Patent Description:
With continuous development of mobile communications technologies, to consider both user experience and network resource utilization, mobile network optimization becomes increasingly important. Mobile network optimization is mainly improving radio resource utilization, for example, controlling allocation and signaling of an air interface resource used for data transmission between UE (user equipment, user equipment) and an access node of a radio access network (Radio Access Network, RAN), and reducing power consumption of the UE.

Because the UE has features such as a location change and limited power, in the prior art, network optimization can be implemented by controlling state transition of the UE. For example, when no data needs to be transmitted, the UE in a connected mode releases an air interface connection, and deletes a context of the UE from a base station, so that the UE is in an idle mode. When the UE in the idle mode needs to transmit data, the UE triggers a service request process to request a network side to restore an air interface connection of the UE. In this way, invalid occupation of an air interface resource can be avoided, and radio resource utilization can be improved. In addition, the UE in the idle mode can consume less power than the UE in the connected mode, to reduce power consumption of the UE.

However, an existing condition of triggering transition of the UE from the connected mode to the idle mode is as follows: The UE transmits no data within <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds (specific duration is set by an operator). If the UE really does not need to transmit data, the UE being in the connected mode in this period of time is meaningless, and it can be learned that a power waste still occurs. In addition, when the UE in the idle mode needs to transmit data, and needs to be transitioned to the connected mode, a service request process is triggered by a network side. The UE can transmit the data only after a connection is established between an evolved NodeB (evolved NodeB, eNB) and a core network side (an MME, an S-GW, or the like), and establishment of an air interface connection (between the UE and the eNB) is completed, which causes a relatively high latency. In addition, the UE may move out of coverage of an original cell due to mobility of the UE. In this case, the network side needs to page all evolved NodeBs (Evolved NodeB, eNB) in a tracking area list (Tracking Area List, TA List), which causes extra paging signaling consumption, and consequently wastes signaling resources.

<CIT> describes a communication system. The communication system includes an access apparatus including means for terminating a communication path with a communication terminal, and an access control apparatus that controls the access apparatus. The communication system includes determination means for determining whether or not to prompt a switching process of the communication path in accordance with a movement history of the communication terminal based on an operation state of the communication terminal.

<CIT> describes a device, a system and a procedure to reduce the signaling load in a cellular mobile telephone system which support packet switched services. One in the mobile telephone system included mobile station is switched between a first mode in a first state, here called Ready State, respective a second state, here called Standby State, depending on a time parameter which indicates a time during which the mobile station shall remain in the first state, in order to after that switch to the second state. The value of the time parameter is set currently depending on the current speed of the mobile station through the cell network of the mobile telephone system.

<CIT> describes methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing mobility information to the network. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include determining mobility information representative of a mobility of a user equipment during an idle state and a connected state of the user equipment; and sending, when in a connected mode, mobility information to a node of a wireless network.

<CIT> describes a seamless switching method for multiple access points of a WiFi network. The method comprises the following steps of: collecting network information of a mobile terminal relevant to an access point by the access point, and uploading the network information to a trajectory prediction and analysis server; repeating the step a for at least five times; predicting the predicted access point of the mobile terminal by the trajectory prediction and analysis server; forwarding a data package to the predicted access point by an access point information dispatch server; building connection between the mobile terminal and the new access point. According to the seamless switching method for multiple access points of the WiFi network, packet loss probability is reduced and meanwhile switching delay is avoided, and seamless rapid switching among multiple access points of the WiFi network is achieved.

<CIT> describes a communication model transmission method and device. The method includes that an SCEF(Service Capability Exposure function) entity receives a communication model a terminal, sends the communication model of the terminal to a first MME (Mobility Management Entity) and caches the communication model of the terminal, wherein the first MME is a service MME of the terminal; the SCEF entity monitors whether the service MME of the terminal changes or not, if that the change of the service MME of the terminal is monitored, the cached communication model of the terminal is sent to a second MME which is a new service MME of the terminal. By adopting the method and device provided by the invention, a problem that the communication model of the terminal cannot be sent to the service MME of the terminal timely when no S6a interface signal exists and signals between the SCEF entity and an HSS (Home Subscriber Server) can be saved.

<CIT> describes an information prediction method and apparatus. The method comprises the following specific implementation ways: acquiring personalized information of a user, wherein the personalized information at least comprises a current motion trajectory; determining a corresponding prediction model according to the personalized information; and predicting travel information of the user based on the personalized information and the prediction model. The implementation ways can improve the validity of information prediction.

<CIT> describes a method for limiting mobile device neighbor cell measurements for cell reselection and handover. In an embodiment, a method in a mobile device for limiting neighbor cell search and measurements for reselection and handover includes determining a state of the mobile device from one of a plurality of states, wherein the states comprises an idle state, a static-idle state, a connected state, and a static-connected state defining idle state to static-idle state and connected state to static-connected state transition criteria; defining static-idle state to idle state and static-connected state to connected state transition criteria; and selecting a time interval to wait between successive neighbor cell search and measurements for cell reselection and handover according to the state of the wireless device, wherein the time interval corresponding to one of the states is less than the time interval corresponding to another of the states.

Embodiments and examples not covered by the claims are meant to illustrate, and facilitate the understanding of, the claimed invention.

The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are applicable to a mobile network. The mobile network in the embodiments of this application is a combination of different types of mobile network elements, different transmission networks, and different network management subsystems. The different types of mobile network elements, such as a base station (Base Transceiver Station, BTS), a controller, and a core network (Core Network, CN), perform different network functions. The transmission network is used to connect mobile network elements, and the network management subsystem is used to manage the mobile network elements and the transmission network.

UE in the embodiments of this application is mainly a portable lightweight mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet, or a PAD. The mobile network and the mobile terminal are interconnected by using a radio interface, and the radio interface may use a plurality of radio technologies. It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, the radio technologies that can be used by the radio interface include a 4th generation mobile communications technology (the 4th Generation mobile communication technology, <NUM>), or may be a currently studied <NUM> mobile communications technology (the 5th Generation mobile communication technology, <NUM>) or even another mobile communications technology that is to be studied subsequently.

In some embodiments of this application, a 3rd generation partnership project (3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP) system shown in <FIG> is used as an example to describe an application scenario of this application. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of a mobile network optimization processing method according to an embodiment of this application. In some embodiments of this application, a 3GPP system shown in <FIG> is used as an example to describe an application scenario of this application. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of another application scenario of a mobile network optimization processing method according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, logical function units in the system architecture mainly include:.

It may be understood that, in some possible designs, the logical function units in the system architecture may further include:.

Network function (Network Function, NF) entity, which is a more general description of network function entities, for example, network function entities such as an AMF entity, an SMF entity, and a policy and charging function (Policy and Charging Function, PCF) entity each may be referred to as NFs;.

Control plane function (Control Plane Function, CPF) entity, which mainly performs access control and mobility management functions (for example, an AMF) such as authentication, encryption, and location registration of UE, and a session management function (for example, functions of an SMF) such as establishment, release, and change of a user plane transmission path, where for ease of understanding, it may be considered that the CPF is a set of network elements such as an AMF entity, an SMF entity, and a PCF entity;.

Application function (Application Function, AF) entity, which interacts with a 3GPP core network element, and provides functions such as influenced routing decision, access to an exposed network capability, and interacting with a policy framework (policy framework) to provide policy control.

Data collected in the NWDA function entity may be applied to a communications network. The data in the NWDA function entity is sent to the MME or the AMF entity and the SMF entity by using a related interface (an interface INWDAMME in the application scenario shown in <FIG> or an interface Nnwda in the application scenario shown in <FIG>), to perform network-related control and optimization. It should be understood that, in <FIG>, the interface INWDAMME that connects the NWDA function entity and the MME is a representation of a connection interface between the NWDA function entity and the MME. The interface and the network element are not defined temporarily in the standard. It should also be understood that <FIG> shows a network architecture from a perspective of a service-based interface, and a case in which the network architecture is described from a point-to-point perspective is similar to this.

The data in the NWDA function entity may have the following several sources:.

It should be understood that a specific manner in which the NWDA function entity receives data is not defined in the standard, and the foregoing description is merely a possibility.

It should be noted that, because a <NUM> structure is not determined, the architecture in the embodiments of this application is merely used as an example to describe the solutions provided in this application. The entities that perform mobility management and session management may also be placed on another network element. For ease of understanding, in the description of the following embodiments, the AMF may be used to indicate a "function of performing mobility management", and the SMF indicates a "function of performing session management".

The UE in this application may be any other terminal apparatus.

Specific embodiments are used below to describe in detail the technical solutions of this application. The following several specific embodiments may be combined with each other, and a same or similar concept or process may not be described repeatedly in some embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic flowchart of a mobile network optimization processing method according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, the mobile network optimization processing method provided in this embodiment includes the following steps.

An NWDA function entity obtains first information.

In specific implementation, the first information may include one or more of: location information of UE, moving track information of the UE, historical location statistics of the UE, and service information of the UE. Alternatively, the first information may be information other than the several types of information, for example, information obtained through big data analysis. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the service information may be service data sending end information.

For example, the first information includes one or more of: the location information of the UE, a moving track of the UE, the service information of the UE, and the like. The location information of the UE may include, for example, at least one of the following: global positioning system (Global Positioning System, GPS) information, cell identification information, and the like. The moving track of the UE may include, for example, at least one of the following: a moving speed of the UE, a moving direction of the UE, and the like. The service information of the UE may include, for example, at least one of the following: historical service information, application characteristic information of the UE, and the like. For example, the UE may accurately obtain the moving speed and the moving direction of the UE by using an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor, may obtain, by using a GPS sensor in the UE, information about a current geographical location of the UE, may obtain acceleration information of the UE by using the acceleration sensor in the UE, and the like.

The NWDA function entity may receive the first information that is reported by at least one of the UE, an AF entity, an AN, and an NF entity to the NWDA function entity periodically or through event triggering. It should be understood that when the NWDA function entity simultaneously collects the first information from a plurality of network element devices, the NWDA function entity may determine, based on a current service processing requirement and information reported by a specific network element device, information for performing optimization processing on the UE, and ignore information reported by the other network element devices, or considers all pieces of information reported by the plurality of network element devices. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of this application.

For example, the UE reports related information of the UE to the NWDA function entity periodically or through event triggering, and the information may include the location information of the UE, application information of the UE, and the like.

For example, the AF entity sends a notification message of related information of the UE to the NWDA function entity periodically or through event triggering, and the message includes identification information of the UE and application information of the UE.

For example, the NF entity collects related information of the UE periodically or through event triggering, and the information includes a location, a moving track, and the like of the UE. For example, in a scenario shown in <FIG>, in a periodic tracking area update (Tracking Area Update, TAU) procedure of a user, an MME may obtain E-UTRAN cell global identifier (E-UTRAN Cell Global Identifier, ECGI) information of the user. This is a periodic triggering procedure. When the user moves out of a range of an original TA list, a TAU procedure caused by movement is triggered, and the MME may still obtain the ECGI information of the user based on the TAU procedure. This is an event triggering procedure. The NF entity reports the related information of the UE to the NWDA function entity periodically or through event triggering. For event triggering, two example manners are as follows: The NF entity may directly transfer the collected information to the NWDA function entity in a transparent transmission mode; alternatively, after receiving query information sent by the NWDA function entity, the NF entity returns the related information of the UE to the NWDA function entity.

For example, an (R)AN device (for example, an eNB) collects related information of the UE periodically or through event triggering. For example, in a scenario shown in <FIG>, in a periodic TAU procedure of a user, a base station may obtain ECGI information of the user. This is a periodic triggering procedure. When the user moves out of a range of an original TA list, a TAU procedure caused by movement is triggered, and the base station may still obtain the ECGI information of the user based on the TAU procedure. This is an event triggering procedure. The (R)AN device reports the related information of the UE to the NWDA function entity periodically or through event triggering. For event triggering, the (R)AN device may directly transfer the collected information to the NWDA function entity in a transparent transmission mode; alternatively, after receiving query information sent by the NWDA function entity, the (R)AN device returns the information about the UE to the NWDA function entity.

The NWDA function entity determines second information based on the first information.

In specific implementation, the second information may include an identifier of the UE. In addition, the second information may include time information for performing optimization processing on the UE, for example, a period of time after which the UE enters an idle mode/a connected mode (instead of immediately performing state transition), or a time of establishing a service that causes a state change of the UE, or a time of ending a service that causes a state change of the UE; or the second information may include information about a geographical location of the UE during state transition, for example, a specific location at which it is suitable for the UE to perform state transition; or the second information may include indication information for performing optimization processing on the UE, for example, information for instructing the UE to enter an idle mode/a connected mode, or an indication of establishing a service that causes a state change of the UE, and an indication of ending the service that causes the state change of the UE.

In other words, the second information may include one or more of: the location information of the UE, the time information for performing optimization processing on the UE, and the indication information for performing optimization processing on the UE. The location information of the UE may be location information of the UE at a preset time point or in a preset time period. It may be understood that the preset time point may be a current moment or may be a subsequent moment, and the preset time period may be a time period including a current moment or may be a subsequent time period. It should be noted that the preset time point/time period may be, for example, set by the NWDA based on a service start or end time point/time period obtained by the NWDA by analyzing the first information.

For example, for the UE in the connected mode, the NWDA function entity determines, based on the collected first information, a time at which the UE releases a resource. For example, a specific method for determining whether the UE needs to change to the idle mode may be: determining, based on the moving track of the UE, a time and/or a location at which the UE needs to change to the idle mode. The determined second information may include a period of time after which the UE releases the resource and changes to the idle mode, for example, a period of time after which the UE becomes idle (instead of immediately becoming idle).

For example, for the UE in the idle mode, the NWDA function entity determines, based on the collected first information, a time and a location at which a resource is allocated to the UE. For example, the NWDA function entity determines information about a time and/or a location at which the UE is transitioned to the connected mode, or information about a time and/or a location at which a session is established for the UE, or a time at which a bearer or a QoS flow is established for the UE.

For example, when the first information includes the location information and the moving track information of the UE, that the NWDA function entity determines the second information based on the first information includes: determining, by the NWDA function entity, the location information of the UE at the preset time point or in the preset time period based on the location information and the moving track information that are of the UE.

For example, when the first information includes the service information of the UE, that the NWDA function entity determines the second information based on the first information includes: determining, by the NWDA function entity based on the service information of the UE, the time information for performing optimization processing on the UE.

The NWDA function entity sends, to a CPF entity, a first message that carries the second information.

Specifically, the first message is used to notify the CPF entity that the CPF entity may perform optimization processing on the UE based on the second information. The first message may be, for example, a resource release request message or a resource allocation request message.

For example, for the UE in the connected mode, the NWDA function entity sends a resource release request message of the UE to a control plane function entity (the MME, an AMF entity, an SMF entity, or the like). The resource release request message may include identification (ID) information of a to-be-released resource (identifying a resource that needs to be released), the location information of the UE, and the identification information of the UE. The identification information identifying the resource that needs to be released is a state transition identifier of the UE, the location information of the UE is an ECGI, and the identification information of the UE is temporary identification information or permanent identification information of the UE. When a granularity of the resource that needs to be released is a session, an ID of the to-be-released resource is a packet data unit (Packet Data Unit, PDU) session (Session) ID, the identification information identifying the resource that needs to be released is identification information used to instruct to release (or deactivate) the PDU session, the location information of the UE is the ECGI, and the identification information of the UE is temporary identification information or permanent identification information of the UE.

For example, for the UE in the idle mode, the NWDA function entity sends a resource allocation request message of the UE to a control plane function entity. The resource allocation request message includes the identification information of the UE and specific information for establishing a resource for the UE. Specifically, when the UE needs to be restored to the connected mode, the specific information for establishing the resource for the UE is identification information for transitioning the UE from the idle mode to the connected mode, and the control plane function entity is an MME or an AMF; or when a new session needs to be established for the UE, the specific information for establishing the resource for the UE is identification information for establishing a new session for the UE and other information required for establishing the session (for example, information such as an access point name (Access Point Name, APN) or a data network name (Data Network Name, DNN)), and the control plane function entity is an MME or an SMF; or when a new bearer or QoS flow needs to be established for the UE, the specific information for establishing the resource for the UE is identification information for establishing the new bearer or QoS flow (for example, QoS information of the bearer) for the UE, and the control plane function entity is an MME or an SMF.

The CPF entity performs optimization processing on UE based on the first message.

For example, for the UE in the connected mode, the CPF entity performs a release procedure of a related resource based on the second information carried in the first message. A release granularity may be: changing a state of the UE (from the connected mode to the idle mode); or releasing a PDU session of the UE, which is a coarse granularity; or releasing a QoS flow (flow) of the UE, which is a fine granularity.

For example, for the UE in the idle mode, the CPF entity performs a connection establishment operation based on the second information carried in the first request message. For example, the MME/AMF entity pages the UE when receiving the identification information for transitioning the UE from the idle mode to the connected mode, or the MME/SMF entity performs a session establishment process when receiving the identification information for establishing a new session for the UE. Particularly, the second information carried in the first request message may include specific location information of the UE, and is used to optimize a paging range of the UE.

According to the mobile network optimization processing method provided in this embodiment, a network element responsible for a network data analytics (NWDA) function analyzes application layer information (namely, the first information) of the UE to obtain the information for performing optimization processing on the UE, and notifies the CPF entity such as a network element responsible for mobility management or a network element responsible for session management, so that the CPF entity performs optimization processing on the UE based on the information for performing optimization processing on the UE.

According to the mobile network optimization processing method provided in this embodiment, joint optimization is performed at an application layer and a communications layer, and information provided by the application layer is used to instruct the UE to perform proper state transition, so as to resolve all or at least some of prior-art problems in a process of controlling state transition of the UE. This is specifically reflected in at least one of the following aspects:.

To make the technical solutions and beneficial effects of this application clearer and more comprehensible, the following further describes the technical solutions of this application in detail by using some specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic flowchart of a mobile network optimization processing method according to an embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, an application scenario shown in <FIG> is used as an example to describe a process of transitioning UE to an idle mode. For a same or similar step and a used term, refer to descriptions of the foregoing embodiment in <FIG>. Details are not described again in this embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, the process of transitioning the UE to the idle mode provided in this embodiment includes the following steps.

An NWDA function entity obtains first information.

Optionally, the NWDA function entity may receive the first information that is reported by at least one of the UE, an AN, an AF entity, and an NF entity to the NWDA function entity periodically or through event triggering. In specific implementation, the first information may include one or more of: current location information of the UE, moving track information of the UE, historical location statistics of the UE, and service information of the UE. Alternatively, the first information may be information other than the several types of information, for example, information obtained through big data analysis. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the service information may be service data sending end information.

The NWDA function entity determines second information based on the first information.

The NWDA function entity sends, to an MME, a first message that carries the second information.

For example, the NWDA function entity predicts, based on the obtained first information, a time at which the UE is to be in the idle mode, and sends, to the MME based on a prediction result, a first message that carries the prediction result. For example, the NWDA may predict the time based on historical service information, a prompt of an application message, or the like. The prediction result may include a time at which the UE is transitioned to the idle mode; for example, the prediction result may be a period of time after which the UE changes to the idle mode, or may be that the UE needs to immediately change to the idle mode. Alternatively, the prediction result may include information about a geographical location at which the UE changes to the idle mode, for example, a specific location at which it is suitable for the UE to change to the idle mode. Alternatively, the prediction result may include the foregoing two types of information.

For example, the NWDA function entity predicts that it is suitable for the UE to immediately change to the idle mode, and therefore, the second information may include indication information indicating that the UE is to enter the idle mode or service end indication information.

For example, the NWDA function entity predicts that it is suitable for the UE to change to the idle mode after a period of time, and therefore, the second information may include time information for performing optimization processing on the UE, and may further include indication information indicating that the UE is to enter the idle mode or service end indication information.

The MME triggers a connection release procedure of the UE based on the first message.

It should be noted that how the time information for performing optimization processing on the UE is reflected in processing performed by a network element is determined by implementation of the network element. For example, the NWDA function entity analyzes the first information to predict the time at which the UE is to be in the idle mode. A timer may be set on the NWDA function entity, and then the NWDA function entity sends a resource release request message of the UE to the MME when the timer expires. It may be understood that if the second information includes the time information for transitioning the UE to the idle mode or ending the service, a timer may be set on the MME, and the MME triggers a connection release process of the UE when the timer expires.

It should be noted that the process of transitioning the UE to the idle mode provided in this embodiment may be performed when the UE is in a connected mode.

As shown in <FIG>, the process of transitioning the UE to the idle mode provided in this embodiment includes the following steps:.

It should be noted that, in a specific implementation process, S503 and S504 may be replaced with the following operations:.

It should be noted that the session deactivation procedure is a process in which the SMF entity instructs an (R)AN to delete a session context and the SMF entity instructs a UPF entity to delete session connection identification information.

Which one of the foregoing two operations is selected depends on a connection release manner, and either of the two operations can be selected in implementation.

It may also be understood that the process of transitioning the UE to the idle mode provided in this embodiment may be performed when the UE is in a connected mode.

It should be noted that, as described above, because a <NUM> structure is not determined, in this embodiment, the AMF entity and the SMF entity are only used as examples for description. Mobility management may be performed by another NE. Therefore, a protection scope is not limited to operations specific to the AMF entity and the SMF entity.

In the process of transitioning the UE to the idle mode provided in the foregoing embodiment, joint optimization is performed at an application layer and a communications layer, information provided by the application layer is used to instruct the UE to perform proper state transition, and the UE is directly and quickly transitioned to the idle mode based on the application layer information of the UE, or a state of the UE changes from the connected mode to the idle mode in advance without waiting for a waiting time of <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds specified in a network, thereby reducing power consumption of the UE, avoiding invalid occupation of an air interface resource, and improving a radio resource utilization.

<FIG> is a schematic flowchart of a mobile network optimization processing method according to an embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, an application scenario shown in <FIG> is used as an example to describe a process of transitioning UE to a connected mode. For a same or similar step and a used term, refer to descriptions of the foregoing embodiment in <FIG>. Details are not described again in this embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, the process of transitioning the UE to the connected mode provided in this embodiment includes the following steps.

An NWDA function entity obtains first information.

The NWDA function entity determines second information based on the first information.

The NWDA function entity sends, to an MME, a first message that carries the second information.

For example, the NWDA function entity predicts, based on the obtained first information, a time at which the UE is to be in the connected mode, and sends, to the MME based on a prediction result, a first message that carries the prediction result. The prediction result may include a time at which the UE needs to be transitioned to the connected mode; for example, the prediction result may be a period of time after which the UE changes to the connected mode, or may be that the UE needs to immediately change to the connected mode. Alternatively, the prediction result may include information about a geographical location at which the UE needs to change to the connected mode, for example, a specific location at which the UE needs to change to the connected mode. Alternatively, the prediction result may include the foregoing two types of information.

For example, the NWDA function entity predicts that it is suitable to transition the UE to the connected mode immediately, and therefore, the second information may include current location information of the UE. Optionally, the second information may further include indication information indicating that the UE is to enter the connected mode or service start indication information. The indication information indicating that the UE is to enter the connected mode or the service start indication information is optional, because the MME may determine, based on a message name, that the first message is used to request to transition the UE to the connected mode (implicitly indicating that the state needs to be transitioned), or may determine, based on a connected mode indication, that the first message is used to request to transition the UE to the connected mode (explicitly indicating that the state needs to be transitioned).

For example, the NWDA function entity predicts that it is suitable for the UE to change to the connected mode after a period of time, and therefore, the second information may include indication information indicating that the UE is to enter the connected mode or service start indication information indicating that the UE needs to enter the connected mode. Optionally, the second information further includes location information and/or time information of service occurrence.

For example, the NWDA function entity predicts location information based on which the UE needs to be transitioned to the connected mode. It should be noted that the location information may be a data structure. In other words, the location information may be spatial information, namely, may include a specific geographical location; or may be spatial-temporal information, namely, may include a specific geographical location and time associated with the geographical location.

The MME determines, based on the first message, that UE needs to be transitioned to a connected mode, and sends a paging message to an eNB, to request to establish a connection of the UE.

It may be understood that the process ends if the UE is already in the connected mode.

It may also be understood that how time information for performing optimization processing on the UE is reflected in processing performed by a network element is determined by implementation of the network element. For example, the NWDA function entity analyzes the first information to predict the time at which the UE is to be in the connected mode. A timer may be set on the NWDA function entity, and then the NWDA function entity sends a resource allocation request message of the UE to the MME when the timer expires. If the second information includes the time at which the UE is to be in the connected mode, a timer may be set on the MME, and the MME sends a paging message to the eNB when the timer expires. After receiving the paging message, the UE completes the process of transitioning the UE to the connected mode.

For example, there may be two operations in a specific implementation process of S604:.

It should be noted that when the MME receives the first message sent by the NWDA function entity, if the second information includes only the location information of the UE (the location information may be spatial information, namely, may include a specific geographic location, or may be spatial-temporal information, namely, may include a specific geographic location and a time associated with the geographic location), the MME may immediately send a paging message to an E-UTRAN corresponding to the location information, or may store the second information, and page the UE based on the location information of the UE when the UE needs to be paged because of a service request triggered by the network side.

It may be understood that the process of transitioning the UE to the connected mode provided in this embodiment may be performed when the UE is in the idle mode. Alternatively, the AF entity may trigger, based on a service requirement, the process of transitioning the UE to the connected mode. In this case, a state of the UE is not important. In other words, an indication (for example, a service trigger indication) of transitioning the UE to the connected mode may still be sent to the UE even if there is no state information of the UE in a network.

Optionally, before S601, the following steps may be further included.

Step <NUM>: When detecting that the UE is in the idle mode, the MME sends a first notification message to the NWDA function entity.

For example, the MME may detect, by using a control plane message in an S1 connection release process, that the UE is in the idle mode, and send the first notification message to the NWDA function entity, to notify the NWDA function entity that the UE is in the idle mode. The first notification message includes an identifier of the UE, and may further include an identifier indicating that the UE in the idle mode.

Step <NUM>: After receiving the first notification message sent by the MME, the NWDA function entity obtains the first information, and then starts to predict location information, time information, and the like for restoring the UE to the connected mode next time.

It may be understood that there may be no time sequence relationship between steps <NUM>-<NUM> and S601. S601 may be performed before steps <NUM>-<NUM>, or steps <NUM>-<NUM> may be performed before S601. Alternatively, there may be an intersection when steps <NUM>-<NUM> and S601 are performed (the steps may be partially overlapped).

An NWDA function entity obtains first information.

The NWDA function entity determines second information based on the first information.

The NWDA function entity sends, to an AMF entity, a first message that carries the second information.

The AMF entity determines that the UE needs to enter a connected mode, and performs a related processing procedure based on the first message.

For example, the AMF entity may send a paging message to an (R)AN based on the second information, to request to establish a connection of the UE, or the AMF entity triggers a related session activation procedure based on the second information. If the UE is currently in a non-access stratum (Non Access Stratum, NAS) idle mode, step <NUM> is performed.

It should be noted that, in a specific implementation process, if the UE is currently in a NAS connected mode, but a session of the UE is not activated, S703 to S705 may be replaced with the following operations:.

S703a: The NWDA function entity sends, to an SMF entity, a first message that carries the second information.

The SMF entity determines that the UE needs to activate a session, and performs a related processing procedure based on the first message.

For example, the SMF entity may trigger a session activation procedure in an existing manner based on the second information.

It should be noted that there may be two operations in a specific implementation process of S704:.

When the AMF entity receives the first message that is sent by the NWDA function entity and that carries the second information, if the second information includes only the location information of the UE (the location information may be spatial information, namely, may include a specific geographic location, or may be spatial-temporal information, namely, may include a specific geographic location and a time associated with the geographic location), the AMF entity may immediately send the paging message to the (R)AN corresponding to the location information, or may store the second information, and page the UE based on the location information of the UE when the UE needs to be paged because of a service request triggered by the network side.

It may also be understood that the process of transitioning the UE to the connected mode provided in this embodiment may be performed when the UE is in the idle mode. Alternatively, the AF entity may periodically trigger the process of transitioning the UE to the connected mode. In this case, a state of the UE is not important. In other words, an indication (for example, a service trigger indication) indicating that the UE needs to be in the connected mode may still be sent to the UE even if there is no state information of the UE in a network.

Optionally, before S701, the following steps may be further included.

Step <NUM>: When detecting that the UE is in the idle mode, the AMF entity sends a first notification message to the NWDA function entity.

For example, the AMF entity may detect, by using a control plane message in a connection release procedure of the UE, that the UE is in the idle mode, and send the first notification message to the NWDA function entity, to notify the NWDA function entity that the UE is in the idle mode. The first notification message includes an identifier of the UE, and may further include an identifier indicating that the UE in the idle mode.

Step <NUM>: After receiving the first notification message sent by the AMF entity, the NWDA function entity obtains the first information, and then starts to predict location information, time information, and the like for restoring the UE to the connected mode next time.

It may also be understood that there may be no time sequence relationship between steps <NUM>-<NUM> and S701. S701 may be performed before steps <NUM>-<NUM>, or steps <NUM>-<NUM> may be performed before S701. Alternatively, there may be an intersection when steps <NUM>-<NUM> and S701 are performed (some steps may be simultaneously performed).

In the process of transitioning the UE to the connected mode provided in the foregoing embodiment, joint optimization is performed at an application layer and a communications layer, and information provided by the application layer is used to instruct the UE to perform proper state transition. The UE in the idle mode may be transitioned to the connected mode in advance based on the application layer information of the UE, without waiting for a service request process triggered by the network side, thereby reducing a latency. In addition, when the UE in the idle mode is transitioned to the connected mode, the information about the location of the UE when the UE is paged may be predicted based on the application layer information of the UE, to reduce a paging range of the UE, thereby reducing signaling overheads during paging.

Based on the idea that is the same as that of the foregoing method embodiments, the embodiments of this application further provide a plurality of function entities. The plurality of function entities may be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware, and may be configured to implement the optimization processing method provided in the foregoing method embodiments. The apparatus part corresponds to the foregoing methods, and corresponding content and a technical effect of the apparatus part are the same as those of the foregoing methods.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a mobile network optimization processing apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, the apparatus may be implemented as a part of an NWDA function entity or an entire NWDA function entity by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The apparatus may include an obtaining module <NUM>, a determining module <NUM>, and a transceiver module <NUM>.

For example, the obtaining module <NUM> is configured to obtain first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: location information of UE, moving track information of the UE, historical location statistics of the UE, and service information of the UE; the determining module <NUM> is configured to determine second information based on the first information, where the second information includes at least one of the following: location information of the UE at a preset time point or in a preset time period, time information for performing optimization processing on the UE, and indication information for performing optimization processing on the UE; and the transceiver module <NUM> is configured to send, to a control plane function entity, a first message that carries the second information, so that the control plane function entity performs optimization processing on the UE based on the second information.

In actual application, the obtaining module <NUM> may be specifically configured to perform at least one of the following operations: obtaining the first information reported by the UE; obtaining the first information reported by an access network AN; obtaining the first information reported by an application function AF entity; and obtaining the first information reported by a network function NF entity.

Optionally, the information for performing optimization processing on the UE includes identification information of the UE and at least one of the following information: the location information of the UE at the preset time point or in the preset time period, the time information for performing optimization processing on the UE, and the indication information for performing optimization processing on the UE.

Optionally, the time information for performing optimization processing on the UE includes: a time at which the UE enters an idle mode; or a time at which the UE enters a connected mode; or a time of establishing a service that causes a state change of the UE; or a time of ending a service that causes a state change of the UE.

Optionally, the indication information for performing optimization processing on the UE includes: an indication that the UE enters an idle mode; or an indication that the UE enters a connected mode; or an indication of establishing a service that causes a state change of the UE; or an indication of ending a service that causes a state change of the UE.

Optionally, the first information includes at least one of the following information: the location information of UE, the moving track information of the UE, and the service information of the UE.

Optionally, the first information includes the location information and the moving track information that are of the UE, and the determining module <NUM> is specifically configured to determine the location information of the UE at the preset time point or in the preset time period based on the location information and the moving track information that are of the UE.

Optionally, optimization assistance information of the UE includes the service information of the UE, and the determining module <NUM> is specifically configured to determine, based on the service information of the UE, the time information for performing optimization processing on the UE.

In a possible design, the transceiver module <NUM> is further configured to receive current state information of the UE that is sent by the CPF entity, where the state information includes the connected mode or the idle mode.

The mobile network optimization processing apparatus provided in this embodiment can perform a function performed by the NWDA function entity in the foregoing method embodiments. An implementation principle and a technical effect of the mobile network optimization processing apparatus are similar to those of the method embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a mobile network optimization processing apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, the apparatus may be implemented as a part of a CPF entity (for example, an MME, an AMF, or an SMF) or an entire CPF entity by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The apparatus may include a transceiver module <NUM> and a processing module <NUM>.

For example, the transceiver module <NUM> is configured to receive a first message sent by an NWDA function entity, where the first message carries second information, and the second information is determined by the NWDA function entity based on first information; and the processing module <NUM> is configured to perform optimization processing on the UE based on the first message.

Optionally, the second information includes identification information of the UE and at least one of the following information: location information of the UE at a preset time point or in a preset time period, time information for performing optimization processing on the UE, and indication information for performing optimization processing on the UE.

Optionally, the first information includes at least one of the following information: location information of UE, moving track information of the UE, historical location statistics of the UE, and service information of the UE.

In actual application, the processing module <NUM> is specifically configured to: determine that the UE needs to be transitioned to the idle mode, and send a connection release request to an access network based on the second information, to request to release a connection of the UE; or determine that the UE needs to be transitioned to the connected mode, and send a paging message to an access network based on the second information, to request to establish a connection of the UE; or determine that the UE needs to activate a session, and trigger a session activation procedure based on the second information.

In a possible implementation, the second information includes current location information of the UE, and the processing module <NUM> is specifically configured to: determine a paging range of the UE based on the current location information of the UE; and send a paging message to an access network within the determined paging range, to request to establish a connection of the UE.

In a possible implementation, the second information includes the location information of the UE at the preset time point or in the preset time period, and the processing module <NUM> is specifically configured to: determine, at the preset time point or in the preset time period, a paging range of the UE based on the location information of the UE at the preset time point or in the preset time period; and send a paging message to an access network within the determined paging range, to request to establish a connection of the UE.

In actual application, a CPF entity may further send current state information of the UE to the NWDA function entity, where the current state information of the UE includes that the UE is in the connected mode or the idle mode. Based on this, the transceiver module <NUM> is further configured to send the current state information of the UE to the NWDA function entity.

The mobile network optimization processing apparatus provided in this embodiment can perform a function performed by the CPF entity in the foregoing method embodiments. An implementation principle and a technical effect of the mobile network optimization processing apparatus are similar to those of the method embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of an NWDA function entity according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, the NWDA function entity includes a transceiver <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and at least one communications bus <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> stores a software program. The memory <NUM> may include a high-speed RAM, and may further include a nonvolatile memory NVM, for example, at least one magnetic memory. The memory <NUM> may store various programs, which are used to implement various processing functions and implement method steps in this embodiment. The processor <NUM> is coupled to the memory <NUM>. The communications bus <NUM> is configured to implement communication connection between elements. Optionally, the transceiver <NUM> in this embodiment may be a radio frequency module or a baseband module on a network device.

In this embodiment, the transceiver <NUM> is configured to obtain first information. The processor <NUM> runs the software program in the memory <NUM> to: determine second information based on the first information, and send, to a CPF entity by using the transceiver <NUM>, a first message that carries the second information, so that the CPF entity performs optimization processing on the UE based on the second information.

In actual application, the transceiver <NUM> may be specifically configured to perform at least one of the following operations: obtaining the first information reported by the UE; obtaining the first information reported by an access network AN; obtaining the first information reported by an application function AF entity; and obtaining the first information reported by a network function NF entity.

Optionally, the first information includes current location information and the moving track information that are of the UE, and the processor <NUM> is specifically configured to determine the location information of the UE at the preset time point or in the preset time period based on the current location information and the moving track information that are of the UE.

Optionally, the first information of the UE includes the service information of the UE, and the processor <NUM> is specifically configured to determine, based on the service information of the UE, the time information for performing optimization processing on the UE.

In a possible design, the transceiver <NUM> is further configured to receive current state information of the UE that is sent by the CPF entity, where the state information includes the connected mode or the idle mode.

The NWDA function entity provided in this embodiment can perform a function performed by the NWDA function entity in the foregoing method embodiments. An implementation principle and a technical effect of the NWDA function entity are similar to those of the method embodiments.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a CPF entity according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, the CPF entity includes a transceiver <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and at least one communications bus <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> stores a software program. The memory <NUM> may include a high-speed RAM memory, and may further include a nonvolatile memory NVM, for example, at least one magnetic memory. The memory <NUM> may store various programs, which are used to implement various processing functions and implement method steps in this embodiment. The processor <NUM> is coupled to the memory <NUM>. The communications bus <NUM> is configured to implement communication connection between elements. Optionally, the transceiver <NUM> in this embodiment may be a radio frequency module or a baseband module on a network device.

In this embodiment, the transceiver <NUM> is configured to receive a first message that is sent by an NWDA function entity and that carries second information, where the second information is obtained by the NWDA function entity based on the first information. The processor <NUM> runs a software program in the memory <NUM> to perform optimization processing on the UE based on the second information.

In actual application, the processor <NUM> is specifically configured to: determine that the UE needs to be transitioned to the idle mode, and send a connection release request to an access network based on the second information, to request to release a connection of the UE; or determine that the UE needs to be transitioned to the connected mode, and send a paging message to an access network based on the second information, to request to establish a connection of the UE; or determine that the UE needs to activate a session, and trigger a session activation procedure based on the second information.

In a possible implementation, the second information includes current location information of the UE, and the processor <NUM> is specifically configured to: determine a paging range of the UE based on the current location information of the UE; and send a paging message to an access network within the determined paging range, to request to establish a connection of the UE.

In a possible implementation, the second information includes the location information of the UE at the preset time point or in the preset time period, and the processor <NUM> is specifically configured to: determine, at the preset time point or in the preset time period, a paging range of the UE based on the location information of the UE at the preset time point or in the preset time period; and send a paging message to an access network within the determined paging range, to request to establish a connection of the UE.

In actual application, the transceiver <NUM> is further configured to send the current state information of the UE to the NWDA function entity, where the state information includes the connected mode or the idle mode.

The CPF entity provided in this embodiment can perform a function performed by the CPF entity (for example, an MME, an AMF, or an SMF) in the foregoing method embodiments. An implementation principle and a technical effect of the CPF entity are similar to those of the method embodiment.

In addition, an embodiment of this application provides a plurality of mobile network optimization processing systems.

A first mobile network optimization processing system includes UE, an NWDA function entity having the mobile network optimization processing apparatus provided in the embodiment shown in <FIG>, and a CPF entity having the mobile network optimization processing apparatus provided in the embodiment shown in <FIG>.

A second mobile network optimization processing system includes UE, the NWDA function entity provided in the embodiment shown in <FIG>, and the CPF entity provided in the embodiment shown in <FIG>.

Method or algorithm steps described in combination with the content disclosed in this application may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by a processor by executing a software instruction, or may be implemented by a computer program product. The software instruction may include a corresponding software module. The software module may be located in a RAM memory, a flash memory, a ROM memory, an EPROM memory, an EEPROM memory, a register, a hard disk, a removable hard disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. For example, a storage medium is coupled to a processor, so that the processor can read information from the storage medium or write information into the storage medium. Certainly, the storage medium may be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium may be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC may be located in UE. Certainly, the processor and the storage medium may exist in the UE as discrete components.

Persons skilled in the art should be aware that, in the foregoing one or more examples, functions described in this application may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When this application is implemented by software, the functions may be stored in a computer readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or code in the computer readable medium. The computer readable medium includes a computer storage medium and a communications medium. The communications medium includes any medium that enables a computer program to be transmitted from one place to another. The storage medium may be any available medium accessible to a general-purpose or dedicated computer.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device, and method may be implemented in other manners without departing from the scope of this application. For example, the described embodiments are merely examples. For example, the module or unit division is merely logical function division and may be other division in actual implementation. Some or all of the modules may be selected based on actual needs to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments. Persons of ordinary skill in the art may understand and implement the embodiments of this application without creative efforts.

In addition, the schematic diagrams illustrating the system, device, method and different embodiments may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, technologies, or methods without departing from the scope of this application.

Claim 1:
A mobile network optimization processing method, comprising:
obtaining (<NUM>), by a network data analytics, NWDA, function entity, first information, wherein the first information comprises at least one of the following: location information of UE, moving track information of the UE, historical location statistics of the UE, and service information of the UE, wherein the UE operates according to one of a connected mode or an idle mode;
determining (<NUM>), by the NWDA function entity based on the first information, second information for performing optimization processing on the UE, wherein the second information comprises at least one of the following: location information of the UE at a preset time point or in a preset time period, time information for performing optimization processing on the UE, and indication information for performing optimization processing on the UE, and wherein the second information comprises a prediction result including a time in the future at which the UE will be transitioned to the idle mode and/or information about a geographical location at which the UE will change in the future to the idle mode; and
sending (<NUM>), by the NWDA function entity, a first message to a control plane function entity, wherein the first message carries the second information, so that the control plane function entity performs optimization processing on the UE to instruct the UE to perform state transition between the idle mode and the connected mode based on the second information,
wherein the first information comprises the location information and the moving track information that are of the UE, and the determining, by the NWDA function entity, second information based on the first information comprises:
determining, by the NWDA function entity, the location information of the UE at the preset time point or in the preset time period based on the location information and the moving track information that are of the UE.