Method, device and system for implementing optimized inter-RAT handover

A method for implementing optimized handover, comprising:

• indicating a Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN GW), by an mobility management entity (MME) or a serving gateway(SGW), not to switch at least one of a user plane uplink data path and a user plane downlink data path from a source network to a target network when a connection between the SGW and the PDN GW is being set up, after a connection establishing process to the target network via the source network is initiated by a user equipment (UE) when handover preparation is determined in the source network;
• and
• when the UE is connected to the target network after completion of handover preparation, indicating the PDN GW, by the MME or the SGW, to switch the at least one of the user plane uplink data path and the user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network;
• wherein the indicating the PDN GW, by the MME or the SGW, to switch the at least one of the user plane uplink data path and the user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network comprises:
• sending, by the MME, an indication to the SGW, wherein the indication is forwarded by the SGW to the PDN GW to instruct the PDN GW not to switch the at least one of the user plane uplink data path and the user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network;
• or
• regenerating, by the SGW, an new indication, and sending the indication to the PDN GW to indicate the PDN GW to switch the at least one of the user plane uplink data path and the user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network.

A method for implementing optimized handover from a source network to a target network, comprising:

• transmitting, by a mobility management entity (MME) of the target network, a first indication to a serving gateway (SGW) of the target network, wherein the first indication is forwarded by the SGW to a packet data network gateway (PDN GW) of the target network to instruct the PDN GW not to switch at least one of a user plane uplink data path and a user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network before a user equipment (UE) is connected to the target network;
• determining, by the MME, that the UE is connected to the target network;
• and
• transmitting, by the MME, a second indication to the SGW, wherein the second indication is forwarded by the SGW to the PDN GW to instruct the PDN GW to switch the at least one of a user plane uplink data path and a user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network;
• wherein the first indication is comprised in a connection setup message or a connection updated message sent by the SGW to the PDN GW.

A method for implementing optimized handover, comprising:

• initiating, by a user equipment (UE), a connection establishing process to a target network via a source network when determining to prepare for a handover in the source network;
• initiating, by a packet data network gateway (PDN GW), a interacting with a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) after receiving a bearer connection request, and obtaining, by the PDN GW, a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule corresponding to the target network;
• performing simultaneous, by the PDN GW, two sets of PCC rules corresponding to the source network and the target network, and initiating, by the PDN GW, a bearer setup process to the target network;
• and
• deleting, by the PDN GW, the PCC rule corresponding to the source network when the UE is connected to the target network after completion of handover preparation.

A system for implementing optimized handover, comprising:

• a source network,
• a mobility management entity (MME),
• a serving gateway (SGW),
• a packet data network gateway (PDN GW), and
• an evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), wherein:
• the source network is configured to receive a connecting request from a user equipment (UE) and send the connecting request to the MME;
• the MME is configured to receive the connecting request from the source network, set up a bearer to the SGW, receive a bearer setup request from the SGW, send a resource reservation request to the E-UTRAN and indicate the E-UTRAN not to establish an air interface connection;
• receive a response message from the E-UTRAN and send a response message to the SGW;
• and receive a bearer setup complete notification from the SGW and complete the bearer setup;
• the SGW is configured to establish a connection with the MME and send a proxy binding update message to the PDN GW according to the received response;
• and receive a bearer setup complete notification from the PDN GW or generated by itself and send the notification to the MME;
• the PDN GW is configured to receive the proxy binding update message from the SGW and establish a user plane path with the SGW;
• and send a bearer setup complete notification to the SGW;
• and
• the E-UTRAN is configured to receive the resource reservation message, reserve resource and set up a bearer.

A system for implementing optimized handover, comprising:

• a source network,
• a mobility management entity (MME),
• a serving gateway (SGW), and
• a packet data network gateway (PDN GW), wherein:
• the source network is configured to receive a connecting request from a user equipment (UE) and send the connecting request to the MME;
• the MME is configured to receive the connecting request from the source network, set up a bearers to the SGW, and when a connection is established or updated between the SGW and the PDN GW, indicate the PDN GW not to switch a user plane uplink data path and a user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network;
• and, after the UE is connected to the target network, indicate the PDN GW to switch the user plane uplink data path and the user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network;
• the SGW is configured to establish a connection with the MME, establish or update the connection with the PDN GW, and send the received or self-generated user plane uplink and downlink data path processing indication to the PDN GW;
• and, after the UE is connected to the target network, indicate the PDN GW to switch the user plane uplink data path and the user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network;
• and
• the PDN GW is configured to establish or update the connection with the SGW, receive the user plane uplink and downlink data path processing indication, and maintain the user plane uplink data path and the user plane downlink data path in the source network;
• and after the UE is connected to the target network, switch the user plane uplink data path and user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network.

A system for implementing optimized inter-RAT handover, comprising:

• a source access gateway (source AGW), a target access gateway (target AGW), an anchor gateway (anchor GW), and a policy and charging rules function (PCRF), wherein
• the source AGW is configured to receive a connecting request from a user equipment (UE) and send the connecting request to the target AGW;
• the target AGW is configured to receive the connecting request from the source AGW and send a bearer setup request to the anchor GW;
• the anchor GW is configured to receive the bearer setup request, interact with the PCRF to obtain a policy and charging control (PCC) rule corresponding to the target network, and after handover preparation is complete and the UE is connected to the target network, delete a PCC rule applicable to the source network;
• and
• the PCRF is configured to interact with the anchor GW to deliver the PCC rule.

An apparatus for implementing optimized handover from a source network to a target network, comprising:

• a transmitter, configured to transmit a first indication to a serving gateway (SGW) of the target network, wherein the first indication is forwarded by the SGW to a packet data network gateway (PDN GW) of the target network to instruct the PDN GW not to switch at least one of a user plane uplink data path and a user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network before a user equipment (UE) is connected to the target network;
• a processor, configured to determine that the UE is connected to the target network;
• and
• the transmitter, configured to transmit a second indication to the SGW, wherein the second indication is forwarded by the SGW to the PDN GW to instruct the PDN GW to switch the at least one of a user plane uplink data path and a user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network;
• wherein the first indication is comprised in a connection setup message or a connection updated message sent by the SGW to the PDN GW.

An apparatus for implementing optimized handover from a source network to a target network, comprising:

• a transmitter, configured to transmit a first indication to a serving gateway (SGW) of the target network, wherein the first indication is forwarded by the SGW to a packet data network gateway (PDN GW) of the target network to instruct the PDN GW not to switch at least one of a user plane uplink data path and a user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network, after a connection establishing process to the target network via the source network is initiated by a user equipment (UE) when handover preparation is determined in the source network;
• a processor, configured to determine that the UE is connected to the target network after completion of handover preparation;
• and
• the transmitter, configured to transmit a second indication to the SGW, wherein the second indication is forwarded by the SGW to the PDN GW to instruct the PDN GW to switch the at least one of a user plane uplink data path and a user plane downlink data path from the source network to the target network.