Method for state transition and network device   

Abstract: A method for a state transition includes determining whether a user equipment (UE) is a UE frequently performing state transitions. When the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state, a state of the UE is transitioned to a paging channel (PCH) state if the UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions. If the UE is a UE infrequently performing state transitions, the state of the UE is transitioned to the idle state.

This application is a continuation of co-pending International Application Ser. No. PCT/CN2011/072004, filed Mar. 21, 2011, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201010129163.1, filed Mar. 22, 2010, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method for a state transition and a network device.

In order to achieve the aims of intelligence, electricity saving and communication resource saving, currently, some User Equipments (UEs) may automatically perform a state transition between a connected state and an idle state as required.

For example, when an intelligent mobile phone is in an idle state, if service data to be sent exists, the intelligent mobile phone automatically sends a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling connection request to an access network side device (such as a base station controller), so that the access network side device sets up a radio access bearer for the intelligent mobile phone according to the RRC signaling connection request and transits the intelligent mobile phone from the idle state to a connected state; when the intelligent mobile phone is in the connected state, if no service data to be sent exists, the intelligent mobile phone automatically sends a Signaling Connection Release Indication to the access network side device, so that the access network side device releases the radio access bearer set up for the intelligent mobile phone according to the Signaling Connection Release Indication and transits the intelligent mobile phone from the connected state to the idle state.

However, when the state of the UE is frequently transitioned, the access network side device has to frequently set up/release the radio access bearer for the UE, resulting in a heavy workload.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for a state transition and a network device, which are capable of lightening the workload of an access network side device during a state transition process of a UE.

In one aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for a state transition, which includes: judging whether a UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions; transitioning a state of the UE to a Paging Channel (PCH) state if the UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions and when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to an idle state; and transitioning the state of the UE to the idle state if the UE is a UE infrequently performing state transitions and when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a network device, including 1 a judging module, configured to judge whether a UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions and a state transition module, configured to transit a state of the UE to a PCH state if the judging module judges that the UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions and when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to an idle state, and transit the state of the UE to the idle state if the judging module judges that the UE is a UE infrequently performing state transitions and when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state.

For the method for a state transition and the network device provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the UE frequently performing state transitions is transitioned to the PCH state when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state, so that an access network side device does not need to frequently set up/release a radio access bearer for the UE, thereby lightening the workload of the access network side device during a state transition process of the UE frequently performing state transitions; and the UE infrequently performing state transitions is transitioned to the idle state when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state, so that the access network side device does not need to maintain the PCH state of the UE infrequently performing state transitions, thereby lightening the workload of the access network side device during a state transition process of the UE infrequently performing state transitions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To illustrate the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure or in the prior art more clearly, the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art are introduced below briefly. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following descriptions merely show some of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and persons of ordinary skill in the art can obtain other drawings according to the accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for a state transition according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for a state transition according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of step 201 shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for a state transition according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of step 401 shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for a state transition according to yet still another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structure diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a first schematic structure diagram of a judging module shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a second schematic structure diagram of the judging module shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a third schematic structure diagram of the judging module shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and fully described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is obvious that the embodiments to be described are only a part rather than all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Any other embodiment obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

In order to solve the problem that an access network side device has a heavy workload during a state transition process of a UE in the prior art, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for a state transition and a network device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a method for a state transition provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a number of steps.

Step 101: Judge whether a UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions.

Step 102: Transit a state of the UE to a PCH state if the UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions and when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to an idle state.

Step 103: Transit the state of the UE to the idle state if the UE is a UE infrequently performing state transitions and when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state.

For the method for a state transition provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE frequently performing state transitions is transitioned to the PCH state when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state, so that an access network side device does not need to frequently set up/release a radio access bearer for the UE, thereby lightening the workload of the access network side device during a state transition process of the UE frequently performing state transitions; and the UE infrequently performing state transitions is transitioned to the idle state when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state, so that the access network side device does not need to maintain the PCH state of the UE infrequently performing state transitions, thereby lightening the workload of the access network side device during a state transition process of the UE infrequently performing state transitions.

In order to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure more clearly, the method for a state transition provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail through specific embodiments in the following.

As shown in FIG. 2, a method for a state transition provided in another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a number of steps.

Step 201: Obtain an International Mobile Equipment Identity TAC (IMEI TAC) of a UE. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, step 201 may include Step 2011, i.e., Send an Identity Request to the UE.

In this embodiment, step 2011 may be performed during the RRC connection phase of the UE, and may also be performed after a Signaling Connection Release Indication sent by the UE is received. Definitely, in practical implementations, the step may also be performed during other phases, but not all scenarios are described in detail here.

Step 2012: Receive an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) returned by the UE according to the Identity Request.

In this embodiment, the IMEI may be carried in an Identity Response.

Step 2013: Obtain the IMEI TAC from the IMEI received in step 2012.

Step 202: Judge, according to the IMEI TAC obtained in step 201, whether the UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions.

In this embodiment, for example, step 202 may include, first, searching for information of a terminal type corresponding to the IMEI TAC obtained in step 201 from a pre-stored correspondence relational table of the IMEI TAC and the terminal type.

For example, in this embodiment, the UE may be classified into two types. One is an intelligent terminal capable of automatically performing the state transition, which involves frequent state transitions; and the other is a dumb terminal incapable of automatically performing the state transition, which involves infrequent state transitions. Definitely, the UE may also be classified into two types. One is a terminal frequently performing state transitions; and the other is a terminal infrequently performing state transitions.

In this embodiment, the correspondence relational table of the IMEI TAC and the terminal type may include the IMEI TAC of the UE and the information of the terminal type corresponding to the UE, as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 IMEI TAC Terminal Type 011776 Intelligent terminal 356219 Intelligent terminal 356385 Dumb terminal 356411 Dumb terminal

The terminal type in the correspondence relational table of the IMEI TAC and the terminal type may be preset to be a default value, for example, the terminal type is an intelligent terminal (or a dumb terminal). At this time, the correspondence relational table of the IMEI TAC and the terminal type may also only include the IMEI TAC of the UE, that is, become an IMEI TAC list corresponding to the intelligent terminal (or the dumb terminal). For example, the terminal type in the correspondence relational table of the IMEI TAC and the terminal type is preset to be an intelligent terminal; in this case, the correspondence relational table of the IMEI TAC and the terminal type is shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 IMEI TAC 011776 356219 011775

The embodiment of the present disclosure is not intended to limit the specific form of the correspondence relational table of the IMEI TAC and the terminal type. In practical implementations, the correspondence relational table of the IMEI TAC and the terminal type may also be in other forms, which are not described in detail here.

In this embodiment, the correspondence relational table of the IMEI TAC and the terminal type may be preset by an operator through a user interface.

Then, judge, according to the information of the terminal type, whether the UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions.

In this embodiment, if the information of the terminal type is an intelligent terminal, the UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions; if the information of the terminal type is a dumb terminal, the UE is a UE infrequently performing state transitions.

Step 203: Transit a state of the UE to a PCH state if the UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions and when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to an idle state.

In this embodiment, a method for determining whether the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state may be, for example, as follows: If a Signaling Connection Release Indication sent by the UE is received, determining that the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state; or, presetting a timer configured to detect the state transition, starting the timer when the UE is in a Dedicated Channel (DCH) state, and if no service data sent by the UE is received within a counting time of the timer, determining that the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state.

Definitely, in practical implementations, other methods may also be used to determine whether the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state, but not all scenarios are described in detail here.

Step 204: Transit the state of the UE to the idle state if the UE is a UE infrequently performing state transitions and when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state.

For the method for a state transition provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE frequently performing state transitions is transitioned to the PCH state when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state, so that an access network side device does not need to frequently set up/release a radio access bearer for the UE, thereby lightening the workload of the access network side device during a state transition process of the UE frequently performing state transitions; and the UE infrequently performing state transitions is transitioned to the idle state when the state of the UE is required to be transitioned to the idle state, so that the access network side device does not need to maintain the PCH state of the UE infrequently performing state transitions, thereby lightening the workload of the access network side device during a state transitions process of the UE infrequently performing state transitions. Through the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the number of users in the PCH state is controlled while lightening the load on the signaling plane of the access network side device, so that the occupation of logic resources of the access network side device is reduced to ensure a system capacity.

As shown in FIG. 4, another embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a method for a state transition, which includes a number of steps.

Step 401: Obtain a subscriber identity corresponding to a UE.

In this embodiment, the subscriber identity may include: a Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI), or an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). In practical implementations, the subscriber identity may also be other identifications that may uniquely identify a user identity, which are not described in detail here.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, step 401 may include Step 4011, i.e., send a Direct Transfer Message to the UE, where the Direct Transfer Message carries information for instructing the UE to report the subscriber identity.

In this embodiment, step 4011 may be performed during the RRC connection phase of the UE; and may also be performed after a Signaling Connection Release Indication sent by the UE is received. Definitely, in practical implementations, the step may also be performed during other phases, but not all scenarios are described in detail here.

Step 4012: Receive the subscriber identity returned by the UE according to the Direct Transfer Message.

In this embodiment, if the subscriber identity is the TMSI, the subscriber identity (TMSI) in step 4012 may be carried in an RRC connection request message sent by the UE; if the subscriber identity is the IMSI, the subscriber identity (IMSI) in step 4012 may be carried in an Identity Response sent by the UE.

Step 402: Judge, according to the subscriber identity obtained in step 401, whether the UE is a UE frequently performing state transitions.

In this embodiment, for example, step 402 may include, first, searching for information of the terminal type corresponding to the subscriber identity obtained in step 401 from a pre-stored correspondence relational table of the subscriber identity and the terminal type.

For example, in this embodiment, the UE may be classified into two types. One is an intelligent terminal capable of automatically performing the state transition, which involves frequent state transitions; and the other is a dumb terminal incapable of automatically performing the state transitions, which involves infrequent state transitions. Definitely, the UE may also be classified into two types. One is a terminal frequently performing state transitions; and the other is a terminal infrequently performing state transitions.

In this embodiment, the correspondence relational table of the subscriber identity (TMSI/IMSI) and the terminal type may include the subscriber identity (TMSI/IMSI) and the corresponding information of the terminal type, as shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Subscriber Identity (TMSI/IMSI) Terminal Type 80002896/460070012340001 Intelligent terminal 80002895/460070012340002 Intelligent terminal 80002894/460070012340003 Dumb terminal 80002893/460070012340004 Dumb terminal

The terminal type in the correspondence relational table of the subscriber identity (TMSI/IMSI) and the terminal type may be preset to be a default value, for example the terminal type is an intelligent terminal (or a dumb terminal). At this time, the correspondence relational table of the subscriber identity (TMSI/IMSI) and the terminal type may also only include the subscriber identity (TMSI/IMSI), that is, become a subscriber identity (TMSI/IMSI) list corresponding to the intelligent terminal (or the dumb terminal). For example, the terminal type in the correspondence relational table of the subscriber identity (TMSI/IMSI) and the terminal type is preset to be an intelligent terminal; in this case, the correspondence relational table of the subscriber identity (TMSI/IMSI) and the terminal type is shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Subscriber Identity (TMSI/IMSI) 80002896/460070012340001 80002895/460070012340002 80002892/460070012340005

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