Wireless communication system, wireless communication method, cooperation control apparatus, terminal apparatus, and licensed band base station apparatus

• US 10,477,407 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2015
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Kudo, Riichi, Abeysekera, Hirantha Sithira, Takatori, Yasushi, Ichikawa, Takeo, Asai, Yusuke, Mizoguchi, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahsan, Umair
• Application Number:
  US15/329,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A wireless communication system includes a plurality of terminal apparatuses that perform communication using a first frequency band in which communication based on a random access scheme is performed and a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band, a first base station apparatus that performs communication using the first frequency band, a second base station apparatus that performs communication using the second frequency band, and a cooperation control apparatus that selects a terminal apparatus that transmits user data via the first base station apparatus from among the plurality of terminal apparatuses based on information acquired by the first base station apparatus and the second base station apparatus. The cooperation control apparatus selects which of the first base station apparatus and the selected terminal apparatus acquires access right for transmission of the user data via the first base station apparatus, and notifies the selected terminal apparatus and the first base station apparatus of the selection result.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a plurality of terminal apparatuses that perform wireless communication using a first frequency band in which wireless communication based on a random access scheme is performed and a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band;

a first base station apparatus that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the first frequency band;

a second base station apparatus that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the second frequency band; and

a cooperation control apparatus that selects a terminal apparatus that transmits user data via the first base station apparatus from among the plurality of terminal apparatuses based on one or both of first communication quality in the wireless communication which is performed between the first base station apparatus and the terminal apparatuses and second communication quality in the wireless communication which is performed between the second base station apparatus and the terminal apparatuses and selects which of the first base station apparatus and the selected terminal apparatus acquires access right for transmission of the user data,

wherein the cooperation control apparatus

determines a communication condition in the first frequency band including at least designation of an access right acquiring apparatus from information input from one or both of the first base station apparatus and the second base station apparatus,

generates an unlicensed channel (UC) communication initiation signal for notifying one or both of the first base station apparatus and the second base station apparatus of the communication condition, and

outputs the UC communication initiation signal to the first base station apparatus and the second base station apparatus,

the first base station apparatus

waits until the user data or a UC transmission request signal is received without performing transmission to the selected terminal apparatus if the selected terminal apparatus is designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, and

performs transmission of the user data to the selected terminal apparatus or transmission of the UC transmission request signal for causing the selected terminal apparatus to perform transmission using the first frequency band to the selected terminal apparatus based on information provided by the UC communication initiation signal if the selected terminal apparatus is not designated as the access right acquiring apparatus,

the second base station apparatus collects information on user data waiting for transmission in the selected terminal apparatus and transmits the UC communication initiation signal to the selected terminal apparatus,

the selected terminal apparatus, based on the UC communication initiation signal received from the second base station apparatus,

transmits the user data or the UC transmission request signal for causing the first base station apparatus to perform transmission to the first base station apparatus if the selected terminal apparatus is designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, and

waits until the user data or the UC transmission request signal is received without performing transmission to the first base station if the selected terminal apparatus is not designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, and

the cooperation control apparatus controls acquisition of the access right in the first frequency band using communication in the second frequency band.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal apparatus generates a UC communication request signal for requesting the cooperation control apparatus to perform transmission of the user data which is performed with the access right acquiring apparatus designated to the first base station and transmit the generated UC communication request signal to the second base station apparatus,

the second base station apparatus outputs the UC transmission request signal received from the terminal apparatus to the cooperation control apparatus, and

the cooperation control apparatus determines whether to permit a request by the UC communication request signal based on a signal received using the first frequency band by another terminal apparatus already wirelessly communicating with the first base station apparatus using the first frequency band when the UC communication request signal is received from the second base station apparatus.

3. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first base station apparatus generates a licensed channel (LC) assist request signal for requesting that communication with a specific terminal apparatus that is performing communication using the first frequency band be changed to communication which is performed with the access right acquiring apparatus designated and outputs the generated LC assist request signal to the cooperation control apparatus, and

when the LC assist request signal is received from the first base station apparatus, the cooperation control apparatus determines whether to permit the communication which is performed between the specific terminal apparatus and the first base station apparatus with the access right acquiring apparatus designated, and determines that one of the specific terminal apparatus and the first base station apparatus is the access right acquiring apparatus if it is determined to permit the communication.

4. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the cooperation control apparatus causes terminal apparatuses that are incapable of detecting signals mutually not to perform wireless communication when the first base station apparatus and the plurality of terminal apparatuses perform the wireless communication using the first frequency band.

5. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal apparatus transmits communication report information indicating one or both of success or failure of the wireless communication and communication quality thereof to the cooperation control apparatus via the second base station apparatus when the wireless communication with the first base station apparatus using the first frequency band ends, and

the cooperation control apparatus stores the communication report information received from the terminal apparatus in association with the access right acquiring apparatus in the wireless communication.

6. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein when transmission from the terminal apparatus to the first base station apparatus is performed using the first base station apparatus as the access right acquiring apparatus or when transmission from the first base station apparatus to the terminal apparatus is performed using the terminal apparatus as the access right acquiring apparatus,

the cooperation control apparatus calculates, based on the first communication quality and user data to be transmitted from the first base station apparatus or user data to be transmitted from the terminal apparatus, information on a frame length which is required for transmission of the user data, includes information on the calculated frame length in the UC communication initiation signal, and transmits the UC communication initiation signal to the first base station apparatus or the terminal apparatus, and

when the UC communication initiation signal is received, the first base station apparatus or the terminal apparatus transmits a transmission request signal including information for inhibiting transmission using the first frequency band for a time corresponding to the frame length to a communication partner and acquires access right in the first frequency band.

7. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein when transmission from the terminal apparatus to the first base station apparatus is performed using the first base station apparatus as the access right acquiring apparatus or when transmission from the first base station apparatus to the terminal apparatus is performed using the terminal apparatus as the access right acquiring apparatus,

the cooperation control apparatus determines an ending condition of the communication in which the access right acquiring apparatus is designated based on user data to be transmitted from the first base station apparatus or user data to be transmitted from the terminal apparatus, includes the determined ending condition in the UC communication initiation signal, and transmits the UC communication initiation signal to the first base station apparatus or the terminal apparatus, and

the first base station apparatus or the terminal apparatus continues to perform communication in which only the designated access right acquiring apparatus has the access right until the ending condition indicated by the UC communication initiation signal is satisfied.

8. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the cooperation control apparatus includes information for designating multi-user concurrent transmission from the first base station apparatus to the plurality of terminal apparatuses or multi-user concurrent transmission from the plurality of terminal apparatuses to the first base station apparatus in the UC communication initiation signal.

9. A wireless communication method in a wireless communication system including a plurality of terminal apparatuses that perform wireless communication using a first frequency band in which wireless communication based on a random access scheme is performed and a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band, a first base station apparatus that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the first frequency band, a second base station apparatus that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the second frequency band, and a cooperation control apparatus that selects a terminal apparatus that transmits user data via the first base station apparatus from among the plurality of terminal apparatuses based on one or both of first communication quality in the wireless communication which is performed between the first base station apparatus and the terminal apparatuses and second communication quality in the wireless communication which is performed between the second base station apparatus and the terminal apparatuses, the wireless communication method comprising:

a first step of causing the cooperation control apparatus to select which of the first base station apparatus and the selected terminal apparatus acquires access right for transmission of the user data;

a second step of causing the cooperation control apparatus to generate an unlicensed channel (UC) communication initiation signal indicating a determined access right acquiring apparatus and to output the generated UC communication initiation signal to the first base station apparatus and the second base station apparatus; and

a third step of causing the second base station apparatus to transmit the UC communication initiation signal input from the cooperation control apparatus to the selected terminal apparatus, wherein the selected terminal apparatus, based on the UC communication initiation signal received from the second base station apparatus,

transmits the user data or the UC transmission request signal for causing the first base station apparatus to perform transmission to the first base station apparatus if the selected terminal apparatus is designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, and

waits until the user data or the UC transmission request signal is received without performing transmission to the first base station if the selected terminal apparatus is not designated as the access right acquiring apparatus; and

a fourth step of causing the first base station apparatus or the selected terminal apparatus notified as the access right acquiring apparatus to acquire access right in the first frequency band and to transmit the user data via the first base station apparatus using the first frequency band when the UC communication initiation signal is received from the cooperation control apparatus,

a fifth step of causing the first base station apparatus to

waits until the user data or a UC transmission request signal is received without performing transmission to the selected terminal apparatus if the selected terminal apparatus is designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, and

perform transmission of the user data to the selected terminal apparatus or transmission of the UC transmission request signal for causing the selected terminal apparatus to perform transmission using the first frequency band to the selected terminal apparatus based on information provided by the UC communication initiation signal if the selected terminal apparatus is not designated as the access right acquiring apparatus,

wherein the cooperation control apparatus controls acquisition of the access right in the first frequency band using communication in the second frequency band.

10. A cooperation control apparatus in a wireless communication system including a plurality of terminal apparatuses that perform wireless communication using a first frequency band in which wireless communication based on a random access scheme is performed and a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band, a first base station apparatus that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the first frequency band, a second base station apparatus that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the second frequency band, and the cooperation control apparatus that controls transmission of user data of the terminal apparatuses, the cooperation control apparatus comprising:

a path evaluating unit that selects a terminal apparatus that transmits the user data via the first base station apparatus from among the plurality of terminal apparatuses based on one or both of first communication quality in the wireless communication which is performed between the first base station apparatus and the terminal apparatuses and second communication quality in the wireless communication which is performed between the second base station apparatus and the terminal apparatuses, selects which of the first base station apparatus and the selected terminal apparatus acquires access right for transmission of the user data, and outputs a communication condition in the first frequency band including at least designation of an access right acquiring apparatus to the first base station apparatus and the second base station apparatus,

wherein the first base station apparatus

waits until the user data or a UC transmission request signal is received without performing transmission to the selected terminal apparatus if the selected terminal apparatus is designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, and

performs transmission of the user data to the selected terminal apparatus or transmission of the UC transmission request signal for causing the selected terminal apparatus to perform transmission using the first frequency band to the selected terminal apparatus based on information provided by the UC communication initiation signal if the selected terminal apparatus is not designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, wherein the selected terminal apparatus, based on the UC communication initiation signal received from the second base station apparatus,

transmits the user data or the UC transmission request signal for causing the first base station apparatus to perform transmission to the first base station apparatus if the selected terminal apparatus is designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, and

waits until the user data or the UC transmission request signal is received without performing transmission to the first base station if the selected terminal apparatus is not designated as the access right acquiring apparatus,

wherein the cooperation control apparatus controls acquisition of the access right in the first frequency band using communication in the second frequency band.

11. A terminal apparatus selected in a wireless communication system including a plurality of terminal apparatuses that perform wireless communication using a first frequency band in which wireless communication based on a random access scheme is performed and a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band, a first base station apparatus that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the first frequency band, a second base station apparatus that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the second frequency band, and a cooperation control apparatus that selects the terminal apparatus that transmits user data via the first base station apparatus from among the plurality of terminal apparatuses based on one or both of first communication quality in the wireless communication which is performed between the first base station apparatus and the terminal apparatuses and second communication quality in the wireless communication which is performed between the second base station apparatus and the terminal apparatuses, the terminal apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit that receives an unlicensed channel (UC) communication initiation signal including designation of an access right acquiring apparatus which is determined by the cooperation control apparatus from the second base station apparatus; and

a transmitting unit that, based on the UC communication initiation signal received from the second base station apparatus, transmits the user data or a UC transmission request signal for causing the first base station apparatus to perform transmission to the first base station apparatus if the selected terminal apparatus is designated as the access right acquiring apparatus by the UC communication initiation signal, and waits until the user data or the UC transmission request signal is received without performing transmission to the first base station if the selected terminal apparatus is not designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, and

wherein acquisition of the access right in the first frequency band is controlled using communication in the second frequency band.

12. A licensed band base station apparatus in a wireless communication system including a plurality of terminal apparatuses that perform wireless communication using a first frequency band in which wireless communication based on a random access scheme is performed and a second frequency band which is different from the first frequency band, a first base station apparatus that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the first frequency band, and a cooperation control apparatus that controls transmission of user data of the terminal apparatuses, the licensed band base station apparatus comprising:

a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the terminal apparatuses using the second frequency band;

a collection unit that collects information on the terminal apparatuses via the communication unit; and

a generation unit that generates an unlicensed channel (UC) communication initiation signal indicating a communication condition in the first frequency band including at least designation of an access right acquiring apparatus,

wherein in a case of transmission of the user data in a downlink to the terminal apparatuses, when information on a terminal apparatus selected to transmit the user data via the first base station apparatus from among the plurality of terminal apparatuses is received from the cooperation control apparatus, the information on the selected terminal apparatus is collected by the collection unit and the UC communication initiation signal is generated by the generation unit based on the collected information,

in a case of transmission of the user data in uplinks from the terminal apparatuses, when the information on the terminal apparatuses collected by the collection unit is provided to the cooperation control apparatus and information on a terminal apparatus selected to transmit the user data via the first base station apparatus from among the plurality of terminal apparatuses is received from the cooperation control apparatus, the UC communication initiation signal is generated by the generation unit based on the received information,

the generated UC communication initiation signal is transmitted to the selected terminal apparatus via the communication unit, and

acquisition of access right in the first frequency band is controlled using communication in the second frequency band,

wherein the selected terminal apparatus, based on the UC communication initiation signal received from the licensed band base station apparatus,

transmits the user data or the UC transmission request signal for causing the first base station apparatus to perform transmission to the first base station apparatus if the selected terminal apparatus is designated as the access right acquiring apparatus, and

waits until the user data or the UC transmission request signal is received without performing transmission to the first base station if the selected terminal apparatus is not designated as the access right acquiring apparatus.