Patent Description:
Narrowband internet of things (Narrow Band Internet of Things, NB-IoT) has become an important branch of internet of everything because of its wide coverage, large number of connected devices, and low power consumption. Therefore, that user equipment (User Equipment, UE) obtains information by using NB-IoT has become an important way for obtaining information. In an NB-IoT control plane (Control Plane, CP) scenario, in a process in which UE obtains information by using a network, when a radio resource control (Radio Resource Control, RRC) link fails, the RRC link needs to be re-established to continue to obtain information by using the network. In a process for reestablishing the RRC link, a base station needs context information of the UE, so that the base station needs to obtain the context information of the UE from a mobile management entity (Mobile Management Entity, MME). Currently, in the process of RRC link re-establishment, the base station needs to specially send information to obtain the context information of the UE from the MME, and therefore steps in the process of the RRC link re-establishment are added, and time for re-establishing RRC connection is prolonged.

<CIT> relates to reestablishing a mobile device radio resource control connection.

<NPL>), relates to mobility in NB-IoT enhancements.

Implementations of the present disclosure disclose an information obtaining method and device, to reduce a process of RRC link re-establishment, thereby shortening time for RRC connection re-establishment.

Implementations of the present disclosure disclose an information obtaining method and a device, to reduce a process of RRC link re-establishment, thereby shortening time for RRC connection re-establishment. Detailed descriptions are provided below.

To facilitate better understanding of the information obtaining method and the device that are disclosed in the implementations of the present disclosure, the following first describes an application scenario to which the implementations of the present disclosure are applied. <FIG> is a schematic flowchart for initially establishing an RRC connection by UE in an NB-IoT CP scenario disclosed in an implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, when UE needs to obtain information from a network, the UE first sends an RRC connection request to a base station, which may be implemented by using an RRC Connection Request message. After receiving the RRC connection request from the UE, the base station sends, to the MME, an obtaining request used to obtain context information of the UE, which may be implemented by using a Retrieve UE Information message. After receiving the obtaining request from the base station, the MME may send the context information of the UE to the base station by using a UE Information Transfer message. After receiving the context information of the UE that is from the MME, the base station sends, to the UE based on the context information of the UE, indication information that is used to instruct the UE to establish an RRC connection, which may be implemented by using an RRC Connection Setup message. After receiving the indication information from the base station, the UE establishes the RRC connection based on the indication information, and then sends an RRC connection establishment complete message to the base station, which may be implemented by using an RRC Connection Setup Complete message. After receiving the RRC connection establishment complete message from the UE, the base station sends initial information of the UE to the MME, which may be implemented by using an Initial UE Message message. After receiving the initial information of the UE from the base station, the MME sends, to the base station, indication information that is used to indicate connection establishment, which may be implemented by using a Connection Establishment Indication message. It can be learned that when the UE initially establishes an RRC connection in the NB-IoT CP scenario, the base station may obtain the context information of the UE from the MME by using the Retrieve UE Information message and the UE Information Transfer message. When the UE re-establishes an RRC connection in the NB-IoT CP scenario, the base station can obtain capability information of the UE from the Connection Establishment Indication message from the MME, but cannot obtain QoS of the UE. Therefore, processes of interaction using the Retrieve UE Information message and the UE Information Transfer message are added for the base station to obtain the QoS of the UE from the MME. As a result, a process of RRC link re-establishment is added, and time for re-establishing RRC connection is prolonged.

To better understand the information obtaining method and the device disclosed in the implementations of the present disclosure, the following first describes a network architecture to which an implementation of the present disclosure is applied. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a network architecture disclosed in an implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the network architecture may include UE <NUM>, one or more base stations <NUM> (only one base station is shown in the figure), and an MME <NUM>. The UE <NUM> is configured to send information to the base station <NUM>, and receive information from the base station <NUM>. The base station <NUM> is configured to: receive information from the UE <NUM> and the MME <NUM>, and send information to the UE <NUM> and the MME <NUM>. The MME <NUM> is configured to: receive information from the base station <NUM>, and send information to the base station <NUM>. The base station <NUM> may be an evolved base station (Evolutional Node B, eNB or eNodeB) in a long term evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE) system.

Based on the network architecture shown in <FIG> is a schematic flowchart of an information obtaining method disclosed in an implementation of the present disclosure. The information obtaining method is described from perspectives of a base station and an MME. As shown in <FIG>, the information obtaining method may include the following steps.

The base station sends first information to the MME.

In this implementation, in a process of RRC connection re-establishment, the base station sends the first information to the MME, which may be implemented by using an eNB CP Relocation Indication message. The first information includes a first request used to re-establish an RRC connection.

The MME sends second information to the base station based on the first request.

In this implementation, after receiving the first information from the base station, the MME sends the second information to the base station based on the first request, where the second information includes context information of UE and indication information that is used to indicate connection establishment, so that the base station can configure a radio resource for the RRC connection establishment based on the context information of the UE, where the context information of the UE includes capability information of the UE and QoS of the UE, which may be implemented by using a Connection Establishment Indication message or a DOWNLINK NAS TRANSPORT message. Table <NUM> lists information elements included after the QoS of the UE is added to the Connection Establishment Indication message.

Table <NUM> lists information elements included in the DOWNLINK NAS TRANSPORT message after the QoS of the UE is added.

In the information obtaining method described in <FIG>, the base station sends, to the MME, the first information including the first request used to re-establish the RRC connection, and the MME sends, to the base station based on the first request, the second information that includes the context information of the UE and the indication information that is used to indicate connection establishment. It can be learned that the base station may obtain the context information of the UE from the MME by using the first information that includes the first request and the second information that includes the indication information, and does not need to specially send information to obtain the context information of the UE from the MME. Therefore, steps in a process of RRC link re-establishment can be reduced, thereby shortening time for re-establishing the RRC connection. In addition, because the base station obtains the QoS of the UE, transmission efficiency of a subsequent service can be improved.

Based on the network architecture shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic flowchart of another information obtaining method disclosed in an implementation of the present disclosure. The information obtaining method is described from perspectives of UE, a source base station, a target base station, and an MME. As shown in <FIG>, the information obtaining method may include the following steps.

The UE sends a random access request to the target base station.

In this implementation, in an NB-IoT CP scenario, after the UE initially establishes an RRC connection, the UE communicates with a network. In a process in which the UE communicates with the network, when the UE detects a radio link failure (Radio Link Failure, RLF), the UE performs cell reselection, and sends the random access request to the target base station, which may be implemented by using a Random Access Preamble message. The target base station is a base station on which the UE camps after performing cell reselection.

The target base station sends a random access response to the UE.

In this implementation, after receiving the random access request from the UE, the target base station sends the random access response to the UE, which may be implemented by using a Random Access Response message.

The UE sends a second request used to re-establish an RRC connection to the target base station.

In this implementation, after receiving the random access response from the base station, the UE sends the second request to the target base station, which may be implemented by using an RRC Connection Restablishment Request-NB message. The second request is a request used to re-establish the RRC connection, and the second request may include key information of the UE.

The target base station sends first information to the MME based on the second request.

In this implementation, after receiving the second request from the UE, the target base station sends the first information to the MME based on the second request, which may be implemented by using an eNB CP Relocation Indication message. The first information includes the key information of the UE and a first request that is used to re-establish the RRC connection.

The MME verifies, based on the key information of the UE, whether the UE is authorized UE. When a verification result is that the UE is authorized UE, the MME sends first indication information to the source base station based on the first request.

In this implementation, after receiving the first information from the target base station, the MME verifies, based on the key information of the UE, whether the UE is authorized UE. In other words, key information is generated and is used to determine whether the generated key information is the same as the received key information. When the generated key information is the same as the received key information, it indicates that the UE is authorized UE, and the MME sends, based on the first request, the source base station the first indication information that is used to indicate that the UE needs to be migrated, which may be implemented by using an MME CP Relocation Indication message. The source base station is a base station on which the UE camps when the UE detects the RLF.

The source base station terminates a downlink path based on the first indication information, and sends third information to the MME.

In this implementation, after receiving the first indication information, the source base station terminates the downlink path based on the first indication information, in other words, stops sending information to the UE, and sends the third information to the MME, which may be implemented by using a NAS Non Delivery Indication message. The third information is information that should be from the source base station to the UE but has not yet been sent.

The MME sends a release instruction to the source base station.

In this implementation, after receiving the third information from the source base station, the MME sends, to the source base station, the release instruction used to release uplink information, which may be implemented by using a UE Context Release Command message.

The source base station releases the uplink information based on the release instruction, and sends a release complete message to the MME.

In this implementation, after receiving the release instruction from the MME, the source base station deletes, based on the release instruction, information that is from the UE and that should be sent to the MME but has not yet been sent, namely, the uplink information, and then sends the release complete message to the MME, which may be implemented by using a UE Context Release Complete message.

The MME sends second information to the target base station.

In this implementation, after receiving the release complete message from the source base station, the MME sends the second information to the target base station, which may be implemented by using a Connection Establishment Indication message. The second information includes context information of the UE and second indication information that is used to indicate connection establishment. The context information of the UE includes capability information of the UE and QoS of the UE.

The target base station sends re-establishment information to the UE.

In this implementation, after receiving the second information from the MME, the target base station sends the re-establishment information to the UE based on the second indication information and the context information of the UE, which may be implemented by using an RRC Connection Restablishment-NB message.

The UE re-establishes the RRC connection based on the re-establishment information and sends an establishment complete message to the target base station.

In this implementation, after receiving the re-establishment information from the target base station, the UE re-establishes the RRC connection based on the re-establishment information, and sends the establishment complete message to the target base station after the establishment is completed, which may be implemented by using an RRC Connection Restablishment Complete-NB message.

In the information obtaining method described in <FIG>, the base station obtains the context information of the UE from the MME by using the first information that includes the first request and the second information that includes the second indication information, and does not need to specially send information to obtain the context information of the UE from the MME, so that steps in a process of RRC link re-establishment can be reduced, thereby shortening time for re-establishing the RRC connection. In addition, because the base station obtains the QoS of the UE, transmission efficiency of a subsequent service can be improved.

Based on the network architecture shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a base station disclosed in an implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the base station may include:.

In a possible implementation, the receiving unit <NUM> is further configured to receive a second request that is from the UE and that is used to re-establish the RRC connection; and
that the sending unit <NUM> sends the first information to the MME includes:
sending the first information to the MME based on the second request received by the receiving unit <NUM>.

In a possible implementation, the second request may include key information of the UE, and the first information may further include the key information, where the key information is used to instruct the MME to verify, based on the key information, whether the UE is authorized UE.

That the MME sends the second information to the base station includes: When the UE is authorized UE, the MME sends the second information to the base station.

In a possible implementation, the sending unit <NUM> is further configured to send re-establishment information to the UE based on the context information of the UE and the indication information, where the re-establishment information is used to instruct the UE to establish a connection between the UE and the base station based on the re-establishment information.

In a possible implementation, the context information of the UE includes capability information of the UE and QoS of the UE.

In addition, the base station may further perform the method steps performed by the base station in <FIG> and <FIG>, and may further include another unit that performs the method steps performed by the base station in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Based on the network architecture shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of another base station disclosed in an implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the base station may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, and a bus <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a plurality of CPUs, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits that are configured to control program execution of solutions in the present disclosure. The memory <NUM> may be a read-only memory (read-only memory, ROM) or another type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, or a random access memory (random access memory, RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions; or may be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory, CD-ROM) or other optic disk storage, optical disc storage (including a compact optical disc, a laser disc, an optical disc, a digital general-purpose optical disc, a blu-ray optical disc, or the like), or magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other media that can be accessed by a computer and that can be configured to carry or store expected program code in an instruction form or in a data structure form, without being limited thereto. The memory <NUM> may exist alone, and the bus <NUM> is connected to the processor <NUM>. Alternatively, the memory <NUM> may be integrated with the processor <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include a channel for transmitting information among the foregoing components. The details are as follows:.

The memory <NUM> stores a group of program code, and the processor <NUM> is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory <NUM> to control the transceiver <NUM> to perform the following operations:.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver <NUM> is further configured to receive a second request that is from the UE and that is used to re-establish an RRC connection; and
that the transceiver <NUM> sends the first information to the MME includes:
sending the first information to the MME based on the second request.

In a possible implementation, the second request includes key information of the UE, the first information further includes the key information, and the key information is used to instruct the MME to verify, based on the key information, whether the UE is authorized UE; and.

In a possible implementation, the transceiver <NUM> is further configured to send re-establishment information to the UE based on the context information of the UE and the indication information, where the re-establishment information is used to instruct the UE to establish a connection between the UE and the base station based on the re-establishment information.

In a possible implementation, the context information of the UE includes capability information of the UE and quality of service QoS of the UE.

Based on the network architecture shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of an MME disclosed in an implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the MME may include:.

In a possible implementation, the first information may further include key information of the UE.

The MME may further include:
a verification unit <NUM>, configured to: verify, based on the key information received by the receiving unit <NUM>, whether the UE is authorized UE; and when the UE is authorized UE, trigger the sending unit <NUM> to send the second information to the base station based on the first request.

In a possible implementation, the indication information is used to instruct the base station to send re-establishment information to the UE based on the context information of the UE, and the re-establishment information is used to instruct the UE to establish a connection between the UE and the base station based on the re-establishment information.

In addition, the MME may further perform the method steps performed by the MME in <FIG> and <FIG>, and may further include another unit that performs the method steps performed by the MME in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Based on the network architecture shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of another MME disclosed in an implementation of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the MME may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, and a bus <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a plurality of CPUs, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits that are configured to control program execution of solutions in the present disclosure. The memory <NUM> may be a read-only memory (read-only memory, ROM) or another type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, or a random access memory (random access memory, RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions; or may be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory, CD-ROM) or other optic disk storage, optical disc storage (including a compact optical disc, a laser disc, an optical disc, a digital general-purpose optical disc, a blu-ray optical disc, or the like), or magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other media that can be accessed by a computer and that can be configured to carry or store expected program code in an instruction form or in a data structure form, without being limited thereto. The memory <NUM> may exist alone, and the bus <NUM> is connected to the processor <NUM>. Alternatively, the memory <NUM> may be integrated with the processor <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include a channel, used to transmit information among the foregoing components. The transceiver <NUM> may be a transceiver antenna, or may be another transceiver component. The details are as follows:
The transceiver <NUM> is configured to receive first information from a base station, where the first information includes a first request used to re-establish an RRC connection.

The transceiver <NUM> is further configured to send second information to the base station based on the first request, where the second information includes context information of UE and indication information that is used to indicate connection establishment, and the UE is a UE that requests RRC connection re-establishment.

The memory <NUM> stores a group of program codes, and the processor <NUM> is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory <NUM> to perform the following operation:
verifying, based on the key information, whether the UE is an authorized UE.

When the UE is authorized UE, the transceiver <NUM> sends the second information to the base station based on the first request.

An implementation further discloses an information obtaining system. The information obtaining system may include the base station in <FIG> and the MME in <FIG>.

A readable storage medium is further disclosed in an implementation of the present disclosure. The readable storage medium stores a program. When the program runs, the information obtaining method shown in <FIG> or <FIG> is implemented.

A person skilled in the art should be aware that in the foregoing one or more examples, functions described in the present disclosure may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When the implementations of this application is implemented by software, the foregoing 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, where the communications medium includes any medium that enables a computer program to be transmitted from one place to another place. The storage medium may be any available medium accessible to a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

Claim 1:
An information obtaining method, wherein the method is applied to a base station and comprises:
sending (<NUM>) first information to a mobility management entity, wherein the first information comprises a first request used to re-establish a radio resource control, RRC, connection, the first request is used to instruct the mobility management entity to send second information to the base station, the second information comprises context information of user equipment, UE, and indication information that is used to indicate connection establishment, and the UE is UE that requests RRC connection re-establishment; and
receiving (<NUM>) the second information;
wherein the context information comprises capability information of the UE and quality of service, QoS, of the UE;
characterised by:
the second information is included in a connection establishment indication message comprising at least the following information elements: a message type, a MME UE S1-access protocol, S1AP, ID, a eNB UE S1AP ID, UE radio capability and UE level QoS parameters; or
the second information is included in a downlink non-access stratum transport message comprising at least the following information elements: a message type, a MME UE S1-access protocol, S1AP, ID, a eNB UE S1AP ID, a NAS PDU, UE radio capability and UE level QoS parameters.