-volatile memory, such as at least one magnetic disk memory. Communication and connection between the MME and at least one another network element are implemented by using the at least one network interface1205(which may be wired or wireless).

In some implementation manners, the memory1206stores a program12061, and the processor1202executes the program12061to perform the following operations:

generating voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information according to a faulty state of a packet data network gateway PGW after determining that the PGW in which user equipment UE is located is faulty, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to indicate that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS; and

sending the VOPS capability indication information to a home subscriber server HSS.

Optionally, the processor1202is configured to: after determining that the PGW in which the user equipment is located is faulty, receive a domain selection data query request sent by the HSS, and generate the VOPS capability indication information according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW.

Optionally, the processor1202is configured to: before generating the voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information according to the faulty state of the PGW,

determine that the PGW is faulty; and

send a network element notification message to the HSS, where the network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

It can be learned from the foregoing technical solution provided in this embodiment of the present invention, in this embodiment of the present invention, VOPS capability indication information that is generated according to a faulty state of a PGW in which a user equipment is located and that indicates that a network in which the user equipment is located does not support VOPS is sent to an HSS, and a called service of the user equipment may be processed by means of CSFB, so that the called service is not affected after the PGW is faulty.

FIG. 13shows a structure of an HSS according to another embodiment of the present invention. The HSS includes at least one processor1302(for example, a CPU), at least one network interface1305or another communications interface, a memory1306, and at least one communications bus1303that is configured to implement connection and communication between these apparatuses. The processor1302is configured to execute an executable module, such as a computer program, stored in the memory1306. The memory1306may include a high-speed random access memory (RAM), or may also include a non-volatile memory, such as at least one magnetic disk memory. Communication and connection between the HSS and at least one another network element are implemented by using the at least one network interface1305(which may be wired or wireless).

In some implementation manners, the memory1306stores a program13061, and the processor1302executes the program13061to perform the following operations:

receiving voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information sent by a mobility management entity MME, where the VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to a faulty state of a packet data network gateway PGW after the MME determines that the PGW in which user equipment UE is located is faulty; and

sending the VOPS capability indication information to an application server AS, where the VOPS capability indication information is used to instruct the application server to process a called service of the user equipment by means of circuit switched fallback CSFB.

Optionally, the processor1302is configured to: receive, before receiving the voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information sent by the mobility management entity MME, a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server, respond to the domain selection data query notification, and send a domain selection data query request to the MME.

The processor1302is configured to receive the VOPS capability indication information sent by the MME. The VOPS capability indication information is generated by the MME according to the domain selection data query request and the faulty state of the PGW after the MME determines that the packet data network gateway PGW in which the user equipment UE is located is faulty.

Optionally, the processor1302is configured to receive, before receiving the domain selection data query notification sent by the application server, a network element notification message sent by the MME. The network element notification message is used to indicate that the HSS needs to query domain selection data in real time.

Optionally, the processor1302is configured to receive, after receiving the voice over packet switch VOPS capability indication information sent by the mobility management entity MME, a domain selection data query notification sent by the application server.

The processor1302is configured to: respond to the domain selection data query notification, and send the VOPS capability indication information to the application server application server.

It can be learned from the foregoing technical solution provided in this embodiment of the present invention, in this embodiment of the present invention, VOPS capability indication information generated by an MME according to a faulty state of a PGW in which a user equipment is located is received, and the VOPS capability indication information is sent to an application server, so that the application server may process a called service of the user equipment by means of CSFB. Therefore, the called service is not affected after the PGW is faulty.

It should be understood that, the specific examples in the present invention are merely intended to help a person skilled in the art better understand the embodiments of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

It should be understood that, the term “and/or” in the embodiments of the present invention describes only an association relationship for describing associated objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and/or B may represent the following three cases: Only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, the character “/” in this specification generally represents an “or” relationship between the associated objects.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modification or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.