Load Sharing Method, Device, and System

Abstract

A load sharing method, device, and system are disclosed. A first base station obtains a current load of the first base station. The first base station is connected to a mobility management entity (MME). The first base station selects a second base station that is also connected to the MME when the current load of the first base station exceeds a preset load threshold. Information of a load to be shared from the first base station to the second base station is transmitted so that the load to be shared can be shared with the second base station without switching a user equipment (UE) served by the first base station to the second base station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining, by a first base station, a current load of the first base station, the first base station being connected to a mobility management entity (MME);   selecting, by the first base station, a second base station also connected to the MME when the current load of the first base station exceeds a preset load threshold; and   transmitting information of a load to be shared from the first base station to the second base station so that the load to be shared can be shared with the second base station without switching a user equipment (UE) served by the first base station to the second base station.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the selecting comprises:
 sending, by the first base station, a resource status request message indicating the load to be shared to a plurality of base stations also connected to the MME when the current load of the first base station exceeds a preset load threshold;   receiving, by the first base station, a resource status response message indicating the current load of one base station in the plurality of base stations; and   selecting, by the first base station, the one base station as the second base station based on the current load of one base station and the load to be shared.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein, the resource status request message carries at least one or any combination of the following: base station pool ID, operator ID, and service license ID. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the selecting comprises:
 sending, by the first base station, a resource status request message indicating the load to be shared to a plurality of base stations also connected to the MME when the current load of the first base station exceeds a preset load threshold;   receiving, by the first base station, a plurality of resource status response messages from the plurality of base stations, each resource status response message indicating a current load of its respective base station in the plurality of base stations; and   selecting, by the first base station, as the second base station one of the plurality of base stations with the lowest current load among the plurality of base stations.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting comprise transmitting a resource reassign request message carrying the information of the load to be shared to the second base station. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the information of the load to be shared comprises context information of a user equipment (UE) corresponding to the load to be shared, or a UE ID in the MME. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the information of the load to be shared comprises a service ID of the load to be shared. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the load to be shared is a residual of the current load of the first base station exceeding the preset load threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the current load of the first base station comprises a service of the UE served by the first base station. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 receiving at a second base station from a first base station, the information relating to a load to be shared by the first base station to be shared with the second base station without switching a user equipment (UE) served by the first base station to the second base station, the information received when a current load of the first base station exceeds a preset load threshold; and   preparing, by the second base station, a baseband resource based on the information of the load to be shared to share the load with the first base station.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the receiving comprise receiving a resource reassign request message carrying the information of the load to be shared sent by the first base station. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the preparing comprises:
 performing baseband resource admission for the load to be shared in the resource reassign request message; and   transmitting a path switch request message carrying the information of the load to be shared to a mobility management entity (MME).   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the information of the load to be shared comprises context information of a user equipment (UE) corresponding to the load to be shared, or a UE ID in the MME. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the second base station, a resource status request message carrying the load to be shared, wherein the resource status request message carries at least one or any combination of the following: base station pool ID, operator ID, and service license ID.   
     
     
         15 . A base station, comprising:
 an obtaining unit configured to obtain a current load of the base station, the base station being connected to a mobility management entity (MME);   a selecting unit configured to select a second base station also connected to the MME when the current load of the base station exceeds a preset load threshold; and   a transmitting unit configured to transmit information of the load to be shared to the second base station, so that the load can be shared with the second base station without switching a user equipment (UE) served by the first base station to the second base station.   
     
     
         16 . A base station, comprising:
 an obtaining unit configured to receive information of a load to be shared by a first base station, so that the load can be shared with the base station without switching a user equipment (UE) served by the first base station to the base station when a current load of the first base station exceeds a preset load threshold; and   a preparing unit configured to prepare baseband resource based on the information of the load to be shared to share the load with the first base station.   
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a first base station connected to a mobility management entity (MME); and   a second base station also connected to the MME,   wherein the first base station is configured to select the second base station to share a load with the first base station without switching a user equipment (UE) from the first base station to the second base station, when a current load of the first base station exceeds a preset load threshold and to transmit information of the load to be shared to the second base station; and   wherein the second base station is configured to receive the information of the load to be shared sent by the first base station, and to prepare a baseband resource based on the information of the load to be shared to share the load for the first base station.