U.S. patent application number 13/790448 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-27 for method, apparatus, and system for acquiring load information.
This patent application is currently assigned to HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yanyan Chen, Wei Guo, Xuanyu GUO, Boya Lv.
Application Number | 20140086207 13/790448 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42739123 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140086207 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GUO; Xuanyu ; et
al. |
March 27, 2014 |
METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING LOAD INFORMATION
Abstract
The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus and a
system for acquiring load information. In one method, a source
access controller and a target access controller can interact
through RAT handover related messages so that a source RAT system
can acquire load information of a target RAT system when an
inter-RAT PS handover is performed. This enables load balancing
between different RAT systems so as to guarantee communications
quality of the systems. In another method of the present invention,
the source access controller and the target access controller
interact through a RAN RIM based load information request message
and an RIM based load information response message, so that the
source RAT system can acquire load information of the target RAT
system before an inter-RAT PS domain handover is performed. This
enables load balancing between different RAT systems so as to
guarantee the communications quality of the systems.
Inventors: |
GUO; Xuanyu; (Shenzhen,
CN) ; Chen; Yanyan; (Beijing, CN) ; Guo;
Wei; (Shenzhen, CN) ; Lv; Boya; (Beijing,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. |
Shenzhen |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO.,
LTD.
Shenzhen
CN
|
Family ID: |
42739123 |
Appl. No.: |
13/790448 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13235891 |
Sep 19, 2011 |
8494545 |
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13790448 |
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PCT/CN2009/070872 |
Mar 18, 2009 |
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13235891 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/331 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 36/0066 20130101;
H04W 36/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/331 |
International
Class: |
H04W 36/22 20060101
H04W036/22 |
Claims
1. A method for acquiring load information, the method is
applicable to a PS domain handover from an E-UTRAN to a UTRAN,
comprising: sending, by a source eNB to which a source cell
belongs, a handover request to an SGSN, so that a first relocation
request message is sent from the SGSN to a target RNC to which a
target cell belongs; receiving, by the source eNB, a first
relocation command message from the SGSN, wherein the first
relocation command message is returned by the SGSN according to an
first relocation request acknowledge message returned by the target
RNC; wherein the handover request message carries a first
transparent container IE that carries a source cell load
information IE; wherein the first relocation request message
carries the first transparent container IE; wherein the first
relocation request acknowledge message carries a second transparent
container IE that carries a target cell load information; wherein
the first relocation command message carries the second transparent
container IE.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transparent container
IE comprises an inter-system information transparent container IE
and/or a source RNC to target RNC transparent container IE; and the
second transparent container IE comprises an inter-system
information transparent container IE and/or a target RNC to source
RNC transparent Container IE.
3. A method for acquiring load information, the method is
applicable to a PS domain handover from an UTRAN to an E-UTRAN,
comprising: sending, by a source RNC to which a source cell
belongs, a relocation required message to a SGSN, so that a first
handover request message is sent from the SGSN to a target eNB to
which a target cell belongs; receiving, by the source RNC, a first
relocation command message from the SGSN, wherein the first
relocation command message is returned by the SGSN according to the
first relocation request acknowledge message returned by the target
eNB; wherein the relocation required message carries a first
transparent container IE that carries a source cell load
information IE; wherein the first handover request message carries
the first transparent container IE; wherein the handover request
acknowledge carries a second transparent container IE that carries
a target cell load information IE; wherein the first relocation
command message carries the second transparent container IE.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first transparent container
IE comprises an inter-system information transparent container IE
or a source eNB to target eNB transparent container IE; and the
second transparent container IE comprises an inter-system
information transparent container IE or a target eNB to source eNB
transparent container IE.
5. A method for acquiring load information, the method is
applicable to a PS domain handover from an E-UTRAN to a UTRAN,
comprising: receiving, by a target RNC to which a source cell
belongs, a first relocation request message, wherein the first
relocation request is sent from a SGSN according to a handover
request sent by a source eNB; sending, by the target RNC, a
relocation request acknowledge message to the SGSN, so that the
SGSN returns a first relocation command message to the source eNB,
wherein the first relocation command message is returned by the
SGSN according to an first relocation request acknowledge message
returned by the target RNC; wherein the handover request message
carries a first transparent container IE that carries a source cell
load information IE; wherein the first relocation request message
carries the first transparent container IE; wherein the first
relocation request acknowledge message carries a second transparent
container IE that carries a target cell load information; wherein
the first relocation command message carries the second transparent
container IE.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first transparent container
IE comprises an inter-system information transparent container IE
and/or a source RNC to target RNC transparent container IE; and the
second transparent container IE comprises an inter-system
information transparent container IE and/or a target RNC to source
RNC transparent Container IE.
7. A method for acquiring load information, the method is
applicable to a PS domain handover from a UTRAN to an E-UTRAN,
comprising: receiving, by a target eNB to which a target cell
belongs, a first handover request message from a SGSN, wherein the
first handover request message is sent from the SGSN according to a
relocation required message sent by a source RNC; sending, by the
target eNB, a handover request acknowledge message to the SGSN, so
that the SGSN returned a first relocation command message to the
source RNC; wherein the relocation required message carries a first
transparent container IE that carries a source cell load
information IE; wherein the first handover request message carries
the first transparent container IE; wherein the handover request
acknowledge carries a second transparent container IE that carries
a target cell load information IE; wherein the first relocation
command message carries the second transparent container IE.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first transparent container
IE comprises an inter-system information transparent container IE
or a source eNB to target eNB transparent container IE; and the
second transparent container IE comprises an inter-system
information transparent container IE or a target eNB to source eNB
transparent container IE.
9. An apparatus for acquiring load information, the apparatus which
a source cell belongs, the apparatus is applicable to a PS domain
handover from an E-UTRAN to a UTRAN, comprising: a transmitter,
configured to send a handover request to an SGSN, so that a first
relocation request message is sent from the SGSN to a target RNC to
which a target cell belongs; a receiver, configured to receive a
first relocation command message from the SGSN, wherein the first
relocation command message is returned by the SGSN according to an
first relocation request acknowledge message returned by the target
RNC; wherein the handover request message carries a first
transparent container IE that carries a source cell load
information IE; wherein the first relocation request message
carries the first transparent container IE; wherein the first
relocation request acknowledge message carries a second transparent
container IE that carries a target cell load information; wherein
the first relocation command message carries the second transparent
container IE.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first transparent
container IE comprises an inter-system information transparent
container IE and/or a source RNC to target RNC transparent
container IE; and the second transparent container IE comprises an
inter-system information transparent container IE and/or a target
RNC to source RNC transparent Container IE.
11. An apparatus for acquiring load information, the apparatus
which a source cell belongs, the apparatus is applicable to a PS
domain handover from an E-UTRAN to a UTRAN, comprising: a
transmitter, configured to send a relocation required message to a
SGSN, so that a first handover request message is sent from the
SGSN to a target eNB to which a target cell belongs; a receiver,
configured to receive first relocation command message from the
SGSN, wherein the first relocation command message is returned by
the SGSN according to the first relocation request acknowledge
message returned by the target eNB; wherein the relocation required
message carries a first transparent container IE that carries a
source cell load information IE; wherein the first handover request
message carries the first transparent container IE; wherein the
handover request acknowledge carries a second transparent container
IE that carries a target cell load information IE; wherein the
first relocation command message carries the second transparent
container IE.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first transparent
container IE comprises an inter-system information transparent
container IE or a source eNB to target eNB transparent container
IE; and the second transparent container IE comprises an
inter-system information transparent container IE or a target eNB
to source eNB transparent container IE.
13. An apparatus for acquiring load information, the apparatus
which a source cell belongs, the apparatus is applicable to a PS
domain handover from an E-UTRAN to a UTRAN, comprising: a receiver,
configured to receive a first relocation request message, wherein
the first relocation request is sent from a SGSN according to a
handover request sent by a source eNB; a transmitter, configured to
send a relocation request acknowledge message to the SGSN, so that
the SGSN returns a first relocation command message to the source
eNB, wherein the first relocation command message is returned by
the SGSN according to an first relocation request acknowledge
message returned by the target RNC; wherein the handover request
message carries a first transparent container IE that carries a
source cell load information IE; wherein the first relocation
request message carries the first transparent container IE; wherein
the first relocation request acknowledge message carries a second
transparent container IE that carries a target cell load
information; wherein the first relocation command message carries
the second transparent container IE.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first transparent
container IE comprises an inter-system information transparent
container IE and/or a source RNC to target RNC transparent
container IE; and the second transparent container IE comprises an
inter-system information transparent container IE and/or a target
RNC to source RNC transparent Container IE.
15. An apparatus for acquiring load information, the apparatus
which a target cell belongs, the apparatus is applicable to a PS
domain handover from an E-UTRAN to a UTRAN, comprising: a receiver,
configured to receive a first handover request message from a SGSN,
wherein the first handover request message is sent from the SGSN
according to a relocation required message sent by a source RNC; a
transmitter, configured to send a handover request acknowledge
message to the SGSN, so that the SGSN returned a first relocation
command message to the source RNC; wherein the relocation required
message carries a first transparent container IE that carries a
source cell load information IE; wherein the first handover request
message carries the first transparent container IE; wherein the
handover request acknowledge carries a second transparent container
IE that carries a target cell load information IE; wherein the
first relocation command message carries the second transparent
container IE.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first transparent
container IE comprises an inter-system information transparent
container IE or a source eNB to target eNB transparent container
IE; and the second transparent container IE comprises an
inter-system information transparent container IE or a target eNB
to source eNB transparent container IE.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/235,891, filed on Sep. 19, 2011, which is a
continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2009/070872,
filed on Mar. 18, 2009. The afore-mentioned patent applications are
hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of mobile
communications technologies, and in particular, to a method, an
apparatus, and a system for acquiring load information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] When a network develops toward a broadband and mobile
system, a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3rd Generation
Partnership Project 3GPP) proposes a Long Term Evolution (Long Term
Evolution, LTE) solution, namely, an Evolved Universal Mobile
Telecommunication System Terrestrial Radio Access Network (Evolved
Universal Mobile Telecommunication System Terrestrial Radio Access
Network, E-UTRAN), for a mobile access network, and a System
Architecture Evolution (System Architecture Evolution, SAE)
solution, namely, an Evolved Packet Core (Evolved Packet Core,
EPC), for a mobile core network. In LTE/SAE architecture, because
some operators expect that, after an Evolved Packet System (Evolved
Packet System, EPS) network is deployed, a voice service is still
provided by a conventional 2G/3G Radio Access Network (RAN) and a
Circuit Switched (Circuit Switched CS) domain core network while
the EPS network provides only Packet Switched (Packet Switched, PS)
domain data access, the EPS network coexists with the conventional
2G/3G CS domain core network for a period of time. A User Equipment
(User Equipment, UE) can access a CS domain core network through a
2G/3G RAN such as a Global System for Mobile Communications (Global
System for Mobile Communications, GSM)/Enhanced Data Rate for GSM
Evolution (Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution, EDGE) Radio Access
Network (Radio Access Network, GERAN) or a Universal Mobile
Telecommunication System Terrestrial Radio Access Network
(Universal Mobile Telecommunication System Terrestrial Radio Access
Network, UTRAN), and access the EPC through the E-UTRAN.
[0004] To balance loads between RANs, namely, Radio Access
Technology (Radio Access Technology, RAT) systems, an inter-RAT
handover is supported. When a UE performs a CS domain handover
between 2G/3G RAT systems, a source access controller to which a
source cell belongs in a source RAT system can interact with an
access controller to which a target cell belongs in a target RAT
system through a RELOCATION REQUIRED message, and a RELOCATION
COMMAND message or a RELOCATION PREPARATION FAILURE message.
[0005] In the above technical solutions, when an inter-RAT PS
domain handover is performed or before an inter-RAT CS or PS domain
handover is performed, the source RAT system is unable to acquire
the load information of the target RAT system, so that inter-RAT
load balancing fails to be implemented. As a result, communications
quality of the systems fails to be guaranteed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an
apparatus, and a system for acquiring load information to enable a
source RAT system to acquire load information of a target RAT
system, so that inter-RAT load balancing can be implemented to
guarantee communications quality of the systems.
[0007] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for
acquiring load information. The method includes:
[0008] when an inter-RAT PS domain handover is performed, sending,
through a core network, by a source access controller to which a
source cell belongs, an inter-RAT handover request message to a
target access controller to which serves a target cell belongs;
and
[0009] receiving, by the source access controller, an inter-RAT
handover response message returned by the target access controller
according to the inter-RAT handover request message through the
core network, where the inter-RAT handover response message carries
load information of the target cell.
[0010] An embodiment of the present invention provides another
method for acquiring load information. The method includes:
[0011] before an inter-RAT handover is performed, sending, through
a core network, by a source access controller to which a source
cell belongs, a RAN Information Management (RAN Information
Management, RIM) based load information request message to a target
access controller to which a target cell belongs; and
[0012] receiving, by the source access controller, an RIM based
load information response message returned by the target access
controller according to the RIM based load information request
message through the core network, where the RIM based load
information response message carries load information of the target
cell.
[0013] An embodiment of the present invention provides an access
controller. The access controller includes:
[0014] a first sending module, configured to send, through a core
network, an inter-RAT handover request message to a target access
controller to which a target cell belongs when an inter-RAT PS
domain handover is performed; and
[0015] a first receiving module, configured to receive an inter-RAT
handover response message returned by the target access controller
according to the inter-RAT handover request message through the
core network, where the inter-RAT handover response message carries
load information of the target cell.
[0016] An embodiment of the present invention provides another
access controller. The access controller includes:
[0017] a third sending module, configured to send, through a core
network, an RIM based load information request message to a target
access controller to which a target cell belongs before an
inter-RAT handover is performed; and
[0018] a third receiving module, configured to receive an RIM based
load information response message returned by the target access
controller according to the RIM based load information request
message through the core network, where the RIM based load
information response message carries load information of the target
cell.
[0019] An embodiment of the present invention provides a system for
acquiring load information. The system includes a first source
access controller to which a source cell belongs in a source RAT
system and a first target access controller to which a target cell
belongs in a target RAT system, where:
[0020] the first source access controller is configured to send,
through a core network, an inter-RAT handover request message to
the first target access controller to which the target cell belongs
when an inter-RAT PS domain handover is performed, and receive an
inter-RAT handover response message returned by the first target
access controller through the core network, where the inter-RAT
handover response message carries load information of the target
cell; and
[0021] the first target access controller is configured to receive
the inter-RAT handover request message that is sent, through the
core network, by the first source access controller to which the
source cell belongs, and return the inter-RAT handover response
message to the first source access controller through the core
network.
[0022] An embodiment of the present invention provides another
system for acquiring load information. The system includes a second
source access controller to which a source cell belongs in a source
RAT system and a second target access controller to which a target
cell belongs in a target RAT system, where:
[0023] the second source access controller is configured to send,
through a core network, an RIM based load information request
message to the second target access controller to which the target
cell belongs before an inter-RAT handover is performed, and receive
an RIM based load information response message returned by the
second target access controller through the core network, where the
RIM based load information response message carries load
information of the target cell; and
[0024] the second target access controller is configured to receive
the RIM based load information request message that is sent,
through the core network, by the second source access controller to
which the source cell belongs, and return the RIM based load
information response message to the second source access controller
through the core network.
[0025] According to the above technical solutions, the source
access controller and the target access controller in the
embodiments of the present invention can interact through inter-RAT
handover related messages so that the source RAT system can acquire
load information of the target RAT system when an inter-RAT PS
domain handover is performed and therefore load balancing between
different RAT systems can be implemented. This guarantees
communications quality of the systems. The source access controller
and the target access controller in the embodiments of the present
invention can also interact through an RIM based load information
request message and an RIM based load information response message,
so that the source RAT system can acquire load information of the
target RAT system before an inter-RAT handover is performed and
therefore inter-RAT load balancing can be implemented. This
guarantees the communications quality of the systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] To better explain the technical solutions of the present
invention, the accompanying drawings required in the description of
the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art are
briefly described. It is apparent that the accompanying drawings
illustrate only some exemplary embodiments of the present
invention. Those skilled in the art can derive other drawings from
these drawings without any creative effort.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a sixth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a seventh embodiment of the present
invention;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to an eighth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a ninth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a tenth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0037] FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to an eleventh embodiment of
the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a twelfth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0039] FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a thirteenth embodiment of
the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 14 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a fourteenth embodiment of
the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of an access
controller according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0042] FIG. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of another access
controller according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0043] FIG. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
access controller according to a seventeenth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0044] FIG. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
access controller according to an eighteenth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0045] FIG. 19 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for
acquiring load information according to a nineteenth embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0046] FIG. 20 is a schematic structural diagram of another system
for acquiring load information according to a twentieth embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0047] To better explain the technical solutions of the present
invention, the embodiments of the present invention are described
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is
apparent that the embodiments herein are only some exemplary
embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of
the present invention, those skilled in the art can derive other
embodiments without any creative effort and such other embodiments
all fall into the protection scope of the present invention.
[0048] For a description purpose, load information of a target cell
in a target RAT system is herein referred to as load information of
the target RAT system. Likewise, load information of a source cell
in a source RAT system is referred to as load information of the
source RAT system.
[0049] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for acquiring load
information according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the method for acquiring load
information in this embodiment may include the following steps:
[0050] Step 101: When an inter-RAT PS domain handover is performed,
a source access controller to which a source cell belongs in a
source RAT system sends, through a core network, an inter-RAT
handover request message to a target access controller to which a
target cell belongs in a target RAT system.
[0051] Step 102: The source access controller receives an inter-RAT
handover response message returned by the target access controller
according to the inter-RAT handover request message through the
core network, where the inter-RAT handover response message carries
load information of the target cell.
[0052] The source RAT system and the target RAT system in this
embodiment may be any two systems of a GERAN, a UTRAN, and an
E-UTRAN. The corresponding access controllers are respectively a
Base Station System (Base Station System, BSS), a Radio Network
Controller (Radio Network Controller, RNC), or an evolved NodeB
(evolved NodeB, eNB).
[0053] In this embodiment, the bearing of the load information of
the target cell may be implemented by a Transparent Container
Information Element (Information Element, IE) carried in the
inter-RAT handover related messages.
[0054] In this embodiment, the source access controller and the
target access controller interact through the inter-RAT handover
related messages. In this way, when an inter-RAT PS domain handover
is performed, the source RAT system can acquire the load
information of the target RAT system, so that load balancing can be
implemented between different RAT systems. Therefore,
communications quality of the systems can be guaranteed.
[0055] An inter-RAT PS domain handover between any two of the
preceding RAT systems is performed. Access controllers in different
RAT systems each interact with the core network through different
handover related messages. The specific procedures are described in
detail in the following six exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0056] FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a second embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment is applicable to a
PS domain handover from a UTRAN to an E-UTRAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0057] Step 201: A source RNC to which a source cell belongs sends
a RELOCATION REQUIRED (RELOCATION REQUIRED) message to a Serving
GPRS Support Node (Serving GPRS Support Node, SGSN), where the
RELOCATION REQUIRED message carries a first Transparent Container
IE that carries a source cell load information IE.
[0058] Step 202: The SGSN receives the RELOCATION REQUIRED message
and sends a first HANDOVER REQUEST message to a target eNB to which
a target cell belongs, where the first HANDOVER REQUEST message
carries the first Transparent Container IE.
[0059] Step 203: The target eNB receives the first HANDOVER REQUEST
message and returns a HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE message to the
SGSN, where the HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE carries a second
Transparent Container IE that carries a target cell load
information IE.
[0060] Step 204: The SGSN receives the HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE
message and returns a first RELOCATION COMMAND message to the
source RNC, where the first RELOCATION COMMAND message carries the
second Transparent Container IE.
[0061] In this embodiment, the first Transparent Container IE may
be an Inter-System Information Transparent Container IE or a Source
eNB To Target eNB Transparent Container IE. Likewise, the second
Transparent Container IE may be an Inter-System Information
Transparent Container IE or a Target eNB To Source eNB Transparent
Container IE.
[0062] In this embodiment, the load information of different RAT
systems is exchanged through the source cell load information IE
carried in the first Transparent Container IE and the target cell
load information IE carried in the second Transparent Container IE
In this way, when an inter-RAT PS domain handover from the UTRAN to
the E-UTRAN is performed, the UTRAN and the E-UTRAN can acquire
load information of the peer system, so that load balancing can be
implemented between different RAT systems. Therefore,
communications quality of the systems is guaranteed.
[0063] FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a third embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 3, this embodiment is applicable to a
PS domain handover from a UTRAN to a GERAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0064] Step 301: A source RNC to which a source cell belongs sends
a RELOCATION REQUIRED message to an SGSN, where the RELOCATION
REQUIRED message carries a first Transparent Container IE that
carries a source cell load information IE.
[0065] Step 302: The SGSN receives the RELOCATION REQUIRED message
and sends a first PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST message to a target BSS to
which a target cell belongs, where the first PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST
message carries the first Transparent Container IE.
[0066] Step 303: The target BSS receives the first
PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST message and returns a
PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST-ACKNOWLEDGE message to the SGSN, where the
PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST-ACKNOWLEDGE message carries a second
Transparent Container IE that carries a target cell load
information IE.
[0067] Step 304: The SGSN receives the
PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST-ACKNOWLEDGE message and returns a second
RELOCATION COMMAND message to the source RNC, where the second
RELOCATION COMMAND message carries the second Transparent Container
IE.
[0068] In this embodiment, the first Transparent Container IE may
be an Inter-System Information Transparent Container IE or a Source
BSS To Target BSS Transparent Container IE. Likewise, the second
Transparent Container IE may be an Inter-System Information
Transparent Container IE or a Target BSS To Source BSS Transparent
Container IE.
[0069] In this embodiment, the load information of different RAT
systems is exchanged through the source cell load information IE
carried in the first Transparent Container IE and the target cell
load information IE carried in the second Transparent Container IE.
In this way, when an inter-RAT PS domain handover from the UTRAN to
the GERAN is performed, the UTRAN and the GERAN can acquire load
information of the peer system, so that load balancing can be
implemented between different RAT systems. Therefore, the
communications quality of the systems is guaranteed.
[0070] FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 4, this embodiment is applicable to a
PS domain handover from an E-UTRAN to a UTRAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0071] Step 401: A source eNB to which a source cell belongs sends
a HANDOVER REQUIRED (HANDOVER REQUIRED) message to an SGSN, where
the HANDOVER REQUIRED message carries a first Transparent Container
IE that carries a source cell load information IE.
[0072] Step 402: The SGSN receives the HANDOVER REQUIRED message
and sends a first RELOCATION REQUEST message to a target RNC to
which a target cell belongs, where the first RELOCATION REQUEST
message carries the first Transparent Container IE.
[0073] Step 403: The target RNC receives the first RELOCATION
REQUEST message and returns a RELOCATION REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE
message to the SGSN, where the RELOCATION REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE
message carries a second Transparent Container IE that carries a
target cell load information IE.
[0074] Step 404: The SGSN receives the RELOCATION REQUEST
ACKNOWLEDGE message and returns a first RELOCATION COMMAND message
to the source eNB, where the first RELOCATION COMMAND message
carries the second Transparent Container IE.
[0075] In this embodiment, the first Transparent Container IE may
be an Inter-System Information Transparent Container IE or a Source
RNC To Target RNC Transparent Container IE. Likewise, the second
Transparent Container IE may be an Inter-System Information
Transparent Container IE or a Target RNC To Source RNC Transparent
Container IE.
[0076] In this embodiment, the load information of different RAT
systems is exchanged through the source cell load information IE
carried in the first Transparent Container IE and the target cell
load information IE carried in the second Transparent Container IE.
In this way, when an inter-RAT PS domain handover from the E-UTRAN
to the UTRAN is performed, the E-UTRAN and the UTRAN can acquire
load information of the peer system, so that load balancing can be
implemented between different RAT systems. Therefore,
communications quality of the systems is guaranteed.
[0077] FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment is applicable to a
PS domain handover from a GERAN to a UTRAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0078] Step 501: A source BSS to which a source cell belongs sends
a PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED (PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED) message to an SGSN,
where the PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED message carries a first Transparent
Container IE that carries a source cell load information IE.
[0079] Step 502: The SGSN receives the PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED message
and sends a second RELOCATION REQUEST message to a target RNC to
which a target cell belongs, where the second RELOCATION REQUEST
message carries the first Transparent Container IE.
[0080] Step 503: The target RNC receives the second RELOCATION
REQUEST message and returns a RELOCATION REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE
message to the SGSN, where the RELOCATION REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE
message carries a second Transparent Container IE that carries a
target cell load information IE.
[0081] Step 504: The SGSN receives the RELOCATION REQUEST
ACKNOWLEDGE message and returns a first PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED-ACK
(PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED-ACK) message to the source BSS, where the
first PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED-ACK message carries the second
Transparent Container IE.
[0082] In this embodiment, the first Transparent Container IE may
be an Inter-System Information Transparent Container IE or a Source
RNC To Target RNC Transparent Container IE. Likewise, the second
Transparent Container IE may be an Inter-System Information
Transparent Container IE or a Target RNC To Source RNC Transparent
Container IE.
[0083] In this embodiment, the load information of different RAT
systems is exchanged through the source cell load information IE
carried in the first Transparent Container IE and the target cell
load information IE carried in the second Transparent Container IE.
In this way, when an inter-RAT PS domain handover from the GERAN to
the UTRAN is performed, the GERAN and the UTRAN can acquire load
information of the peer system, so that load balancing can be
implemented between different RAT systems. Therefore,
communications quality of the systems is guaranteed.
[0084] FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a sixth embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 6, this embodiment is applicable to a
PS domain handover from a GERAN to an E-UTRAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0085] Step 601: A source BSS to which a source cell belongs sends
a PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED message to an SGSN, where the
PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED message carries a first Transparent Container
IE that carries a source cell load information IE.
[0086] Step 602: The SGSN receives the PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED message
and sends a second HANDOVER REQUEST message to a target eNB to
which a target cell belongs, where the second HANDOVER REQUEST
message carries the first Transparent Container IE.
[0087] Step 603: The target eNB receives the second HANDOVER
REQUEST message and returns a HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE message
to the SGSN, where the HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE message carries
a second Transparent Container IE that carries a target cell load
information IE.
[0088] Step 604: The SGSN receives the HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE
message and returns a second PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED-ACK message to
the source BSS, where the second PS-HANDOVER-REQUIRED-ACK message
carries the second Transparent Container IE.
[0089] In this embodiment, the first Transparent Container IE may
be an Inter-System Information Transparent Container IE or a Source
eNB To Target eNB Transparent Container IE. Likewise, the second
Transparent Container IE may be an Inter-System Information
Transparent Container IE or a Target eNB To Source eNB Transparent
Container IE.
[0090] In this embodiment, the load information of different RAT
systems is exchanged through the source cell load information IE
carried in the first Transparent Container IE and the target cell
load information IE carried in the second Transparent Container IE.
In this way, when an inter-RAT PS domain handover from the GERAN to
the E-UTRAN is performed, the GERAN and the E-UTRAN can acquire
load information of the peer system, so that load balancing can be
implemented between different RAT systems. Therefore,
communications quality of the systems is guaranteed.
[0091] FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method for acquiring
load information according to a seventh embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 7, this embodiment is applicable to a
PS domain handover from an E-UTRAN to a GERAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0092] Step 701: A source eNB to which a source cell belongs sends
a HANDOVER REQUIRED message to an SGSN, where the HANDOVER REQUIRED
message carries a first Transparent Container IE that carries a
source cell load information IE.
[0093] Step 702: The SGSN receives the HANDOVER REQUIRED message
and sends a second PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST message to a target BSS to
which a target cell belongs, where the second PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST
message carries the first Transparent Container IE.
[0094] Step 703: The target BSS receives the second
PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST message and returns a
PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST-ACKNOWLEDGE message to the SGSN, where the
PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST-ACKNOWLEDGE message carries a second
Transparent Container IE that carries a target cell load
information IE.
[0095] Step 704: The SGSN receives the
PS-HANDOVER-REQUEST-ACKNOWLEDGE message and returns a second
HANDOVER COMMAND message to the source eNB, where the second
HANDOVER COMMAND message carries the second Transparent Container
IE.
[0096] In this embodiment, the first Transparent Container IE may
be an Inter-System Information Transparent Container IE or a Source
BSS To Target BSS Transparent Container IE. Likewise, the second
Transparent Container IE may be an Inter-System Information
Transparent Container IE or a Target BSS To Source BSS Transparent
Container IE.
[0097] In this embodiment, the load information of different RAT
systems is exchanged through the source cell load information IE
carried in the first Transparent Container IE and the target cell
load information IE carried in the second Transparent Container IE
In this way, when an inter-RAT PS domain handover from the E-UTRAN
to the GERAN is performed, the E-UTRAN and the GERAN can acquire
load information of the peer system, so that load balancing can be
implemented between different RAT systems. Therefore,
communications quality of the systems is guaranteed.
[0098] It should be noted that the above second to seventh
embodiments of the present invention are all successful handover
scenarios. Those skilled in the art may easily know that an
embodiment of the present invention may also be a failed handover
scenario, that is, the second Transparent Container IE is carried
in a response message that indicates a failure. Such a scenario is
not further described herein.
[0099] In the methods for acquiring load information according to
the first to seventh embodiments of the present invention, the
source access controller and the target access controller can
exchange load information only after the source access controller
initiates a handover related procedure. In this case, the target
cell load information acquired by the source access controller
cannot avoid a failure of a current handover due to overload of the
target access controller, but can be used only as a guarantee of a
next successful handover to implement load balancing between
different RAT systems so that the communications quality of the
systems is guaranteed.
[0100] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another method for acquiring load
information according to an eighth embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the method for acquiring load
information in this embodiment may include the following steps:
[0101] Step 801: Before an inter-RAT handover is performed, a
source access controller to which a source cell belongs in a source
RAT system sends, through a core network, an RIM based load
information request message to a target access controller to which
a target cell belongs in a target RAT system.
[0102] Step 802: The source access controller receives an RIM based
load information response message returned by the target access
controller according to the RIM based load information request
message through the core network, where the RIM based load
information response message carries load information of the target
cell.
[0103] In this embodiment, the source RAT system and the target RAT
systems may be any two of a GERAN, a UTRAN, and an E-UTRAN. The
corresponding access controllers are respectively a BSS, an RNC,
and an eNB.
[0104] In this embodiment, the source access controller may send
the RIM based load information request message to the target access
controller in an event-driven or periodical manner. For example,
when the load of the source cell exceeds 60%, the source cell
reports a predetermined event to its source access controller to
drive the source access controller to send an RIM based load
information request message to the target access controller through
the core network; or the source access controller is driven to send
an RIM based load information request message to the target access
controller through the core network at predetermined intervals.
[0105] In this embodiment, the source access controller and the
target access controller may interact though the RIM based load
information request message and the RIM based load information
response message, so that the source RAT system acquires the load
information of the target RAT system before an inter-RAT handover
is performed. Therefore, load balancing can be implemented between
different RAT systems and communications quality of the systems is
guaranteed.
[0106] It should be noted that the number of target cells in the
method for acquiring load information according to this embodiment
may be one or more than one. Specifically, the target cell or
target cells can be indicated by carrying a cell ID of one target
cell or a list of cell IDs of multiple target cells in the RIM
based load information request message. In the case of multiple
target cells, after receiving an RIM based load information request
message that carries a list of cell IDs of multiple target cells,
the core network locates the target access controller of each
target cell according to the target cell IDs in the list of cell
IDs. Each target access controller returns an RIM based load
information response message that carries load information of the
respective target cell to the source access controller to which the
source cell belongs. The source access controller and the multiple
target access controllers interact though the RIM based load
information request message and RIM based load information response
message, so that the source RAT system acquires the load
information of multiple target RAT systems before an inter-RAT
handover is performed. In this way, a target cell can be selected
more effectively according to the load information of multiple
cells for implementing load balancing between different RAT
systems. Therefore, the communications quality of the systems is
further guaranteed.
[0107] Because no interface is defined between the source access
controller and the target access controller, in this embodiment,
the load information request message and the load information
response message can be transparently transmitted through an SGSN
(PS domain) or a Mobile Switching Center (MSC, CS domain) in the
core network.
[0108] Before An inter-RAT PS domain handover between any two of
the preceding RAT systems is performed, the access controllers in
different RAT systems each interact with the core network through
different RIM related messages. The specific procedures are
described in detail in the following six exemplary embodiments of
the present invention.
[0109] FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a ninth embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, this embodiment is
applicable to a handover from a UTRAN to an E-UTRAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0110] Step 901: A source RNC to which a source cell belongs sends
a first DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message to an SGSN or an MSC,
where the first DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a first
Inter-System Information Transfer Type IE that carries a first RIM
Transfer IE and the first RIM Transfer IE carries a source cell
load information IE.
[0111] Step 902: The SGSN or the MSC receives the first DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and sends a first MME DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message to a target eNB to which a target cell
belongs, where the first MME DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message
carries the first Inter-System Information Transfer Type IE.
[0112] Step 903: The target eNB receives the first MME DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and returns an eNB DIRECT INFORMATION
TRANSFER message to the SGSN or the MSC, where the eNB DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a second Inter-System
Information Transfer Type IE that carries a second RIM Transfer IE
and the second RIM Transfer IE carries a target cell load
information IE.
[0113] Step 904: The SGSN or the MSC receives the eNB DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and returns a second DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message to the source RNC, where the second
DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries the second Inter-System
Information Transfer Type IE.
[0114] In this embodiment, the load information of different RAT
systems is exchanged through the source cell load information IE
carried in the first Transparent Container IE and the target cell
load information IE carried in the second Transparent Container IE.
In this way, before an inter-RAT handover from the UTRAN to the
E-UTRAN is performed, the UTRAN and the E-UTRAN can acquire load
information of the peer system, so that load balancing can be
implemented between different RAT systems. Therefore,
communications quality of the systems is guaranteed.
[0115] FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a tenth embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, this embodiment is
applicable to a handover from a UTRAN to a GERAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0116] Step 1001: A source RNC to which a source cell belongs sends
a first DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message to an SGSN or an MSC,
where the first DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a first
Inter-System Information Transfer Type IE that carries a first RIM
Transfer IE and the first RIM Transfer IE carries a source cell
load information IE.
[0117] Step 1002: The SGSN or the MSC receives the first DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and sends a first RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req
message to a target BSS to which a target cell belongs, where the
first RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message carries a first RIM Container IE
that carries a source cell load information IE.
[0118] Step 1003: The target BSS receives the first
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message and returns a first
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message to the SGSN or the MSC, where the
first RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message carries a second RIM Container
IE that carries a target cell load information IE.
[0119] Step 1004: The SGSN or the MSC receives the first
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message and returns a third DIRECT INFORMATION
TRANSFER message to the source RNC, where the third DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a third Inter-System
Information Transfer Type IE that carries a third RIM Transfer IE
and the third RIM Transfer IE carries a target cell load
information IE.
[0120] In this embodiment, the first RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message
may include a RAN-INFORMATION-REQUEST PDU message; the first
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message may include a RAN-INFORMATION PDU
message.
[0121] In this embodiment, the load information of different
systems is exchanged by carrying the source cell load information
IE in the first RIM Transfer IE and the first RIM Container IE and
carrying the target cell load information IE in the second RIM
Container IE and the second RIM Transfer IE. In this way, before an
inter-RAT handover from the UTRAN to the GERAN is performed, the
UTRAN and the GERAN can acquire load information of the peer
system, so that load balancing can be implemented between different
RAT systems. Therefore, communications quality of the systems is
guaranteed.
[0122] FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to an eleventh embodiment of
the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, this embodiment is
applicable to a handover from an E-UTRAN to a UTRAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0123] Step 1101: A source eNB to which a source cell belongs sends
an eNB DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message to an SGSN or and MSC,
where the eNB DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a second
Inter-System Information Transfer Type IE that carries a second RIM
Transfer IE and the second RIM Transfer IE carries a source cell
load information IE.
[0124] Step 1102: The SGSN or the MSC receives the eNB DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and sends a second DIRECT INFORMATION
TRANSFER message to a target RNC to which a target cell belongs,
where the second DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries the
second Inter-System Information Transfer Type IE.
[0125] Step 1103: The target RNC receives the second DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and returns a first DIRECT INFORMATION
TRANSFER message to the SGSN or the MSC, where the first DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a first Inter-System
Information Transfer Type IE that carries a first RIM Transfer IE
and the first RIM Transfer IE carries a target cell load
information IE.
[0126] Step 1104: The SGSN or the MSC receives the first DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and returns a first MME DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message to the source eNB, where the first MME
DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries the first Inter-System
Information Transfer Type IE.
[0127] In this embodiment, the load information of different RAT
systems is exchanged through the source cell load information IE
carried in the first Transparent Container IE and the target cell
load information IE carried in the second Transparent Container IE.
In this way, before an inter-RAT handover from the E-UTRAN to the
UTRAN is performed, the E-UTRAN and the UTRAN can acquire load
information of the peer system, so that load balancing can be
implemented between different RAT systems. Therefore,
communications quality of the systems is guaranteed.
[0128] FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a twelfth embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, this embodiment is
applicable to a handover from a GERAN to a UTRAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0129] Step 1201: A source BSS to which a source cell belongs sends
a second RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message to an SGSN or an MSC, where
the second RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message carries a third RIM
Container IE that carries a source cell load information IE.
[0130] Step 1202: The SGSN or the MSC receives the second
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message and sends a third DIRECT INFORMATION
TRANSFER message to a target RNC to which a target cell belongs,
where the third DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a third
Inter-System Information Transfer Type IE that carries a third RIM
Transfer IE and the third RIM Transfer IE further carries a source
cell load information IE.
[0131] Step 1203: The target RNC receives the third DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and returns a first DIRECT INFORMATION
TRANSFER message to the SGSN or the MSC, where the first DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a first Inter-System
Information Transfer Type IE that carries a first RIM Transfer IE
and the first RIM Transfer IE carries a target cell load
information IE.
[0132] Step 1204: The SGSN or the MSC receives the first DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and returns a second
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message to the source BSS, where the second
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message carries a fourth RIM Container IE that
carries a target cell load information IE.
[0133] In this embodiment, the second RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message
may include a RAN-INFORMATION-REQUEST PDU message; the second
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message may include a RAN-INFORMATION PDU
message.
[0134] In this embodiment, the load information of different
systems is exchanged by carrying the source cell load information
IE in the third RIM Container IE and the third RIM Transfer IE and
carrying the target cell load information IE in the first RIM
Transfer IE and the fourth RIM Container IE. In this way, before an
inter-RAT handover from the GERAN to the UTRAN is performed, the
GERAN and the UTRAN can acquire load information of the peer
system, so that load balancing can be implemented between different
RAT systems. Therefore, communications quality of the systems is
guaranteed.
[0135] FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a thirteenth embodiment of
the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, this embodiment is
applicable to a handover from a GERAN to an E-UTRAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0136] Step 1301: A source BSS to which a source cell belongs sends
a second RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message to an SGSN or an MSC, where
the second RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message carries a third RIM
Container IE that carries a source cell load information IE.
[0137] Step 1302: The SGSN or the MSC receives the second
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message and sends a second MME DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message to a target eNB to which a target cell
belongs, where the second MME DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message
carries a third Inter-System Information Transfer Type IE that
carries a third RIM Transfer IE and the third RIM Transfer IE
further carries a source cell load information IE.
[0138] Step 1303: The target eNB receives the second MME DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and returns an eNB DIRECT INFORMATION
TRANSFER message to the SGSN or the MSC, where the eNB DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a second Inter-System
Information Transfer Type IE that carries a second RIM Transfer IE
and the second RIM Transfer IE carries a target cell load
information IE.
[0139] Step 1304: The SGSN or the MSC receives the eNB DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and returns a third
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message to the source BSS, where the third
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message carries a fifth RIM Container IE that
carries a target cell load information IE.
[0140] In this embodiment, the second RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message
may include a RAN-INFORMATION-REQUEST PDU message; the third
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message may include a RAN-INFORMATION PDU
message.
[0141] In this embodiment, the load information of different
systems is exchanged by carrying the source cell load information
IE in the third RIM Container IE and the third RIM Transfer IE and
carrying the target cell load information IE in the second RIM
Transfer IE and the fifth RIM Container IE. In this way, before an
inter-RAT handover from the GERAN to the E-UTRAN is performed, the
GERAN and the E-UTRAN can acquire load information of the peer
system, so that load balancing can be implemented between different
RAT systems. Therefore, communications quality of the systems is
guaranteed.
[0142] FIG. 14 is a schematic flowchart of another method for
acquiring load information according to a fourteenth embodiment of
the present invention. As shown in FIG. 14, this embodiment is
applicable to a handover from an E-UTRAN to a GERAN. The method for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include the
following steps:
[0143] Step 1401: A source eNB to which a source cell belongs sends
an eNB DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message to an SGSN or an MSC,
where the eNB DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a second
Inter-System Information Transfer Type IE that carries a second RIM
Transfer IE and the second RIM Transfer IE further carries a source
cell load information IE.
[0144] Step 1402: The SGSN or the MSC receives the eNB DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message and sends a third RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req
message to a target BSS to which a target cell belongs, where the
third RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message carries a sixth RIM Container IE
that carries a source cell load information IE.
[0145] Step 1403: The target BSS receives the third
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message and returns a first
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message to the SGSN or the MSC, where the
first RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message carries a second RIM Container
IE that carries a target cell load information IE.
[0146] Step 1404: The SGSN or MSC receives the first
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message and returns a second MME DIRECT
INFORMATION TRANSFER message to the source eNB, where the second
MME DIRECT INFORMATION TRANSFER message carries a third
Inter-System Information Transfer Type IE that carries a third RIM
Transfer IE and the third RIM Transfer IE further carries a target
cell load information IE.
[0147] In this embodiment, the third RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.req message
may include a RAN-INFORMATION-REQUEST PDU message; the first
RIM-PDU-TRANSFER.ind message may include a RAN-INFORMATION PDU
message.
[0148] In this embodiment, the load information of different
systems is exchanged by carrying the source cell load information
IE in the second RIM Transfer IE and the sixth RIM Container IE and
carrying the target cell load information IE in the second RIM
Container ID and the third RIM Transfer IE. In this way, before an
inter-RAT handover from the E-UTRAN to the GETRAN is performed, the
E-UTRAN and the GERAN can acquire load information of the peer
system, so that load balancing can be implemented between different
RAT systems. Therefore, communications quality of the systems is
guaranteed.
[0149] In the methods for acquiring load information according to
the eighth to fourteenth embodiments of the present invention, load
information is obtained between the source access controller and
the target access controller before the source access controller
initiates a handover related procedure. In this case, the target
cell load information acquired by the source access controller can
be a guarantee of success of a current handover and help to
effectively avoid a failure of the current handover due to overload
of the target access controller. Therefore, load balancing between
different RAT systems can be implemented to guarantee the
communications quality of the systems.
[0150] It should be noted that for a description purpose, the
foregoing embodiments of the present invention are all described as
a series of actions, but those skilled in the art may understand
that the present invention is not limited to a sequence of actions
described herein and that according to the present invention, some
steps may be performed in other sequences or at the same time.
Those skilled in the art may also understand that the embodiments
described herein are only some exemplary embodiments of the present
invention and that the actions and modules concerned may not be
mandatory in the present invention.
[0151] In the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, each
embodiment has its emphasis. What is not detailed in one embodiment
of the present invention is detailed in the related description of
another embodiment.
[0152] FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of an access
controller according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 15, the access controller in this
embodiment may include a first sending module 151 and a first
receiving module 152. The first sending module 151 is configured to
send, through a core network, an inter-RAT handover request message
to a target access controller to which a target cell belongs when
an inter-RAT PS domain handover is performed; the first receiving
module 152 is configured to receive an inter-RAT handover response
message returned by the target access controller according to the
inter-RAT handover request message through the core network, where
the inter-RAT handover response message carries load information of
the target cell.
[0153] The source access controller in the first embodiment of the
present invention, the source RNC in the second embodiment of the
present invention, the source RNC in the third embodiment of the
present invention, the source eNB in the fourth embodiment of the
present invention, the source BSS in the fifth embodiment of the
present invention, the source BSS in the sixth embodiment of the
present invention, and the source eNB in the seventh embodiment of
the present invention may all be implemented by the access
controller provided in this embodiment.
[0154] FIG. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of another access
controller according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 16, the access controller in this
embodiment includes a second receiving module 161 and a second
sending module 162. The second receiving module 161 is configured
to receive, through a core network, an inter-RAT handover request
message sent by a source access controller to which a source cell
belongs; the second sending module 162 is configured to return an
inter-RAT handover response message to the source access controller
through the core network, where the inter-RAT handover response
message carries load information of a target cell served by the
access controller in this embodiment of the present invention.
[0155] The target access controller in the first embodiment of the
present invention, the target eNB in the second embodiment of the
present invention, the target BSS in the third embodiment of the
present invention, the target RNC in the fourth embodiment of the
present invention, the target RNC in the fifth embodiment of the
present invention, the target eNB in the sixth embodiment of the
present invention, and the target BSS in the seventh embodiment of
the present invention may all be implemented by the access
controller provided in this embodiment.
[0156] FIG. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
access controller according to a seventeenth embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 17, the access controller in
the embodiment of the present invention may include a third sending
module 171 and a third receiving module 172. The third sending
module 171 is configured to send, through a core network, an RIM
based load information request message to a target access
controller to which a target cell belongs before an inter-RAT
handover is performed; the third receiving module 172 is configured
to receive an RIM based load information response message returned
by the target access controller according to the RIM based load
information request message through the core network, where the RIM
based load information response message carries load information of
the target cell.
[0157] The source access controller in the eighth embodiment of the
present invention, the source RNC in the ninth embodiment of the
present invention, the source RNC in the tenth embodiment of the
present invention, the source eNB in the eleventh embodiment of the
present invention, the source BSS in the twelfth embodiment of the
present invention, the source BSS in the thirteenth embodiment of
the present invention, and the source eNB in the fourteenth
embodiment of the present invention may all be implemented by the
access controller provided in this embodiment.
[0158] FIG. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of still another
access controller according to an eighteenth embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 18, the access controller in
this embodiment may include a fourth receiving module 181 and a
fourth sending module 182. The fourth receiving module 181 is
configured to receive an RIM based load information request message
that is sent, through a core network, by a source access controller
to which a source cell belongs; the fourth sending module 182 is
configured to return an RIM based load information response message
to the source access controller through the core network, where the
RIM based load information response message carries load
information of a target cell served by the access controller
provided in this embodiment of the present invention.
[0159] The target access controller in the eighth embodiment of the
present invention, the target eNB in the ninth embodiment of the
present invention, the target BSS in the tenth embodiment of the
present invention, the target RNC in the eleventh embodiment of the
present invention, the target RNC in the twelfth embodiment of the
present invention, the target eNB in the thirteenth embodiment of
the present invention, and the target BSS in the fourteenth
embodiment of the present invention may all be implemented by the
access controller provided in this embodiment.
[0160] FIG. 19 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for
acquiring load information according to a nineteenth embodiment of
the present invention. As shown in FIG. 19, the system for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include a first
source access controller 10 to which a source cell belongs in a
source RAT system and a first target access controller 20 to which
a target cell belongs in a target RAT system.
[0161] The first source access controller 10 is configured to send,
through a core network, an inter-RAT handover request message to
the first target access controller 20 to which the target cell
belongs when an inter-RAT PS domain handover is performed, and
configured to receive an inter-RAT handover response message
returned by the first target access controller 20 through the core
network, where the inter-RAT handover response message carries load
information of the target cell.
[0162] The first target access controller 20 is configured to
receive the inter-RAT handover request message that is sent,
through the core network, by the first source access controller 10
to which the source cell belongs, and configured to return the
inter-RAT handover response message to the first source access
controller 10 through the core network.
[0163] The source access controller in the first embodiment of the
present invention, the source RNC in the second embodiment of the
present invention, the source RNC in the third embodiment of the
present invention, the source eNB in the fourth embodiment of the
present invention, the source BSS in the fifth embodiment of the
present invention, the source BSS in the sixth embodiment of the
present invention, and the source eNB in the seventh embodiment of
the present invention may all be implemented by the first source
access controller 10 in the system for acquiring load information
in this embodiment; the target access controller in the first
embodiment of the present invention, the target eNB in the second
embodiment of the present invention, the target BSS in the third
embodiment of the present invention, the target RNC in the fourth
embodiment of the present invention, the target RNC in the fifth
embodiment of the present invention, the target eNB in the sixth
embodiment of the present invention, and the target BSS in the
seventh embodiment of the present invention may all be implemented
by the first target access controller 20 in the system for
acquiring load information in this embodiment.
[0164] In this embodiment, the source access controller and the
target access controller may interact through inter-RAT handover
related messages. In this way, when an inter-RAT PS domain handover
is performed, the source RAT system can acquire load information of
the target RAT system, so that load balancing can be implemented
between different RAT systems. Therefore, communications quality of
the systems can be guaranteed.
[0165] FIG. 20 is a schematic structural diagram of another system
for acquiring load information according to a twentieth embodiment
of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 20, the system for
acquiring load information in this embodiment may include a second
source access controller 30 to which a source cell belongs in a
source RAT system and a second target access controller 40 to which
a target cell belongs in a target RAT system.
[0166] The second source access controller 30 is configured to
send, through a core network, an RIM based load information request
message to the second target access controller 40 to which the
target cell belongs before an inter-RAT handover is performed, and
configured to receive an RIM based load information response
message returned by the second target access controller 40 through
the core network, where the RIM based load information response
message carries load information of the target cell.
[0167] The second target access controller 40 is configured to
receive the RIM based load information request message that is
sent, through the core network, by the second source access
controller 30 to which the source cell belongs, and configured to
return the RIM based load information response message to the
second source access controller 30 through the core network.
[0168] The source access controller in the eighth embodiment of the
present invention, the source RNC in the ninth embodiment of the
present invention, the source RNC in the tenth embodiment of the
present invention, the source eNB in the eleventh embodiment of the
present invention, the source BSS in the twelfth embodiment of the
present invention, the source BSS in the thirteenth embodiment of
the present invention, and the source eNB in the fourteenth
embodiment of the present invention may all be implemented by the
second source access controller 30 in the system for acquiring load
information in this embodiment; the target access controller in the
eighth embodiment of the present invention, the target eNB in the
ninth embodiment of the present invention, the target BSS in the
tenth embodiment of the present invention, the target RNC in the
eleventh embodiment of the present invention, the target RNC in the
twelfth embodiment of the present invention, the target eNB in the
thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, and the target BSS
in the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention may all be
implemented by the second target access controller 40 in the system
for acquiring load information in this embodiment.
[0169] In this embodiment, the source access controller and the
target access controller may interact though the RIM based load
information request message and the RIM based load information
response message, so that the source RAT system acquires the load
information of the target RAT system before an inter-RAT handover
is performed. In this way, load balancing can be implemented
between different RAT systems and communications quality of the
systems can be guaranteed.
[0170] Those skilled in the art may understand that all or a
portion of the steps in the methods of the embodiments of the
present invention may be implemented by hardware under the
instruction of a program. The program may be stored in a computer
readable storage medium and when the program is executed, the steps
in the methods of the embodiments of the present invention are
executed. The storage medium may be any medium that can store
program codes, such as a Read Only Memory (Read Only Memory, ROM),
a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or a Compact
Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM).
[0171] Although the present invention is described in detail
through some exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not
limited to such embodiments. It is apparent that those skilled in
the art may make various modifications and variations to the
present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention. The present invention is intended to cover
the modifications and variations provided that they fall within the
scope of protection defined by the claims or their equivalents.
* * * * *