Method, device, and system for controlling tunnel identifier allocation

Abstract

A method, a device, and a system for controlling tunnel identifier allocation are provided. The method includes: determining whether a type of a current procedure allows a Serving Gateway (SGW) to change a Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (TEID) and/or an Internet Protocol (IP) address (S 110 ); and sending a modify bearer request message to the SGW, in which the modify bearer request message is used for notifying the SGW of whether the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address (S 120 ). The loss of service data packets of a user or the service interruption caused by that the SGW modifies the TEID and/or the IP address is avoided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling tunnel identifier allocation, comprising:
 determining, by a mobility management network element, MMNE, whether a serving gateway (SGW) is allowed to change a tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID) and/or an internet protocol (IP) address in the current procedure according to a type of the current procedure and a state of a user equipment (UE); and   sending, by the MMNE, a modify bearer request message to the SGW, wherein the modify bearer request message is used for notifying whether the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining step comprises:
 if the MMNE is an mobility management entity (MME), the type of the current procedure is a tracking area update procedure, and the state of the UE is an idle state, determining by the MMNE that the SGW is allowed to change the TED and/or the IP address.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining step comprises:
 if the MMNE is a serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN), the type of the current procedure is a routing area update procedure, and the state of the UE is an idle state, determining by the MMNE that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein before the determining step, the method comprises:
 receiving, by the MMNE, a front message; and   obtaining, by the MMNE, the type of the current procedure according to the front message.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein if it is determined that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address in the current procedure, the method further comprises:
 receiving, by the MMNE, a modify bearer response message carrying a changed TEID and/or a changed IP address returned by the SGW.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 notifying, by the MMNE, an access network of the changed TEID and/or the changed IP address.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 if it is determined that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address, the modify bearer request message carries an indication indicating that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address.   
     
     
         8 . A method for controlling tunnel identifier allocation, comprising:
 receiving, by a serving gateway (SGW), a modify bearer request message sent by a mobility management network element (MMNE), wherein the modify bearer request message is used for notifying whether a tunnel endpoint identifier (TED) and/or an internet protocol (IP) address is allowed to be changed; and   if the TEID and/or the IP address is allowed to be changed, sending, by the SGW, a modify bearer response message carrying a changed TEID and/or a changed IP address to the MMNE.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein if the TEID and/or the IP address is allowed to be changed, sending, by the SGW, the modify bearer response message carrying the changed TEID and/or the changed IP address to the MMNE, comprises:
 if the TED and/or the IP address needs to be changed and the TEID and/or the IP address is allowed to be changed, sending, by the SGW, the modify bearer response message carrying the changed TED and/or the changed IP address to the MMNE.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein
 if the TEID and/or IP address is allowed to be changed, the modify bearer request message carries an indication indicating that the TEID and/or IP address is allowed to be changed.   
     
     
         11 . A mobility management network element, comprising:
 a determination unit, configured to determine whether a serving gateway (SGW) is allowed to change a tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID) and/or an internet protocol (IP) address in the current procedure according to a type of the current procedure and a state of a user equipment (UE); and   a sending unit, configured to send a modify bearer request message to the SGW, wherein the modify bearer request message is used for notifying whether the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address.   
     
     
         12 . The mobility management network element according to  claim 11 , wherein the determination unit is configured to determine that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address if the mobility management network element is an mobility management entity (MME), the type of the current procedure is a tracking area update procedure and the state of the UE is an idle state. 
     
     
         13 . The mobility management network element according to  claim 11 , wherein the determination unit is configured to determine that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address if the mobility management network element is a serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN), the type of the current procedure is a routing area update procedure and the state of the UE is an idle state. 
     
     
         14 . The mobility management network element according to  claim 11 , further comprising: a receiving unit, wherein
 the receiving unit is configured to receive a front message; and   the determination unit is further configured to obtain the type of the current procedure according to the front message.   
     
     
         15 . The mobility management network element according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the receiving unit is further configured to receive a modify bearer response message carrying a changed TEID and/or a changed IP address returned by the SGW.   
     
     
         16 . The mobility management network element according to  claim 15 , further comprising: a notification unit, wherein
 the notification unit is configured to notify an access network of the changed TEID and/or the changed IP address.   
     
     
         17 . The mobility management network element according to  claim 11 , wherein
 if it is determined that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address, the modify bearer request message carries an indication indicating that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address.   
     
     
         18 . A serving gateway (SGW), comprising:
 a receiving unit, configured to receive a modify bearer request message sent by a mobility management network element (MMNE), wherein the modify bearer request message is used for notifying whether a tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID) and/or an internet protocol (IP) address is allowed to be changed; and   a sending unit, configured to send a modify bearer response message carrying a changed TEID and/or a changed IP address to the MMNE, if the TEID and/or the IP address is allowed to be changed.   
     
     
         19 . The SGW according to  claim 18 , wherein
 if the TEID and/or IP address is allowed to be changed, the modify bearer request message carries an indication indicating that the TEID and/or IP address is allowed to be changed.