JP7202953B2 - Wireless communication system and communication method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to wireless communication systems and communication methods.

Conventionally, in a mobile communication network (Mobile Network), MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) technology for providing services such as applications to UE at a location closer to the user terminal (User Equipment: UE) is known (for example, , Non-Patent Document 1). Non-Patent Document 1 discloses MEC standardization technology by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute).

ETSI White Paper No. 24, “MEC Deployments in 4G and Evolution Towards 5G”, [searched on March 13, 2019], Internet <URL: https://www.etsi.org/images/files/ETSIWhitePapers/etsi_wp24_MEC_deployment_in_4G_5G_FINAL .pdf＞

However, in the "bump in the wire" method of the conventional MEC standardization technology described above, the MEC server is placed inside the mobile communication network, but the MEC server uses a communication network such as the Internet outside the mobile communication network. Communication was sometimes difficult. The reason for this is that the core equipment inside the mobile communication network that relays communication between the inside and the outside of the mobile communication network does not have the function of performing authentication and connection with the MEC server. This is because communication using a communication network outside the mobile communication network cannot be performed via the core facility. As a solution to this problem, by connecting the MEC server and a communication network outside the mobile communication network, such as the Internet, with a dedicated line, the MEC server can perform communication using the Internet without going through the core equipment. can. However, by providing the dedicated line, there is a possibility that new problems such as an increase in cost and complication of the operation form may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and its object is to provide a communication system in which a server such as an MEC server inside a wireless communication system uses a communication network such as the Internet outside the wireless communication system. without providing a dedicated line between the server and the external communication network.

(1) One aspect of the present invention includes a base station that is wirelessly connected to a user terminal, core equipment that communicates with the user terminal via the base station, and communication with the user terminal via the base station. , wherein the core equipment includes a terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal, and communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address, which is the communication identification information notified to the base station the wireless communication system relaying communication between the user terminal and a communication network external to the wireless communication system based on identification information, wherein the user terminal receives a terminal address of the user terminal from the core equipment; an address acquisition unit for acquiring a terminal address from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure executed when receiving notification of the terminal address and notifying the acquired terminal address to the server; and the terminal acquired by the address acquisition unit from the core equipment a communication identification information acquisition unit that acquires communication identification information corresponding to an address and notifies the acquired communication identification information to the server, wherein the server receives the terminal address and the communication identification information from the address acquisition unit; a wireless communication system that performs communication using a communication network external to the wireless communication system via the core facility using communication identification information received from an acquisition unit, wherein the server includes a communication unit. The communication unit uses the IP packet of the IP communication using the terminal address received from the address acquisition unit as a source address, and the GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) using the communication identification information received from the communication identification information acquisition unit. )-U (User plane) communication between its own server and the core equipment, the address acquisition unit connects to the base station, and transmits the user to the core equipment via the base station A wireless communication system that is a virtual user terminal that obtains a terminal address from the core equipment by performing a terminal authentication connection procedure .
(2) In one aspect of the present invention, communication between the core equipment and the base station is communication performed by GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol), and the terminal address is an IP (Internet Protocol) address. , the communication identification information is TEID (Tunnel Endpoint Identifiers), and the server uses the IP address received from the address acquisition unit and the TEID received from the communication identification information acquisition unit to access the core by GTP The radio communication system according to (1) above, wherein communication is performed using a communication network outside the radio communication system via equipment.
(3) According to one aspect of the present invention, in IP communication in which the IP address obtained by the address obtaining unit from the core equipment is used, the TCP/UDP source port number used by the address obtaining unit and the server use The wireless communication system according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the TCP/UDP transmission source port number is different.
(4) In one aspect of the present invention, the communication identification information acquisition unit acquires the terminal address acquired from the core equipment by the address acquisition unit from the communication data transmitted between the base station and the core equipment. The wireless communication system according to any one of (1) to (3) above, which acquires corresponding communication identification information.
(5) An aspect of the present invention is the wireless communication system according to any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein the server is an MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) server.

(6) One aspect of the present invention includes a base station wirelessly connected to a user terminal, core equipment that communicates with the user terminal via the base station, and communication with the user terminal via the base station. , wherein the core equipment includes a terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal, and communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address, which is the communication identification information notified to the base station The server relays communication between the user terminal and a communication network external to the wireless communication system based on identification information and is provided separately from the core equipment in the wireless communication system, an address receiving unit that receives from the address acquiring unit the terminal address that the address acquiring unit acquires from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure that is executed when the terminal receives notification of the terminal address of the user terminal from the core equipment; a communication identification information receiving unit for receiving, from a communication identification information obtaining unit, communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address received by the address receiving unit from the address obtaining unit; and the terminal address and the communication identification information received from the address obtaining unit. a communication unit that uses the communication identification information received from the acquisition unit to perform communication using a communication network external to the wireless communication system via the core equipment , wherein the communication unit receives the address An IP packet of IP communication using the terminal address received from the acquisition unit as the source address is transmitted by GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol)-U (User plane) communication using the communication identification information received from the communication identification information acquisition unit. , which transfers between its own server and said core equipment .
(7) One aspect of the present invention includes a base station wirelessly connected to a user terminal, core equipment that communicates with the user terminal via the base station, and communication with the user terminal via the base station. , wherein the core equipment includes a terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal, and communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address, which is the communication identification information notified to the base station a computer of the server, which relays communication between the user terminal and a communication network outside the wireless communication system based on identification information, and is provided separately from the core equipment in the wireless communication system ; an address receiving step of receiving, from the address acquisition unit, the terminal address acquired by the address acquisition unit from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure executed when the terminal receives notification of the terminal address of the user terminal from the core equipment; a communication identification information receiving step in which the address receiving step receives communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address received from the address obtaining unit from a communication identification information obtaining unit; and the terminal address and the communication identification information received from the address obtaining unit. and a communication step of performing communication using a communication network outside the wireless communication system via the core equipment using the communication identification information received from the acquisition unit, and , the communication step uses GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) using the communication identification information received from the communication identification information acquisition unit for the IP packet of the IP communication using the terminal address received from the address acquisition unit as a source address; - A computer program that transfers between its own server and the core facility via U (User plane) communication .

(8) One aspect of the present invention includes a base station wirelessly connected to a user terminal, core equipment for communicating with the user terminal via the base station, and communication with the user terminal via the base station. , wherein the core equipment includes a terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal, and communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address, which is the communication identification information notified to the base station a server support device for the wireless communication system, which relays communication between the user terminal and a communication network external to the wireless communication system based on identification information, wherein the user terminal is connected to the user from the core equipment; A server support device comprising: an address acquisition unit that acquires a terminal address from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure executed when receiving notification of the terminal address of the terminal, and notifies the acquired terminal address to the server.
(9) In one aspect of the present invention, communication between the core equipment and the base station is communication performed by GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol), and the terminal address is an IP (Internet Protocol) address. , the communication identification information is TEID (Tunnel Endpoint Identifiers), and the server uses the IP address received from the address acquisition unit and the TEID received from the communication identification information acquisition unit to acquire the core equipment by GTP through a communication network external to the wireless communication system, and the server support device uses TCP used for IP communication in which the IP address obtained by the address obtaining unit from the core equipment is used / A port number management unit that manages a UDP transmission source port number, wherein the port number management unit is configured to perform IP communication in which the IP address acquired by the address acquisition unit from the core equipment is used. The server support device according to (8) above, wherein the TCP/UDP transmission source port number used and the TCP/UDP transmission source port number used by the server are made different.
(10) One aspect of the present invention includes a base station wirelessly connected to a user terminal, core equipment that communicates with the user terminal via the base station, and communication with the user terminal via the base station. , wherein the core equipment includes a terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal, and communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address, which is the communication identification information notified to the base station a computer of the server support device of the wireless communication system, which relays communication between the user terminal and a communication network external to the wireless communication system, based on the identification information, the user terminal is transmitted from the core equipment to the user; A computer program for executing an address acquisition step of acquiring a terminal address from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure executed when the terminal address of the terminal is notified, and notifying the acquired terminal address to the server. .

(11) One aspect of the present invention includes a base station wirelessly connected to a user terminal, core equipment that communicates with the user terminal via the base station, and communication with the user terminal via the base station. , wherein the core equipment includes a terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal, and communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address, which is the communication identification information notified to the base station a server support device for the wireless communication system, which relays communication between the user terminal and a communication network external to the wireless communication system based on identification information, wherein the user terminal is connected to the user from the core equipment; An address acquisition unit acquires communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address acquired from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure executed when receiving notification of the terminal address of the terminal, and notifies the acquired communication identification information to the server. A server support device comprising a communication identification information acquisition unit.
(12) In one aspect of the present invention, the communication identification information obtaining unit obtains the terminal address obtained from the core equipment by the address obtaining unit from the communication data transmitted between the base station and the core equipment. The server support device according to (11), which acquires the corresponding communication identification information.
(13) One aspect of the present invention includes a base station wirelessly connected to a user terminal, core equipment that communicates with the user terminal via the base station, and communication with the user terminal via the base station. , wherein the core equipment includes a terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal, and communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address, which is the communication identification information notified to the base station a computer of the server support device of the wireless communication system, which relays communication between the user terminal and a communication network external to the wireless communication system, based on the identification information, the user terminal is transmitted from the core equipment to the user; An address acquisition unit acquires communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address acquired from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure executed when receiving notification of the terminal address of the terminal, and notifies the acquired communication identification information to the server. A computer program for executing a communication identification information acquisition step.

One aspect of the present invention is a base station wirelessly connected to a user terminal, a core facility communicating with the user terminal via the base station, and a server communicating with the user terminal via the base station. , wherein the core equipment includes the terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal, and the communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address and notified to the base station. relaying communication between the user terminal and a communication network external to the wireless communication system based on the above, wherein the address acquisition unit is configured so that the user terminal receives from the core equipment the relevant an address acquisition step of acquiring a terminal address from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure executed when receiving notification of the terminal address of the user terminal, and notifying the server of the acquired terminal address; and a communication identification information acquiring unit, a communication identification information acquisition step in which the address acquisition unit acquires communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address acquired from the core equipment and notifies the acquired communication identification information to the server; a communication step of performing communication using a communication network outside the wireless communication system via the core facility using the received terminal address and the communication identification information received from the communication identification information acquisition unit; wherein the communication step converts an IP packet of IP communication using the terminal address received from the address acquisition unit as a source address to GTP using the communication identification information received from the communication identification information acquisition unit. (GPRS Tunneling Protocol)-U (User plane) communication transfers between the own server and the core equipment, and the address acquisition unit connects to the base station, and through the base station, the core equipment is a virtual user terminal that obtains a terminal address from the core equipment by performing a user terminal authentication connection procedure to a virtual user terminal .

According to the present invention, a server such as an MEC server inside a wireless communication system performs communication using a communication network such as the Internet outside the wireless communication system. There is an effect that it can be realized without providing a dedicated line to the network.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a radio communication system according to an embodiment; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an MEC server according to one embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a virtual UE according to one embodiment; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a virtual base station according to one embodiment; FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of procedures of a communication method according to one embodiment; 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a radio communication system according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of procedures of a communication method according to one embodiment;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a radio communication system according to the first embodiment. A wireless communication system 1 shown in FIG. 1 implements a mobile communication network. A wireless communication system 1 includes a base station 3 , a packet filtering device 4 , core equipment 5 , and an MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) system 10 . The MEC system 10 includes an MEC server 20 , virtual user terminals (virtual UEs) 30 and virtual base stations 40 .

A wireless communication system 1 is connected to a communication network outside itself. In this embodiment, the Internet 100 will be described as an example of a communication network outside the wireless communication system 1 . A wireless communication system 1 is connected to the Internet 100 .

In the wireless communication system 1, the base station 3 is wirelessly connected to the UE2. A packet filtering device 4 is provided between the base station 3 , the core facility 5 and the MEC system 10 . The packet filtering device 4 has a communication data transfer function of transferring communication data. The packet filtering device 4 extracts communication data to be transferred to the MEC system 10 from communication data transmitted between the base station 3 and the core equipment 5 and transfers the communication data to the MEC system 10 . The packet filtering device 4 also transfers communication data transmitted from the MEC system 10 to the base station 3 or core equipment 5 .

The core equipment 5 has a function of relaying communication between the inside and outside of the wireless communication system 1 . In the example of FIG. 1, core equipment 5 relays communications between the interior of wireless communication system 1 and the Internet 100 . Core equipment 5 communicates with UE 2 via base station 3 . Core equipment 5 has the functionality to authenticate and connect with the UE. The UE 2 uses the Internet 100 via the core equipment 5 by executing a predetermined authentication and connection procedure (hereinafter referred to as a UE authentication connection procedure) to the core equipment 5 and connecting to the core equipment 5. communication can be performed. The UE authentication connection procedure is a known procedure defined by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project).

In this embodiment, GTP communication performed by GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) will be described as an example of communication between the core facility 5 and the base station 3 . User plane communication is communication in GTP-U (GTP-User plane) (GTP-U communication). UE 2 performs a UE authentication connection procedure to core equipment 5 . The core equipment 5 notifies the UE 2 of the IP (Internet Protocol) address (hereinafter referred to as the terminal IP address), which is the terminal address of the UE 2, according to the authentication and connection procedure corresponding to the UE authentication connection procedure of the UE 2. . Also, it notifies the base station 3 to which the UE2 connects of "GTP-UTEID (Tunnel Endpoint Identifiers)" corresponding to the terminal IP address of the UE2. In this embodiment, TEID corresponds to communication identification information.

The UE 2 performs IP communication using the terminal IP address received from the core equipment 5 as the source address. The IP packets of this UE 2 IP communication are transferred between the base station 3 and the core equipment 5 by GTP-U communication using the “GTP-U TEID” received by the base station 3 from the core equipment 5 . The core facility 5 relays to the Internet 100 the IP packets of the IP communication of the UE 2 directed to the Internet 100 that are transferred to and from the base station 3 by the GTP-U communication. Thereby, the UE 2 can perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core equipment 5 .

In the MEC system 10, virtual UEs 30 are connected to virtual base stations 40. FIG. A virtual base station 40 is connected to the packet filtering device 4 . MEC server 20 is connected to packet filtering device 4 .

MEC server 20 communicates with UE 2 via base station 3 . Also, the MEC server 20 communicates with the virtual UE 30 via the virtual base station 40 . Virtual UE 30 communicates with core equipment 5 via virtual base station 40 . The virtual UE 30 and the virtual base station 40 are devices that assist the MEC server 20 in performing communication using the Internet 100 . In this embodiment, the virtual UE 30 and the virtual base station 40 correspond to server support devices.

The virtual UE 30 acquires the terminal IP address from the core equipment 5 by the UE authentication connection procedure executed when the UE receives notification of the terminal IP address of the UE from the core equipment 5, and sends the acquired terminal IP address to the MEC server 20. to notify.

The virtual base station 40 obtains the “GTP-U TEID” corresponding to the terminal IP address obtained by the virtual UE 30 from the core equipment 5 and notifies the MEC server 20 of the obtained “GTP-U TEID”. In this embodiment, when the virtual UE 30 acquires the terminal IP address from the core equipment 5 by the UE authentication connection procedure, the "GTP-UTEID" corresponding to the terminal IP address is notified from the core equipment 5 to the virtual base station 40. As a result, the virtual base station 40 acquires the "GTP-UTEID".

The MEC server 20 uses the terminal IP address received from the virtual UE 30 and the “GTP-UTEID” received from the virtual base station 40 to perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core equipment 5 by GTP. . Specifically, the MEC server 20 transmits the IP packet of the IP communication using the terminal IP address received from the virtual UE 30 as the source address to the GTP-U TEID using the “GTP-U TEID” received from the virtual base station 40 . It is transferred between its own MEC server 20 and the core facility 5 by U communication. The core facility 5 relays, to the Internet 100, IP packets of the IP communication of the MEC server 20 directed to the Internet 100, which are transferred to and from the MEC server 20 by the GTP-U communication. Thereby, the MEC server 20 can perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core equipment 5 .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an MEC server according to the first embodiment; In FIG. 2 , the MEC server 20 includes an address reception section 21 , a TEID reception section 22 and a communication section 23 .

The address reception unit 21 receives a terminal IP address from the virtual UE 30. FIG. This terminal IP address is the terminal IP address obtained by the virtual UE 30 from the core equipment 5 through the UE authentication connection procedure.

The TEID receiving unit 22 receives “GTP-UTEID” from the virtual base station 40 . This “GTP-U TEID” is the “GTP-U TEID” corresponding to the terminal IP address received by the address receiving unit 21 from the virtual UE 30 .

The communication unit 23 uses the terminal IP address received from the virtual UE 30 and the “GTP-UTEID” received from the virtual base station 40 to perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core equipment 5 by GTP. . Specifically, the communication unit 23 transmits the IP packet of the IP communication using the terminal IP address received from the virtual UE 30 as the source address to the GTP-U TEID using the “GTP-U TEID” received from the virtual base station 40 . It is transferred between its own MEC server 20 and the core facility 5 by U communication. The core facility 5 relays, to the Internet 100, IP packets of the IP communication of the MEC server 20 directed to the Internet 100, which are transferred to and from the MEC server 20 by the GTP-U communication. Thereby, the MEC server 20 can perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core equipment 5 .

The functions of the MEC server 20 are realized by the MEC server 20 having computer hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory, and the CPU executing a computer program stored in the memory. The MEC server 20 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. Alternatively, the MEC server 20 may be implemented using a virtual machine (VM) configured on computer hardware included in the MEC system 10 . For example, the MEC system 10 includes a blade server device having a plurality of computer devices, and executes a server application that realizes the functions of the MEC server 20 on a virtual machine configured by one of the computer devices of the blade server device. The function of the MEC server 20 may be realized by

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a virtual UE (server support device) according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3 , the virtual UE 30 has an address acquisition unit 31 and a port number management unit 32 .

The address acquisition unit 31 acquires the terminal IP address from the core equipment 5 by the UE authentication connection procedure executed when the UE receives notification of the terminal IP address of the UE from the core equipment 5, and sends the acquired terminal IP address to the MEC. The server 20 is notified.

The port number management unit 32 uses the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transmission source port number ( hereinafter referred to as a TCP/UDP transmission source port number).

The port number management unit 32 manages the TCP/UDP transmission source port number used by the address acquisition unit 31 and the port number used by the MEC server 20 in IP communication in which the terminal IP address acquired by the address acquisition unit 31 from the core equipment 5 is used. Make it different from the TCP/UDP source port number. Since the TCP/UDP transmission source port number of the address acquisition unit 31 and the TCP/UDP transmission source port number of the MEC server 20 are different, the address acquisition unit 31 and the MEC server 20 use the same terminal IP address. Even when communication is performed, the IP communication of the address acquisition unit 31 and the IP communication of the MEC server 20 can be identified by the TCP/UDP source port number.

The port number management unit 32 manages the TCP/UDP source port number assigned to each MEC server 20 when a plurality of MEC servers 20 are provided. Specifically, for each MEC server 20, a TCP/UDP transmission source port number different from the TCP/UDP transmission source port number of the address acquisition unit 31, and a different TCP/UDP transmission source port number for each MEC server 20 Assign a port number. Also, when the MEC server 20 is added, a new TCP/UDP transmission source port number different from the TCP/UDP transmission source port number of the address acquisition unit 31 is assigned to the new MEC server 20 . Also, when the MEC server 20 is removed, the TCP/UDP transmission source port number assigned to the MEC server 20 is set to an unused TCP/UDP transmission source port number.

The functions of the virtual UE 30 are realized by the virtual UE 30 having computer hardware such as a CPU and memory, and the CPU executing a computer program stored in the memory. The virtual UE 30 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. Alternatively, the virtual UE 30 may be implemented using a virtual machine (VM) configured on computer hardware included in the MEC system 10 . For example, the MEC system 10 includes a blade server device having a plurality of computer devices, and by executing an application that realizes the function of the virtual UE 30 on a virtual machine configured by one of the computer devices of the blade server device, Functions of the virtual UE 30 may be realized.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a virtual base station (server support device) according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 4 , the virtual base station 40 has a TEID acquisition section 41 .

The TEID obtaining unit 41 obtains the “GTP-U TEID” corresponding to the terminal IP address obtained by the virtual UE 30 from the core equipment 5 and notifies the MEC server 20 of the obtained “GTP-U TEID”. Specifically, when the virtual UE 30 acquires the terminal IP address from the core equipment 5 by the UE authentication connection procedure, the TEID acquisition unit 41 obtains the “GTP-U TEID” corresponding to the terminal IP address from the core equipment 5. By being notified to the virtual base station 40, the TEID obtaining unit 41 obtains the "GTP-U TEID".

The functions of the virtual base station 40 are realized by the virtual base station 40 having computer hardware such as a CPU and memory, and the CPU executing a computer program stored in the memory. The virtual base station 40 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. Alternatively, the virtual base station 40 may be implemented using a virtual machine (VM) configured on computer hardware included in the MEC system 10 . For example, the MEC system 10 may include a blade server device having a plurality of computer devices, and an application that realizes the functions of the virtual base station 40 may be executed on a virtual machine configured by one of the computer devices of the blade server device. The function of the virtual base station 40 may be realized by

Next, a communication method according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the procedure of the communication method according to the first embodiment.

(Step S1) The packet filtering device 4 uses its own communication data transfer function to transfer communication data addressed to the IP address of the virtual base station 40 out of the communication data received by itself to the communication line for the virtual base station 40. Make settings to This allows communication between the virtual base station 40 and the core facility 5 .

(Step S<b>2 ) The virtual UE 30 connects to the virtual base station 40 . The address acquisition unit 31 of the virtual UE 30 acquires the terminal IP address from the core equipment 5 by executing the UE authentication connection procedure for the core equipment 5 via the virtual base station 40 . The address acquisition unit 31 records the terminal IP address. The “GTP-UTEID” corresponding to the terminal IP address obtained by the virtual UE 30 from the core equipment 5 through the UE authentication connection procedure is notified from the core equipment 5 to the virtual base station 40 . The TEID acquisition unit 41 of the virtual base station 40 acquires the “GTP-U TEID” notified from the core equipment 5 to the virtual base station 40 . The virtual base station 40 associates and records the terminal IP address of the virtual UE 30 and the "GTP-UTEID" corresponding to the terminal IP address.

(Step S<b>3 ) The address acquisition unit 31 of the virtual UE 30 notifies the MEC server 20 of the terminal IP address acquired from the core equipment 5 . The address reception unit 21 of the MEC server 20 receives the terminal IP address from the virtual UE 30. FIG. In the MEC server 20 , the address reception unit 21 notifies the communication unit 23 of the terminal IP address received from the virtual UE 30 . The communication unit 23 records the terminal IP address received from the address reception unit 21 .

(Step S4) The TEID acquisition unit 41 of the virtual base station 40 notifies the MEC server 20 of the “GTP-U TEID” acquired from the core equipment 5. FIG. The TEID receiver 22 of the MEC server 20 receives the “GTP-U TEID” from the virtual base station 40 . In the MEC server 20, the TEID reception unit 22 notifies the communication unit 23 of the “GTP-U TEID” received from the virtual base station 40. FIG. The communication unit 23 records the “GTP-U TEID” received from the TEID reception unit 22 .

(Step S5) The port number management unit 32 of the virtual UE 30 assigns the TCP/UDP source port number used by the MEC server 20 in the IP communication using the terminal IP address acquired by the address acquisition unit 31 from the core equipment 5. . This assigned TCP/UDP source port number can be used in communications using the Internet 100 . The port number management unit 32 records the TCP/UDP source port number assigned to the MEC server 20 . The port number management unit 32 notifies the MEC server 20 of the TCP/UDP transmission source port number assigned to the MEC server 20 . The communication unit 23 of the MEC server 20 records the TCP/UDP source port number received from the virtual UE 30 .

(Step S6) The communication unit 23 of the MEC server 20 sends the terminal IP address, "GTP-UTEID", and TCP/UDP source port number received and recorded in steps S3, S4, and S5 to the packet filtering device. 4.

(Step S7) The packet filtering device 4 receives the terminal IP address (hereinafter referred to as the MEC terminal IP address) from the MEC server 20 and the "GTP-U TEID" (hereinafter referred to as the "MEC GTP-U TEID"). Based on the TCP/UDP transmission source port number (hereinafter referred to as MECTTCP/UDP transmission source port number), the communication data to be transferred to the MEC server 20 is selected from the communication data transmitted between the base station 3 and the core equipment 5. Settings for extracting and transferring to the MEC server 20 are made. In transferring this communication data, the packet filtering device 4 extracts communication data identified by “MEC GTP-U TEID” from the communication data transmitted between the base station 3 and the core facility 5 . Next, the packet filtering device 4 extracts IP packets whose destination address is the MEC terminal IP address and whose TCP/UDP source port number is the MECTTCP/UDP source port number from the extracted communication data. The packet filtering device 4 then transfers the extracted IP packet to the MEC server 20 .

(Step S8) The communication unit 23 of the MEC server 20 receives and records the terminal IP address (MEC terminal IP address) and "GTP-U TEID" ("MEC GTP-U TEID ) and the TCP/UDP source port number (MECTTCP/UDP source port number) are used to perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core facility 5 by GTP. Specifically, the communication unit 23 transmits the IP packet of the IP communication using the MEC terminal IP address as the source address to the MEC server 20 and the core by the GTP-U communication using the “MEC GTP-U TEID”. Transfer to and from facility 5. The core facility 5 relays, to the Internet 100, IP packets of the IP communication of the MEC server 20 directed to the Internet 100, which are transferred to and from the MEC server 20 by the GTP-U communication. Thereby, the MEC server 20 can perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core equipment 5 .

According to the first embodiment described above, the MEC server 20 inside the wireless communication system 1 performs communication using the Internet 100 outside the wireless communication system 1. It can be realized without providing a dedicated line in between. As a result, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of new problems such as an increase in cost and complication of the operation mode due to providing a dedicated line between the MEC server 20 and the Internet 100 .

In addition, since the MEC server 20 can perform communication using the Internet 100, it is possible to access the MEC server 20 from outside the wireless communication system 1, so operations such as operation and maintenance of the MEC server 20 can be performed by wireless communication. It can be performed remotely from outside the system 1 . This has the effect of contributing to the improvement of convenience for the MEC server 20 .

In addition, the port number management unit 32 of the virtual UE 30, in IP communication in which the terminal IP address acquired by the address acquisition unit 31 from the core equipment 5 is used, the TCP/UDP transmission source port number and the MEC Each TCP/UDP source port number may be assigned as different from the TCP/UDP source port number used by the server 20 . Each of these assigned TCP/UDP source port numbers can be used in communications using the Internet 100 . In this case, the port number management unit 32 records the TCP/UDP transmission source port number assigned to the address acquisition unit 31 and the TCP/UDP transmission source port number assigned to the MEC server 20 . The port number management unit 32 notifies the address acquisition unit 31 of the TCP/UDP transmission source port number assigned to the address acquisition unit 31 . The address acquisition unit 31 records the TCP/UDP source port number. The address acquisition unit 31 notifies the packet filtering device 4 of its own terminal IP address and TCP/UDP source port number.

The packet filtering device 4 receives the terminal IP address (which is the same as the MEC terminal IP address) and TCP/UDP source port number (hereinafter referred to as the virtual UETCP/UDP source port number) received from the virtual UE 30, Communication transferred from communication data transmitted between the base station 3 and the core equipment 5 to the virtual UE 30 based on the "MEC GTP-U TEID" which is the "GTP-U TEID" corresponding to the MEC terminal IP address Settings are made to extract data and transfer it to the virtual UE 30 via the virtual base station 40 . In transferring this communication data, the packet filtering device 4 extracts communication data identified by “MEC GTP-U TEID” from the communication data transmitted between the base station 3 and the core facility 5 . Next, the packet filtering device 4 extracts IP packets whose destination address is the MEC terminal IP address and whose TCP/UDP source port number is the virtual UETCP/UDP source port number from the extracted communication data. The packet filtering device 4 then transfers the extracted IP packet to the virtual UE 30 via the virtual base station 40 . Thereby, the virtual UE 30 can perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core equipment 5 .

Since the virtual UE 30 can perform communication using the Internet 100 , the virtual UE 30 can be accessed from outside the wireless communication system 1 , and operations such as operation and maintenance of the virtual UE 30 can be performed from outside the wireless communication system 1 Can be performed remotely. This has the effect of contributing to improvement of convenience for the virtual UE 30 .

Also, for the virtual base station 40, like the virtual UE 30, a TCP/UDP source port number for the virtual base station 40 is assigned so that the virtual base station 40 can perform communication using the Internet 100. good too. As a result, operations such as operation and maintenance of the virtual base station 40 can be performed remotely from outside the wireless communication system 1 .

[Second embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless communication system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 6, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. A virtual UE 30 is connected to a base station 3 in the radio communication system 1a shown in FIG. The virtual UE 30 may be wirelessly connected to the base station 3 in the same manner as the existing UE 2, for example. Alternatively, the virtual UE 30 may be attached to the base station 3. For example, the virtual UE 30 may be attached to the base station 3 as a device independent of the base station 3 or may be provided as an attached function of the base station 3 . For example, the virtual UE 30 may be implemented using a virtual machine (VM) configured on the same computer hardware as the base station 3.

The packet filtering device 4a includes a TEID acquisition unit 41a. The TEID obtaining unit 41a obtains a “GTP-U TEID” corresponding to the terminal address obtained from the core equipment 5 by the address obtaining unit 31 of the virtual UE 30 from the communication data transmitted between the base station 3 and the core equipment 5. get.

The MEC server 20 has the same configuration as in FIG. The virtual UE 30 has the same configuration as in FIG. In this embodiment, the virtual UE 30 and the TEID acquisition unit 41a correspond to server support devices.

Next, a communication method according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of procedures of a communication method according to the second embodiment.

(Step S<b>11 ) The virtual UE 30 connects to the base station 3 . The address acquisition unit 31 of the virtual UE 30 acquires the terminal IP address from the core equipment 5 by executing the UE authentication connection procedure for the core equipment 5 via the base station 3 . The address acquisition unit 31 records the terminal IP address. The “GTP-UTEID” corresponding to the terminal IP address obtained from the core equipment 5 by the virtual UE 30 through the UE authentication connection procedure is notified from the core equipment 5 to the base station 3 .

(Step S<b>12 ) The address acquisition unit 31 of the virtual UE 30 notifies the MEC server 20 of the terminal IP address acquired from the core equipment 5 . The address reception unit 21 of the MEC server 20 receives the terminal IP address from the virtual UE 30. FIG. In the MEC server 20 , the address reception unit 21 notifies the communication unit 23 of the terminal IP address received from the virtual UE 30 . The communication unit 23 records the terminal IP address (hereinafter referred to as the MEC terminal IP address) received from the address reception unit 21 .

(Step S13) The communication unit 23 of the MEC server 20 notifies the packet filtering device 4a of the MEC terminal IP address received and recorded in step S12.

(Step S14) Based on the MEC terminal IP address received from the MEC server 20, the TEID acquisition unit 41a of the packet filtering device 4a extracts the MEC terminal IP address from the communication data transmitted between the base station 3 and the core facility 5. Obtain a "GTP-U TEID" (hereinafter referred to as "MEC GTP-U TEID") corresponding to the address. Specifically, the TEID acquisition unit 41a extracts from the GTP-U communication data transmitted between the base station 3 and the core equipment 5, GTP packets having IP packets whose source address or destination address is the MEC terminal IP address. - Detect U communication data. The TEID acquisition unit 41a acquires the "GTP-U TEID" attached to the detected GTP-U communication data as the "MEC GTP-U TEID".

(Step S15) The TEID acquisition unit 41a of the packet filtering device 4a notifies the MEC server 20 of the "MEC GTP-U TEID" acquired in step S14. The TEID receiver 22 of the MEC server 20 receives the "MEC GTP-U TEID" from the packet filtering device 4a. In the MEC server 20, the TEID reception unit 22 notifies the communication unit 23 of the "MEC GTP-U TEID" received from the packet filtering device 4a. The communication unit 23 records the “MEC GTP-U TEID” received from the TEID reception unit 22 .

(Step S16) The port number management unit 32 of the virtual UE 30 obtains a TCP/UDP transmission source port number (hereinafter referred to as TCP/UDP source port number used by the MEC server 20 in IP communication using the terminal IP address that the address acquisition unit 31 acquired from the core equipment 5). , referred to as the MECTTCP/UDP source port number). This assigned MECTTCP/UDP source port number can be used in communications using the Internet 100 . The port number management unit 32 records the MECTTCP/UDP source port number. The port number management unit 32 notifies the MEC server 20 of the MECTCP/UDP source port number. The communication unit 23 of the MEC server 20 records the MECTTCP/UDP source port number received from the virtual UE 30 .

(Step S17) The communication unit 23 of the MEC server 20 notifies the packet filtering device 4 of the self-recorded MEC terminal IP address, "MEC GTP-UTEID", and MECTCP/UDP source port number.

(Step S18) Based on the MEC terminal IP address, the “MEC GTP-UTEID” and the MECTCP/UDP source port number received from the MEC server 20, the packet filtering device 4 connects the base station 3 and the core equipment 5. The communication data to be transferred to the MEC server 20 is extracted from the communication data transmitted in , and settings are made for transfer to the MEC server 20 . In transferring this communication data, the packet filtering device 4 extracts communication data identified by “MEC GTP-U TEID” from the communication data transmitted between the base station 3 and the core facility 5 . Next, the packet filtering device 4 extracts IP packets whose destination address is the MEC terminal IP address and whose TCP/UDP source port number is the MECTTCP/UDP source port number from the extracted communication data. The packet filtering device 4 then transfers the extracted IP packet to the MEC server 20 .

(Step S19) The communication unit 23 of the MEC server 20 uses the self-recorded MEC terminal IP address, "MEC GTP-UTEID", and MECTCP/UDP source port number to connect the core equipment 5 by GTP. Communication using the Internet 100 is performed via the Internet. Specifically, the communication unit 23 transmits the IP packet of the IP communication using the MEC terminal IP address as the source address to the MEC server 20 and the core by the GTP-U communication using the “MEC GTP-U TEID”. Transfer to and from facility 5. The core facility 5 relays, to the Internet 100, IP packets of the IP communication of the MEC server 20 directed to the Internet 100, which are transferred to and from the MEC server 20 by the GTP-U communication. Thereby, the MEC server 20 can perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core equipment 5 .

According to the second embodiment described above, the MEC server 20 inside the wireless communication system 1 performs communication using the Internet 100 outside the wireless communication system 1. It can be realized without providing a dedicated line in between. As a result, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of new problems such as an increase in cost and complication of the operation mode due to providing a dedicated line between the MEC server 20 and the Internet 100 .

In addition, since the MEC server 20 can perform communication using the Internet 100, it is possible to access the MEC server 20 from outside the wireless communication system 1, so operations such as operation and maintenance of the MEC server 20 can be performed by wireless communication. It can be performed remotely from outside the system 1 . This has the effect of contributing to the improvement of convenience for the MEC server 20 .

Note that, as in the first embodiment described above, the port number management unit 32 of the virtual UE 30 uses the terminal IP address acquired by the address acquisition unit 31 from the core equipment 5 in IP communication. The TCP/UDP source port number used by the MEC server 20 may be different from the TCP/UDP source port number used by the MEC server 20, and each TCP/UDP source port number may be assigned. As a result, the virtual UE 30 can perform communication using the Internet 100 via the core facility 5, as in the first embodiment described above. Also, for the virtual base station 40, like the virtual UE 30, a TCP/UDP source port number for the virtual base station 40 is assigned so that the virtual base station 40 can perform communication using the Internet 100. good too.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like are included within the scope of the present invention.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the MEC server was taken as an example, but it may be applied to various servers provided inside the wireless communication system.

Alternatively, a computer program for realizing the functions of the devices described above may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in the recording medium may be read and executed by the computer system. Note that the “computer system” referred to here may include hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices.
In addition, "computer-readable recording medium" includes writable nonvolatile memories such as flexible discs, magneto-optical discs, ROMs and flash memories, portable media such as DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), and computer system built-in media. A storage device such as a hard disk that

Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" means a volatile memory (e.g., DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)), which holds the program for a certain period of time, is also included.
Further, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system storing this program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in a transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
Further, the program may be for realizing part of the functions described above. Further, it may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-described functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a... Wireless communication system, 3... Base station, 4, 4a... Packet filtering device, 5... Core equipment, 10... MEC system, 20... MEC server, 21... Address receiving unit, 22... TEID receiving unit, 23... Communication unit 30 Virtual UE (server support device) 31 Address acquisition unit 32 Port number management unit 40 Virtual base station (server support device) 41 TEID acquisition unit 41a TEID acquisition unit (server support device), 100...Internet

Claims (6)

a base station wirelessly connected to a user terminal;
a core facility that communicates with the user terminal via the base station;
A wireless communication system comprising a server that communicates with the user terminal via the base station,
The core equipment communicates with the user terminal based on the terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal and the communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address and notified to the base station. The wireless communication system relaying communication with a communication network external to the wireless communication system,
an address acquisition unit for acquiring a terminal address from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure executed when the user terminal receives notification of the terminal address of the user terminal from the core equipment, and for notifying the server of the acquired terminal address; ,
a communication identification information acquisition unit that acquires communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address acquired by the address acquisition unit from the core equipment and notifies the acquired communication identification information to the server;
The server uses the terminal address received from the address acquisition unit and the communication identification information received from the communication identification information acquisition unit to use a communication network outside the wireless communication system via the core facility. make communications to
A wireless communication system,
The server comprises a communication unit,
GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) using the communication identification information received from the communication identification information acquisition unit - Transfer between the own server and the core equipment by U (User plane) communication,
The address acquisition unit is a virtual user terminal that acquires a terminal address from the core equipment by connecting to the base station and executing a user terminal authentication connection procedure for the core equipment via the base station. be,
wireless communication system. Communication between the core equipment and the base station is communication performed by GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol),
The terminal address is an IP (Internet Protocol) address,
The communication identification information is TEID (Tunnel Endpoint Identifiers),
The server uses the IP address received from the address acquisition unit and the TEID received from the communication identification information acquisition unit to use a communication network outside the wireless communication system via the core equipment by GTP. make communications to
A wireless communication system according to claim 1 . In IP communication in which the IP address acquired from the core equipment by the address acquisition unit is used, the TCP/UDP transmission source port number used by the address acquisition unit and the TCP/UDP transmission source port number used by the server are different. different,
The radio communication system according to claim 1 or 2. The communication identification information acquisition unit acquires communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address acquired from the core equipment by the address acquisition unit from communication data transmitted between the base station and the core equipment.
The radio communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The server is an MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) server,
A radio communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. a base station wirelessly connected to a user terminal;
a core facility that communicates with the user terminal via the base station;
A wireless communication system comprising a server that communicates with the user terminal via the base station,
The core equipment communicates with the user terminal based on the terminal address of the user terminal notified to the user terminal and the communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address and notified to the base station. A communication method of the wireless communication system for relaying communication with a communication network external to the wireless communication system,
An address acquisition unit acquires a terminal address from the core equipment according to a predetermined procedure executed when the user terminal receives notification of the terminal address of the user terminal from the core equipment, and notifies the acquired terminal address to the server. an address acquisition step for
a communication identification information acquisition step in which a communication identification information acquisition unit acquires communication identification information corresponding to the terminal address acquired from the core equipment by the address acquisition unit and notifies the acquired communication identification information to the server;
The server uses the terminal address received from the address acquisition unit and the communication identification information received from the communication identification information acquisition unit to use a communication network outside the wireless communication system via the core equipment. a communication step of communicating to
A communication method comprising
The communication step uses GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) using communication identification information received from the communication identification information acquisition unit for an IP packet of IP communication using the terminal address received from the address acquisition unit as a source address. Transfer between the own server and the core equipment by U (User plane) communication,
The address acquisition unit is a virtual user terminal that acquires a terminal address from the core equipment by connecting to the base station and executing a user terminal authentication connection procedure for the core equipment via the base station. be,
Communication method.

Images