Processing method for minimization of drive tests, network device, and communications system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016014630-A1
Application number	US-201514865770-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Mar 25, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a processing method for minimization of drive tests, a network device, and a communications system. The method includes: obtaining, by a first network device, a virtual identity, where the virtual identity is corresponding to a real identity of a terminal; and sending, by the first network device, the virtual identity of the terminal performing minimization of drive tests and minimization of drive tests information, where the minimization of drive tests information includes at least one of a minimization of drive tests result and a trace recording session reference. According to the present invention, some measurement results can be mapped to same UE without exposing user privacy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A processing method for minimization of drive tests, comprising:
obtaining, by a first network device, a virtual identity of a terminal performing minimization of drive tests; and sending, by the first network device, the virtual identity and minimization of drive tests information, wherein the minimization of drive tests information comprises at least one of a minimization of drive tests result and a trace recording session reference.

2 . The processing method for minimization of drive tests according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual identity is corresponding to a real identity of the terminal.

3 . The processing method for minimization of drive tests according to claim 1 , wherein the obtaining, by a first network device, a virtual identity comprises:
generating, by the first network device, the virtual identity.

4 . The processing method for minimization of drive tests according to claim 3 , wherein before the generating, by the first network device, the virtual identity, the method further comprises:
determining, by the first network device, whether user consent information exists, and when the user consent information exists, generating the virtual identity.

5 . The processing method for minimization of drive tests according to claim 1 , wherein the obtaining, by a first network device, a virtual identity comprises:
acquiring, by the first network device, the virtual identity from a second network device.

6 . The processing method for minimization of drive tests according to claim 5 , wherein
after the second network device determines that user consent information exists, acquiring, by the first network device, the virtual identity from the second network device; or after the acquiring, by the first network device, the virtual identity from a second network device, the method further comprises: determining, by the first network device, whether user consent information exists, and when the user consent information exists, storing the virtual identity acquired from the second network device.

7 . The processing method for minimization of drive tests according to claim 1 , wherein the first network device is an access network device; and
before the sending, by the first network device, the virtual identity and minimization of drive tests information, the method further comprises: detecting, by the first network device, an anonymous manner for minimization of drive tests; and when the anonymous manner is that a virtual identity of a terminal needs to be sent, sending, by the first network device, the virtual identity and the minimization of drive tests information.

8 . The processing method for minimization of drive tests according to claim 1 , wherein the first network device is a core network device, and before the sending, by the first network device, the virtual identity and minimization of drive tests information, the method further comprises:
receiving anonymous manner indication information from an access network side, wherein the anonymous manner indication information is used to indicate that an anonymous manner is that a virtual identity of a terminal needs to be sent.

9 . The processing method for minimization of drive tests according to claim 8 , wherein the anonymous manner indication information is carried in an uplink information exchange request message or a cell traffic trace message sent by the access network side.

10 . The processing method for minimization of drive tests according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual identity comprises: any one of a newly added dedicated identifier, a temporary mobile station identifier (TMSI), a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI), an evolved base station S1 interface application protocol identity (eNodeB S1-AP UE ID), a mobility management entity S1 interface application protocol identity (MME S1-AP UE ID), a trace recording session reference+user serving cell identifier (TRSR+CGI), and a cell radio network temporary identity (C-RNTI), or a combination thereof.

11 . A network device, comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores program code, and the processor invokes the program code stored in the memory, to perform the following operations:
obtaining a virtual identity of a terminal performing minimization of drive tests; and sending the virtual identity and minimization of drive tests information, wherein the minimization of drive tests information comprises at least one of a minimization of drive tests result and a trace recording session reference.

12 . The network device according to claim 11 , wherein the virtual identity is corresponding to a real identity of the terminal.

13 . The network device according to claim 11 , wherein the processor performs the following operation to obtain the virtual identity:
generating the virtual identity of the terminal.

14 . The network device according to claim 13 , wherein before generating the virtual identity, the processor performs the following operations: determining whether user consent information exists, and when the user consent information exists, generating the virtual identity.

15 . The network device according to claim 11 , wherein the processor performs the following operation to obtain the virtual identity: acquiring the virtual identity from another network device.

16 . The network device according to claim 11 , wherein
after the another network device determines that user consent information exists, the processor acquires the virtual identity from the another network device; or after acquiring the virtual identity from the another network device, the processor further performs the following operations: determining whether user consent information exists, and when the user consent information exists, storing the virtual identity acquired from the another network device.

17 . The network device according to claim 11 , wherein the network device is an access network device; and
before sending the virtual identity, the processor further performs the following operations: detecting an anonymous manner for minimization of drive tests; and when the anonymous manner is that a virtual identity of a terminal needs to be sent, sending the virtual identity and the minimization of drive tests information.

18 . The network device according to claim 11 , wherein the network device is a core network device, and before sending the virtual identity and the minimization of drive tests information, the processor further performs the following operation:
receiving anonymous manner indication information from an access network side, wherein the anonymous manner indication information is used to indicate that an anonymous manner is that a virtual identity of a terminal needs to be sent.

19 . The network device according to claim 18 , wherein the anonymous manner indication information is carried in an uplink information exchange request message or a cell traffic trace message sent by the access network side.

20 . The network device according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual identity comprises: any one of a newly added dedicated identifier, a temporary mobile station identifier (TMSI), a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI), an evolved base station S1 interface application protocol identity (eNodeB S1-AP UE ID), a mobility management entity S1 interface application protocol identity (MME S1-AP UE ID), a trace recording session reference+user serving cell identifier (TRSR+CGI), and a cell radio network temporary id

Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Xu Yixian
• Chen Jing
• Zhao Dong
• Zou Lan

Classifications

• H04W24/10 Primary

  Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} · CPC title

• H04W12/02

  Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII] · CPC title

• H04W8/26

  Network addressing or numbering for mobility support · CPC title

• H04W76/11

  Allocation or use of connection identifiers · CPC title

• H04L61/2596

  Translation of addresses of the same type other than IP, e.g. translation from MAC to MAC addresses · CPC title