Method and device for transmitting data

1. A method for transmitting data comprising:

determining, by a core network control entity, after receiving a first message sent by a user equipment, whether first indication information is set, wherein the first indication information indicates that a server buffers downlink data to be sent to the user equipment;

when the first indication information is determined to be set, retaining a signaling connection from the core network control entity to the user equipment for a predetermined time based on user equipment subscription data or a network configuration;

sending to the user equipment a second message when a preset duration in which the signaling connection can be retained is less than a predetermined threshold, where the second message comprises second indication information indicating there is data to be sent to the user equipment, thereby retaining the signaling connection to the user equipment;

triggering the server that buffers the downlink data to send the downlink data to the core network control entity;

receiving the downlink data at the core network control entity;

sending the downlink data from the core network control entity to the user equipment by a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message using the signaling connection so that the user equipment waits to receive the downlink data during the predetermined time; and

entering an idle mode at the user equipment after the predetermined time expires.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein triggering the server to send the downlink data to the user equipment comprises:

sending a downlink data delivery request message to the server so as to trigger the server to send the downlink data to the user equipment.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein triggering the server to send the downlink data to the user equipment comprises:

sending a first user equipment reachability notification message to a home subscriber server or home location register to which the user equipment belongs, to enable the home subscriber server or the home location register to send a second user equipment reachability notification message to the server so as to trigger the server to send the downlink data to the user equipment.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein before determining whether the first indication information is set, the method further comprises:

receiving data buffering indication information sent by the server, wherein the data buffering indication information indicates that the server buffers the downlink data to be sent to the user equipment, and

setting the first indication information according to the data buffering indication information.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein before determining whether the first indication information is set, the method further comprises:

sending a context response message from the core network control entity serving the user equipment; and

when the context response message comprises the first indication information, setting the first indication information.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the core network control entity is a Mobile Management Entity (MME) or a Serving GPRS Supporting Node (SGSN).

7. The method of according to claim 1 , wherein the first indication information is associated with a validity period of the downlink data and the first indication information is deleted after expiration of the validity period if the downlink data has not been sent to the user equipment.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein before determining whether the first indication information is set, the method further comprises:

receiving a second user equipment reachability notification request message sent by a home subscriber server or home location register to which the user equipment belongs after the home subscriber server or home location register receives a first user equipment reachability notification request message, and

setting the first indication information according to the second user equipment reachability notification request message.

9. A core network control entity comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having processor-executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed causes the processor to implement operations including:

a) after receiving a first message sent by a user equipment, determining whether first indication information is set, wherein the first indication information indicates that a server buffers downlink data to be sent to the user equipment;

b) when it is determined that the first indication information is set, retaining a signaling connection from the core network control entity to the user equipment for a predetermined time based on user equipment subscription data or a network configuration;

c) sending to the user equipment a second message when a preset duration in which the signaling connection can be retained is less than a predetermined threshold, where the second message comprises second indication information indicating there is data to be sent to the user equipment, thereby retaining the signaling connection to the user equipment;

d) triggering the server that buffers the downlink data to send the downlink data to the core network control entity;

e) receiving the downlink data at the core network control entity;

f) sending the downlink data from the core network control entity to the user equipment by a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message using the signaling connection so that the user equipment waits to receive the downlink data during the predetermined time; and

g) entering an idle mode at the user equipment after the predetermined time expires.

10. The core network control entity according to claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a second user equipment reachability notification request message sent by a home subscriber server or home location register to which the user equipment belongs after the home subscriber server or home location register receives a first user equipment reachability notification request message, and

setting the first indication information according to the second user equipment reachability notification request message.

11. The core network control entity according to claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data buffering indication information sent by the server, wherein the data buffering indication information indicates that the server buffers the downlink data to be sent to the user equipment, and

setting the first indication information according to the data buffering indication information.

12. The core network control entity according to claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:

sending a downlink data delivery request message to the server so as to trigger the server to send the downlink data to the user equipment.

13. The core network control entity according to claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:

sending a first user equipment reachability notification message to a home subscriber server or home location register to which the user equipment belongs, to enable the home subscriber server or the home location register to send a second user equipment reachability notification message to the server so as to trigger the server to send the downlink data to the user equipment.

14. The core network control entity according to claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:

sending a context response message and, when the context response message comprises the first indication information, setting the first indication information.

15. The core network control entity according to claim 9 , wherein the core network control entity is a Mobile Management Entity (MME) or a Serving GPRS Supporting Node (SGSN).

16. The core network control entity according to claim 9 , wherein the first indication information is associated with a validity period of the downlink data and the first indication information is deleted after expiration of the validity period if the downlink data has not been sent to the user equipment.