Communication path switching method and device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12464603-B2
Application number	US-202217872556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2022
Priority date	Jun 22, 2016
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A communication path switching method includes receiving, by a first base station, a first message from a first terminal, where the first message requests to switch the first terminal from a first path for independently accessing a network to a second path for accessing the network using a second terminal, and the first base station serves the first terminal; determining, by the first base station according to the first message, a second base station serving the second terminal; obtaining, by the first base station, configuration information from the second base station, where the configuration information enables the first terminal to access the network using the second terminal; and sending, by the first base station, the configuration information to the first terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method implemented by a first apparatus, the method comprising:
accessing independently a first network using a first path via a first base station of the first network, wherein the first base station serves the first apparatus; discovering and pairing with a second terminal; obtaining, from the second terminal, a cell identifier of a cell in which the second terminal is located and an identifier of the second terminal, wherein the identifier of the second terminal comprises at least one of a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) of the second terminal, an S-temporary mobile subscriber identity (S-TMSI) of the second terminal, or a temporary identifier allocated by a second base station to the second terminal; sending, to the first base station using the first path and after pairing with the second terminal, a first message that comprises the cell identifier and the identifier of the second terminal, wherein the first message requests to switch from the first path to a second path for the first apparatus to access the first network using the second terminal; receiving, from the first base station and in response to the first message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message comprising configuration information that enables the first apparatus to access the first network using the second terminal, wherein the configuration information comprises radio resource information that is used by the first apparatus to set up a radio bearer with the second terminal and that is allocated by the second base station; setting up, with the second terminal, a side link bearer and a signaling connection, wherein the side link bearer meets a quality of service requirement; sending, to the second base station via the second terminal, an RRC connection reconfiguration acknowledgment message, wherein the RRC connection reconfiguration acknowledgment message notifies the second base station that switching from the first path to the second path is completed; and accessing the first network using the second path based on the configuration information.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier of the second terminal enables the second base station to identify the second terminal and to configure the second terminal to enable the first apparatus to access the first network using the second terminal.

3 . A first apparatus, comprising:
a memory configured to store one or more instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the one or more instructions to cause the first apparatus to:
access independently a first network using a first path via a first base station of the first network, wherein the first base station serves the first apparatus;
discover and pair with a second terminal;
obtain, from the second terminal, a cell identifier of a cell in which the second terminal is located and an identifier of the second terminal, wherein the identifier of the second terminal comprises at least one of a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) of the second terminal, an S-temporary mobile subscriber identity (S-TMSI) of the second terminal, or a temporary identifier allocated by a second base station to the second terminal; send, to the first base station using the first path and after pairing with the second terminal, a first message that comprises the cell identifier and the identifier of the second terminal, wherein the first message requests to switch from the first path to a second path for the first apparatus to access the first network using the second terminal; receive, from the first base station and in response to the first message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message comprising configuration information that enables the first apparatus to access the first network using the second terminal, wherein the configuration information comprises radio resource information that is used by the first apparatus to set up a radio bearer with the second terminal and that is allocated by the second base station; set up, with the second terminal, a side link bearer and a signaling connection, wherein the side link bearer meets a quality of service requirement; send, to the second base station via the second terminal, an RRC connection reconfiguration acknowledgment message, wherein the RRC connection reconfiguration acknowledgment message notifies the second base station that switching from the first path to the second path is completed; and access the first network using the second path based on the configuration information.

4 . The first apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the identifier of the second terminal enables the second base station to identify the second terminal and to configure the second terminal to enable the first apparatusterminal to access the first network using the second terminal.

5 . A computer program product comprising instructions that are stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and that, when executed by a processor, cause a first apparatus to:
access independently a first network using a first path via a first base station of the first network, wherein the first base station serves the first apparatus; discover and pair with a second terminal; obtain, from the second terminal, a cell identifier of a cell in which the second terminal is located and an identifier of the second terminal, wherein the identifier of the second terminal comprises at least one of a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) of the second terminal, an S-temporary mobile subscriber identity (S-TMSI) of the second terminal, or a temporary identifier allocated by a second base station to the second terminal; send, to the first base station using the first path and after pairing with the second terminal, a first message that comprises the cell identifier and the identifier of the second terminal, wherein the first message requests to switch from the first path to a second path for the first apparatus to access the first network using the second terminal; receive, from the first base station and in response to the first message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message comprising configuration information that enables the first apparatus to access the first network using the second terminal, wherein the configuration information comprises radio resource information that is used by the first apparatus to set up a radio bearer with the second terminal and that is allocated by the second base station; set up, with the second terminal, a side link bearer and a signaling connection, wherein the side link bearer meets a quality of service requirement; send, to the second base station via the second terminal, an RRC connection reconfiguration acknowledgment message, wherein the RRC connection reconfiguration acknowledgment message notifies the second base station that switching from the first path to the second path is completed; and access the first network using the second path based on the configuration information.

6 . The computer program product of claim 5 , wherein the identifier of the second terminal enables the second base station to identify the second terminal and to configure the second terminal to enable the first apparatus to access the first network using the second terminal.

Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jin Hui
• Ouyang Guowei
• Li Guorong

Classifications

• H04W8/08

  Mobility data transfer · CPC title

• H04W76/11

  Allocation or use of connection identifiers · CPC title

• H04W36/0055

  Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link · CPC title

• H04W88/04 Primary

  adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user · CPC title

• H04W36/36 Primary

  by user or terminal equipment · CPC title