Method for reporting location information of user equipment, and apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments provide a method for reporting location information of user equipment, and an apparatus. A master access node is provided, including an obtaining module, configured to obtain location information of user equipment, where the location information of the user equipment includes serving cell information of at least one secondary access node of the user equipment. The master access node also includes a sending module, configured to send the location information of the user equipment to a core network node, where the location information is used by the core network node to determine a control policy for the user equipment according to the location information of the user equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A master access node, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for execution by the processor, the program including instructions to:
 obtain location information of a user equipment using serving cell information of at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, the user equipment being served by the master access node and the at least one secondary access node, and the location information of the user equipment being used for determining a location of the user equipment, wherein the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment lacks ability to establish a control-plane connection with a core network node, and wherein the serving cell information comprises identification information of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a quantity of data packets transmitted in a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, multi-stream indication information, or an access network type of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment; and 
 send the location information of the user equipment to the core network node, for the core network node to determine a control policy for the user equipment. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The master access node according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions to send the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to send the location information of the user equipment to the core network node using control plane signaling. 
     
     
       3. The master access node according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the instructions to send the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to send the location information of the user equipment to the core network node by using a radio access bearer modification instruction message. 
 
     
     
       4. The master access node according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the instructions to send the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to send the location information of the user equipment to the core network node by using a location information update message. 
 
     
     
       5. The master access node according to  claim 2 , wherein the serving cell information of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment comprises the multi-stream indication information, wherein the multi-stream indication information indicates that at least two access nodes provide services for the user equipment, and wherein the instructions to send the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to send the location information of the user equipment to the core network node by a location information update message. 
     
     
       6. The master access node according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions to send the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to:
 send the location information of the user equipment to the core network node by using a first general packet radio service tunneling protocol-user plane (GTP-U) packet or a second GTP-U packet, wherein the location information of the user equipment is in an extension header of the first GTP-U packet, and wherein the second GTP-U packet indicates only the location information of the user equipment. 
 
     
     
       7. The master access node according to  claim 1 , wherein the control policy for the user equipment is selected from the group consisting of:
 a charging control policy for the user equipment, a rate control policy for the user equipment, a quality of service control policy for the user equipment, or a priority control policy for the user equipment. 
 
     
     
       8. A core network node, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for execution by the processor, the program including instructions to:
 receive location information of a user equipment that is sent by a master access node, the user equipment being served by the master access node and at least one secondary access node that lacks ability to establish a control-plane connection with the core network node, wherein the location information of the user equipment is determined based on serving cell information of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, and wherein the serving cell information comprises identification information of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a quantity of data packets transmitted in a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, multi-stream indication information, or an access network type of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment; and 
 determine a control policy for the user equipment according to the location information of the user equipment. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The core network node according to  claim 8 , wherein the instructions to receive the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to receive the location information of the user equipment that is sent by the master access node by control plane signaling. 
     
     
       10. The core network node according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the instructions to receive the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to receive the location information of the user equipment that is sent by the master access node by using a radio access bearer modification instruction message. 
 
     
     
       11. The core network node according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the instructions to receive the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to receive the location information of the user equipment that is sent by the master access node by using a location information update message. 
 
     
     
       12. The core network node according to  claim 9 , wherein the serving cell information of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment comprises the multi-stream indication information, wherein the multi-stream indication information indicates that at least two access nodes provide services for the user equipment, and wherein the instructions to receive the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to:
 receive the location information of the user equipment is sent by the master access node by a location information update message. 
 
     
     
       13. The core network node according to  claim 8 , wherein the instructions to receive the location information of the user equipment comprise instructions to:
 receive the location information of the user equipment that is sent by the master access node by using a first general packet radio service tunneling protocol-user plane (GTP-U) packet or a second GTP-U packet, wherein the location information of the user equipment is in an extension header of the first GTP-U packet, and wherein the second GTP-U packet indicates only the location information of the user equipment. 
 
     
     
       14. The core network node according to  claim 8 , wherein the control policy for the user equipment is selected from the group consisting of:
 a charging control policy for the user equipment, a rate control policy for the user equipment, a quality of service control policy for the user equipment, or a priority control policy for the user equipment. 
 
     
     
       15. A secondary access node, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for execution by the processor, the program including instructions to:
 obtain serving cell information of the secondary access node of a user equipment served by both a master access node and the secondary access node, wherein the secondary access node lacks capability of establishing a control-plane connection with a core network node; and 
 send the serving cell information of the secondary access node of the user equipment directly to the core network node for the core network node to obtain a location of the user equipment using the serving cell information, wherein the serving cell information is sent using a first general packet radio service tunneling protocol-user plane (GTP-U) packet or a second GTP-U packet, wherein the serving cell information of the secondary access node of the user equipment is in an extension header of the first GTP-U packet, wherein the second GTP-U packet indicates only the serving cell information of the secondary access node of the user equipment, and wherein the serving cell information of the secondary access node of the user equipment is selected from the group consisting of: 
 identification information of a serving cell of the secondary access node of the user equipment, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the secondary access node of the user equipment, or an access network type of a serving cell of the secondary access node of the user equipment. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The secondary access node according to  claim 15 , wherein a control policy for the user equipment is selected from the group consisting of:
 a charging control policy for the user equipment, a rate control policy for the user equipment, a quality of service control policy for the user equipment, or a priority control policy for the user equipment. 
 
     
     
       17. A core network node, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for execution by the processor, the program including instructions to:
 receive serving cell information of a secondary access node of a user equipment, the serving cell information being sent by the secondary access node directly to the core network node using a first general packet radio service tunneling protocol-user plane (GTP-U) packet or a second GTP-U packet, wherein the serving cell information of the secondary access node of the user equipment is in an extension header of the first GTP-U packet, wherein the second GTP-U packet indicates only the serving cell information of the secondary access node of the user equipment, and wherein the user equipment is served by both a master access node and the secondary access node that lacks a capability of establishing a control-plane connection with the core network node; and 
 determine a control policy for the user equipment according to the serving cell information of the secondary access node of the user equipment after receiving the serving cell information of the secondary access node, wherein the serving cell information of the secondary access node of the user equipment is selected from the group consisting of: 
 identification information of a serving cell of the secondary access node of the user equipment, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the secondary access node of the user equipment, or an access network type of a serving cell of the secondary access node of the user equipment. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The core network node according to  claim 17 , wherein the control policy for the user equipment is selected from the group consisting of:
 a charging control policy for the user equipment, a rate control policy for the user equipment, a quality of service control policy for the user equipment, or a priority control policy for the user equipment. 
 
     
     
       19. A method comprising:
 obtaining, by a master access node, serving cell information of at least one secondary access node of a user equipment, the user equipment being served by the master access node and the at least one secondary access node, and the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment lacking ability to establish a control-plane connection with a core network node, wherein the serving cell information comprises at least one of identification information of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a quantity of data packets transmitted in a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, multi-stream indication information, or an access network type of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment;   sending, by the master access node, the serving cell information to the core network node; and   determining, by the core network node, a charging control policy for the user equipment based on the serving cell information, the serving cell information being used for determining a location of the user equipment.   
     
     
       20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the serving cell information further comprises an access network type of the serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment. 
     
     
       21. A communication system comprising:
 a master access node, configured to obtain serving cell information of at least one secondary access node of a user equipment, and to send the serving cell information to a core network node, the user equipment being served by the master access node and the at least one secondary access node, and the at least one secondary access node lacking ability to establish a control-plane connection with the core network node, wherein the serving cell information comprises at least one of identification information of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a quantity of data packets transmitted in a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, multi-stream indication information, or an access network type of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment; and   the core network node, configured to receive the serving cell information from the master access node, and determine a charging control policy for the user equipment based on the serving cell information, the serving cell information being used for determining a location of the user equipment.   
     
     
       22. The communication system according to claim 21, wherein the serving cell information further comprises an access network type of the serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   one or more non-transitory memories coupled to the at least one processor and storing programming for execution by the at least one processor, the programming instructing the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:   obtaining serving cell information of at least one secondary access node of a user equipment; and   sending the serving cell information to a core network node, the serving cell information being used for determining a location of the user equipment; and   wherein the user equipment is served by the apparatus as a master access node and by the at least one secondary access node, and the at least one secondary access node lacks ability to establish a control-plane connection with the core network node, and   wherein the serving cell information comprises at least one of identification information of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a quantity of data packets transmitted in a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, multi-stream indication information, or an access network type of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the serving cell information further comprises an access network type of the serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   one or more non-transitory memories coupled to the at least one processor and storing programming for execution by the at least one processor, the programming instructing the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:   receiving serving cell information of at least one secondary access node of a user equipment from a master access node, the serving cell information being used for determining a location of the user equipment; and   determining a charging control policy for the user equipment based on the serving cell information; and   wherein the user equipment is served by the master access node and the at least one secondary access node, and the at least one secondary access node lacks ability to establish a control-plane connection with the apparatus as a core network node, and wherein the serving cell information comprises at least one of identification information of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a quantity of data packets transmitted in a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, multi-stream indication information, or an access network type of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment.   
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the serving cell information further comprises an access network type of the serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment. 
     
     
       27. A method comprising:
 obtaining, by a master access node, serving cell information of at least one secondary access node of a user equipment; and   sending, by the master access node, the serving cell information to a core network node, the serving cell information being used for determining a location of the user equipment; and   wherein the user equipment is served by the master access node and by the at least one secondary access node, and the at least one secondary access node lacks ability to establish a control-plane connection with the core network node, and   wherein the serving cell information comprises at least one of identification information of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a quantity of data packets transmitted in a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, multi-stream indication information, or an access network type of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment.   
     
     
       28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the serving cell information further comprises an access network type of the serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment. 
     
     
       29. A method comprising:
 receiving, by a core network node, serving cell information of at least one secondary access node of a user equipment from a master access node, the serving cell information being used for determining a location of the user equipment; and   determining, by the core network node, a charging control policy for the user equipment based on the serving cell information; and   wherein the user equipment is served by the master access node and the at least one secondary access node, and the at least one secondary access node lacks ability to establish a control-plane connection with the core network node, and wherein the serving cell information comprises at least one of identification information of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node, bearer information corresponding to a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a tracking area identity of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, a quantity of data packets transmitted in a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment, multi-stream indication information, or an access network type of a serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment.   
     
     
       30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the serving cell information further comprises an access network type of the serving cell of the at least one secondary access node of the user equipment.