A METHOD OF HANDLING CONTROL PLANE DATA IN A WIRELESS NETWORK

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services.

The various embodiments of the present invention disclose a method of handling control plane data in a wireless network, the method comprises sending, by a user entity (UE), a non-access stratum (NAS) message along with an indication data to a mobility management (MM) core network entity. The MM core network entity processes the received NAS message and the indication data. The MM core network entity determines status of network congestion upon processing the processed NAS message. Sending, by the MM core network entity, a response to the UE based on at least one of the processed indication data and the determined network congestion.

Claims

1. A method for handling control data by a mobility management entity (MME) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving, from a terminal, a non-access stratum (NAS) message including an indication data; determining status of network congestion based on the received NAS message; and transmitting, to the terminal, a response based on the received NAS message and the determined network congestion.

2. The method as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the response to the terminal based on the received NAS message and the determined network congestion, comprises: an accept message including a back off timer value, on identifying from the indication data that there is no further uplink or downlink data transmission is expected, wherein the indication data is a release assistance indication (RAI) in an evolved packet system (EPS) session management (ESM) DATA TRANSPORT message, the RAI is set to 1, and wherein the accept message is a service accept indicating to the terminal that the control data is successfully transmitted.

3. The method as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the response to the terminal based on the received NAS message and the determined network congestion, comprises: a reject message including a Back off timer value, on identifying from the indication data that there is only a single downlink data transmission and no further uplink data transmission subsequent to the uplink data transmission is expected, wherein the indication data is a release assistance indication (RAI) in the ESM DATA TRANSPORT message, the RAI is set to 2, and wherein the reject message received by the terminal indicating the transmission of the control data via a control plane is unsuccessful.

4. The method as claimed in the claim 1 further comprising: identifying a first back-off timer is in running state; receiving, from the terminal, the NAS message during the running state of the first CP back-off timer; and transmitting, one of an acceptance message and reject message for the NAS message including a second back-off timer to the terminal in case of network congestion, wherein the first back-off timer is stopped by the terminal based on receipt of the second back-off timer, and wherein the second back-off timer is started at the terminal once the first back-off timer is stopped.

5. A mobility management entity (MME) for handling control data in a wireless communication system, the MME comprising: a transceiver; and at least one controller coupled to the transceiver and configured to: receive a non-access stratum (NAS) message including an indication data from a terminal, determine status of network congestion based on the received NAS message and transmit a response based on the received NAS message and the determined network congestion to the terminal.

6. The MME as claimed in the claim 5, wherein the response to the terminal based on the received NAS message and the determined network congestion comprises an accept message including a back off timer value, on identifying from the indication data that there is no further uplink or downlink data transmission is expected, wherein the indication data is a release assistance indication (RAI) in an evolved packet system (EPS) session management (ESM) DATA TRANSPORT message, the RAI is set to 1, and wherein the accept message is a service accept indicating to the terminal that the control data is successfully transmitted.

7. The MME as claimed in the claim 5, wherein the response to the terminal based on the received NAS message and the determined network congestion, comprises a reject message including a Back off timer value, on identifying from the indication data that there is only a single downlink data transmission and no further uplink data transmission subsequent to the uplink data transmission is expected, wherein the indication data is a release assistance indication (RAI) in the ESM DATA TRANSPORT message, the RAI is set to 2, and wherein the reject message received by the terminal indicating the transmission of the control data via a control plane is unsuccessful.

8. The MME as claimed in the claim 5, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to: identify a first back-off timer is in running state, receive the NAS message during the running state of the first CP back-off timer from the terminal, and transmit one of an acceptance message and reject message for the NAS message including a second back-off timer to the terminal in case of network congestion, wherein the first back-off timer is stopped by the terminal based on receipt of the second back-off time, and wherein the second back-off timer is started at the terminal once the first back-off timer is stopped.

9. A method for handling control data by a terminal in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: transmitting, to a mobility management entity (MME), a non-access stratum (NAS) message including an indication data; and receiving, a response from the MME, wherein the response is transmitted based on the NAS message and status of network congestion, and wherein the status of network congestion is determined based on the NAS message by the MME.

10. The method as claimed in the claim 9, the method further comprising: transmitting, to the MME, the NAS message during running state of a first CP back-off timer; receiving, from the MME, one of an acceptance message and reject message for the NAS message including a second back-off timer in case of network congestion; stopping the first back-off timer based on receipt of the second back-off timer; and starting the second back-off timer once the first back-off timer is stopped, wherein the first back-off timer is identified by the MME in the running state.

11. A terminal for handling control data in a wireless communication system, the terminal comprising: a transceiver; and at least one controller coupled to the transceiver and configured to: transmit a non-access stratum (NAS) message including an indication data to a mobility management entity (MME) and receive a response from the MME, wherein the response is transmitted based on the NAS message and status of network congestion, and wherein the status of network congestion is determined based on the NAS message by the MME.

12. The terminal as claimed in the claim 11, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to: transmit the NAS message during running state of a first CP back-off timer to the MME; receive one of an acceptance message and reject message for the NAS message including a second back-off timer in case of network congestion from the MME; stop the first back-off timer based on receipt of the second back-off timer; and start the second back-off timer once the first back-off timer is stopped, and wherein the first back-off timer is identified by the MME in the running state.

13. The method as claimed in the claim 2, wherein the control data is a part of the ESM data transport, and wherein the NAS message comprises at least one of an attach request message, tracking area update (TAU) request message, and control plane (CP) Service Request message.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the NAS message being sent due to the exceptional event comprises a radio resource control (RRC) Establishment cause set to mo-exception data, and wherein the back-off timer comprises a control plane (CP) data congestion back-off timer.

15. The method as claimed in the claim 4, wherein the back-off timer comprises at least one of mobility management (MM) back-off timer, control plane (CP) data congestion back-off timer, and APN congestion back-off timer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of control plane data using ESM data transport message, according to the prior art illustration.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of small data using ESM data transport message where release assistance indication IE is set to 01, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of control plane data using ESM data transport message where release assistance indication IE is set to 02, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of attach/TAU/Service Request/Control Plane Service Request message between UE and MME, according to the prior art illustration.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating dynamic handling of CP BO timer, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating stopping of the CP BO timer value running on UE by network, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic flow diagrams illustrating exception data to be sent even when MM back off timer is running or UE has faced an abnormal situation, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 8 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating that handling of exception data during network congestion situation, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of exception data when UE faces abnormality, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 10 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of exception data when UE is EMM is in connected mode, according to the prior art illustration.

[0037] FIG. 11 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of exception data when UE is EMM is in connected mode, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The present invention claims benefit of the Indian Provisional Application No. 201641023071 titled A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CELLULAR INTERNET OF THINGS (CIOT) OPTIMIZATION IN 3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION (3GPP TS) by Samsung Electronics CO., LTD, filed on 5th July 2016 and Indian Provisional Application No. 201641028365 titled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CELLULAR INTERNET OF THINGS (CIOT) OPTIMIZATIONS by Samsung Electronics CO., LTD, filed on 19th August 2016 and Indian Provisional Application No. 201641033734 titled OPTIMIZATION FOR HANDLING NB-IOT DEVICES by Samsung Electronics CO., LTD, filed on 03rd October 2016, which is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

[0040] The foregoing has outlined, in general, the various aspects of the invention and is to serve as an aid to better understanding the more complete detailed description which is to follow. In reference to such, there is to be a clear understanding that the present invention is not limited to the method or application of use described and illustrated herein. It is intended that any other advantages and objects of the present invention that become apparent or obvious from the detailed description or illustrations contained herein are within the scope of the present invention.

[0041] The various embodiments of the present invention disclose a method of handling control plane data in a wireless network. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

[0042] The specification may refer to an, one or some embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

[0043] As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms includes, comprises, including and/or comprising when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0044] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0045] The present invention provides a method of handling control plane data in a wireless network. The person having ordinarily skilled in the art can understand that the described embodiments use cases are for better understanding and illustration of the present invention, but not limit to scope of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of control plane data using ESM data transport message, according to the prior art illustration. According to FIG. 1, user equipment (UE) 101 sends small data using ESM data transport message on control plane service request message to mobility management entity (MME) 102. MME is the core network mobility management entity. If MME 102 is congested for control plane (CP) data then the MME accepts the received control plane data and forwards the same to SCEF 103. MME 102 processes the data and due to control plane path congestion, MME 102 sends CP data back-off (BO) timer to UE 101 along with a service accept message. UE 101 starts CP back-off timer and does not send any data over control plane until CP BO timer is running.

[0047] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of small data using ESM data transport message where release assistance indication IE is set to 01, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3GPP specification has defined release assistance indication information elements (IE) in EPS session management (ESM) data transport message. Here EPS is evolved packet system. According to an embodiment of the present invention MME checks for IE in ESM Data Transport message. As per the Rel-14 of 3GPP specification the Release assistance indication IE is defined to be including only 2 values. Where Release assistance indication IE is set to 01 indicates that there is no further uplink or downlink data transmission is expected for the sent uplink data, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 2, UE 201 indicates in a release assistance indication IE in the Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) PDU that no further uplink or downlink data transmissions are expected. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the Release assistance indication IE value is set at 01. UE 201 sends the control plane service request with IE set at 01 in ESM data transport message to MME 202. MME 202 processes the received control plane data packet. After processing, MME 202 sends service accept message with control plane back-off timer to UE 201. On receiving service accept message, the UE 201 interprets this as successful transmission of the control plane data packet. UE 201 then starts the control plane back-off timer.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of control plane data using ESM data transport message where release assistance indication IE is set to 02, according to an embodiment of the present invention. If IE is set to 02 it indicates that there is only a single downlink data transmission (e.g. acknowledgement or response to uplink data) and no further uplink data transmission subsequent to the uplink data transmission is expected. According to FIG. 3, UE 301 indicates in a release assistance indication IE that UE 301 expects downlink data after sending control plane service request. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the IE value is set at 02. UE 301 sends the control plane service request with IE set at 02 in ESM data transport message to MME 302. However, MME 302 is overloaded and the service request is rejected. MME 302 decides not to process the received control plane data packet and sends service reject message with control plane back-off timer to UE 301. On receiving service reject message, the UE 301 interprets this as unsuccessful transmission of the control plane data packet. UE 301 then starts the control plane back-off timer.

[0049] According to an embodiment of the present invention, based on release assistance indication (RAI) IE value in ESM data transport message, network determines whether to accept the CP data or reject it. In case RAI is 1 then service accept is sent to UE and indicates to UE that MME has successfully processed the CP data however control plane (CP) back-off (BO) timer is provided so that UE shall not again initiate CP data till CP BO timer expires. In case RAI is 2 then service reject is sent to UE and indicates to UE that MME is congested for CP data and sent data packet is not processed successfully by network. Further CP BO timer is provided so that UE shall not again initiate CP data till CP BO timer expires.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of attach/TAU/Service Request/Control Plane Service Request message between UE and MME, according to the prior art illustration. According to FIG. 4, UE 401 has received control plane back-off timer in service accept message and CP back-off timer is running. UE 401 triggers NAS message such as Attach/TAU request/CP service request message and is sent to MME 402. MME 402 then sends Attach/TAU accept/Service accept message to UE 401. The CP back-off timer keeps on running in UE 401 and there is no impact on the CP back-off timer state due to network signaling. The network is unable to change control plane back-off timer value which is running in UE 401 and also cannot indicate its congestion alleviated situation if there is no MT data packet.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating dynamic handling of CP BO timer, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 5, dynamic handling of control plane (CP) back-off (BO) timer is illustrated. According to an embodiment of the present invention, UE 501 has received control plane back-off timer in service accept message and CP back-off timer is running. UE 501 triggers Attach/TAU/Service request message and is sent to MME 502. MME 502 then sends a new timer value in Attach/TAU accept/Service Accept/Service Reject message to UE 501. On receiving the new timer value UE 501 shall stop the CP back-off timer that is running and restart the timer again with new value received from the network.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating stopping of the CP BO timer value running on UE by network, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 6, stopping of the CP BO timer value running on UE by network is illustrated. According to an embodiment of the present invention, UE 601 has received control plane back-off timer in service accept message and CP back-off timer is running. UE 601 triggers Attach/TAU/CP Service request message and is sent to MME 602. MME 602 then sends Attach/TAU/Service Accept message to UE 601 without including CP BO timer value IE. After which UE 601 stops the running timer as the timer value IE is not received from the network.

[0053] FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic flow diagrams illustrating exception data to be sent even when MM back off timer is running or UE has faced an abnormal situation, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, exception data is sent by UE even when MM back off timer is running. An application processor (AP) requests for an exceptional event, the communication processor (CP) in UE then initiates TAU or Attach procedure if it's in NOT UPDATED (Attempting to UPDATE or Attempting to Attach etc.) state even if timer is running (as shown FIG. 7A). In another embodiment of the present invention, the application processor (AP) requests for an exceptional event, the communication processor (CP) in UE then initiates control plane service request procedure if it's in UPDATED state irrespective of whether timer is running (as shown FIG. 7B).

[0054] FIG. 8 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating that handling of exception data during network congestion situation, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 8, the application processor (AP) 801 in UE requests to send exception data. The communication processor (CP) 801 in UE sends NAS message to MME 802 with RRC establishment cause not set to mo-exception data. MME 802 sends corresponding NAS reject with back-off timer to UE 801. The UE 801 will not be allowed to send data or signaling as long as back-off timer is running. Here back-off timer is started when RRC Establishment cause was not set to mo-exception data. If exception data is generated, even though back-off timer is running exception data could be sent. The UE 801 again sends NAS message to MME 802 with RRC establishment cause set to mo-exception data. MME 802 sends corresponding NAS reject with back-off timer to UE 801. The UE 801 will not be allowed to send even exception data as long as back-off timer is running.

[0055] FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of exception data when UE faces abnormality, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, if UE 902 faces abnormality and gets into attempting to update state or attempting to attach state, then UE 902 should be allowed to initiate Attach or TAU procedure to send exception data. The UE 902 shall initiate Attach or TAU procedure if it's in NOT UPDATED (Attempting to UPDATE or Attempting to Attach etc.) state.

[0056] FIG. 10 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of exception data when UE is EMM is in connected mode, according to the prior art illustration. According to FIG. 10, UE 1001 is in connected mode and sends ESM data transport message to network 1002. The network 1002 has no information whether the received data PDU is normal data or exception data. Therefore the network provides same treatment to any kind of data that is being received. If APN rate control or SPLMN rate control limit is reached or network is congested, packet will be dropped.

[0057] FIG. 11 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating transfer of exception data when UE is EMM is in connected mode, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 11, UE 1101 is in connected mode and sends ESM data transport message along with an indication that it is carrying exception data to network 1102. The network 1102 provides priority treatment to the exception data. The ESM data transport message is processed by the network 1102 even though APN rate control or serving PLMN rate control limit is reached or network is congested.

[0058] The present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments; it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. Furthermore, the various devices, modules, and the like described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry, for example, complementary metal oxide semiconductor based logic circuitry, firmware, software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software embodied in a machine readable medium. For example, the various electrical structure and methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits, such as application specific integrated circuit.

[0059] Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.