Location Area Management Method and Device

Abstract

A location area management method and a device, the location area management method including receiving, by a single radio controller, a first request message, where the first request message is used by user equipment UE to request a location update, generating, by the single radio controller, a paging area list of the UE according to the first request message, where the paging area list includes a location area identity of a location area of at least one network standard, adding, by the single radio controller, the paging area list of the UE to a first response message, and sending the first response message to the UE.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A location area management method, comprising:
 receiving, by a location area management device, a first request message, wherein the first request message requests performance of a location update on a user equipment (UE);   generating, by the location area management device, a paging area list of the UE according to the first request message, wherein the paging area list comprises a location area identity of a location area of at least one network standard;   adding, by the location area management device, the paging area list of the UE to a first response message; and   sending, by the location area management device, the first response message to the UE;   wherein the location area identity comprises one or more of a tracking area identity (TAI), a routing area identity (RAI), or a cell identity; and   wherein the location area management device is configured to manage access network devices of different network standards together, and to be integrated to an access network device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first response message further carries duration information of a location update timer, and wherein the duration information indicates a duration of the location update timer. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 starting, by the location area management device, a location update timer; and   deleting, by the location area management device, in response to a message sent by the UE not being received when the location update timer expires, a location area hierarchical management context of the UE.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first response message is a radio resource control (RRC) Connection Reconfiguration. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the location update is at least one of a periodical location update of the UE, or a location update initiated when the UE moves to another unregistered location area. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first request message further carries hierarchical location update indication information, and wherein the hierarchical location update indication information indicates that the UE supports the location area management device in performing a location update on the UE; and
 wherein the generating the paging area list of the UE according to the first request message comprises:
 determining, by the location area management device, according to the hierarchical location update indication information, whether the UE supports the location area management device in performing a location update on the UE; 
 determining, by the location area management device, that the UE supports the location area management device in performing a location update on the UE; and 
 generating, by the location area management device, the paging area list of the UE according to the first request message. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving, by the location area management device, a first paging message from a third core network controller, wherein the first paging message carries a subscriber identity of the UE;   wherein the generating the paging area list of the UE according to the first request message comprises determining, by the location area management device, the paging area list of the UE according to the subscriber identity of the UE; and   wherein the method further comprises sending, by the location area management device, a second paging message to a location area recorded in the paging area list of the UE, wherein the second paging message carries the subscriber identity of the UE.   
     
     
         8 . A location area management device, wherein the location area management device is located in an access network device and comprises:
 a receiver;   a processor coupled to the receiver;   a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions to:
 receive, through the receiver, a first request message, wherein the first request message requests performance of a location update on a user equipment (UE); 
 generate a paging area list of the UE according to the first request message, wherein the paging area list comprises a location area identity of a location area of at least one network standard; 
 add the paging area list of the UE to a first response message; and 
 send the first response message to the UE; 
   wherein the location area identity comprises one or more of a tracking area identity (TAI), a routing area identity (RAI), or a cell identity.   
     
     
         9 . The location area management device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first response message further carries duration information of a location update timer, and wherein the duration information indicates a duration of the location update timer. 
     
     
         10 . The location area management device according to  claim 8 , wherein the program further includes instructions to:
 start a location update timer; and   delete a location area hierarchical management context of the UE in response to a message sent by the UE not being received when the location update timer expires.   
     
     
         11 . The location area management device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first response message is a radio resource control (RRC) Connection Reconfiguration. 
     
     
         12 . The location area management device according to  claim 8 , wherein the location update is one or more of a periodical location update of the UE, or a location update initiated when the UE moves to another unregistered location area. 
     
     
         13 . The location area management device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first request message further carries hierarchical location update indication information, and wherein the hierarchical location update indication information indicates that the UE supports the location area management device in performing a location update on the UE; and
 wherein the instructions to generate the paging area list of the UE include instructions to:
 determine, according to the hierarchical location update indication information, whether the UE supports the location area management device in performing a location update on the UE; 
 determine that the UE supports the location area management device in performing a location update on the UE; and 
 generate the paging area list of the UE according to the first request message. 
   
     
     
         14 . The location area management device according to  claim 8 , wherein the program further includes instructions to:
 receive a first paging message from a third core network controller, wherein the first paging message carries a subscriber identity of the UE;   wherein the instructions to generate the paging area list of the UE include instructions to determine the paging area list of the UE according to the subscriber identity of the UE; and   wherein the program further includes instructions to send a second paging message to a location area recorded in the paging area list of the UE, wherein the second paging message carries the subscriber identity of the UE.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer program code stored thereon, executable by one or more digital processors, the computer program code including instructions for:
 receiving a first request message, wherein the first request message requests performance of a location update on a user equipment (UE);   generating a paging area list of the UE according to the first request message, wherein the paging area list comprises a location area identity of a location area of at least one network standard;   adding the paging area list of the UE to a first response message; and   sending the first response message to the UE;   wherein the location area identity of a location area of at least one network standard comprises one or more of a tracking area identity (TAI), a routing area identity (RAI), or a cell identity.   
     
     
         16 . The medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the first response message further carries duration information of a location update timer, and wherein the duration information indicates a duration of the location update timer. 
     
     
         17 . The medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the computer program code further comprises instructions for:
 starting a location update timer; and   deleting a location area hierarchical management context of the UE in response a message sent by the UE not being received when the location update timer expires.   
     
     
         18 . The medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the first response message is a radio resource control (RRC) Connection Reconfiguration. 
     
     
         19 . The medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the location update is one or more of a periodical location update of the UE, or a location update initiated when the UE moves to another unregistered location area. 
     
     
         20 . The medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the computer program code further comprises instructions for receiving a first paging message from a third core network controller, wherein the first paging message carries a subscriber identity of the UE;
 wherein the instructions for generating the paging area list of the UE include instructions for determining the paging area list of the UE according to the subscriber identity of the UE; and   wherein the computer program code further comprises instructions for sending a second paging message to a location area recorded in the paging area list of the UE, wherein the second paging message carries the subscriber identity of the UE.