Server, mobile communication system, positional information managing method, radio base station, mobile station method for calling in mobile communication system, and mobile communication method

• US 20040254980A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Kayama, Hidetoshi, Umeda, Narumi, Motegi, Masayuki
• Application Number:
  US10/485,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254980A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks

Abstract

An object is to implement smooth execution of management of location information of a mobile station according to states of the mobile station varying with time. Based on a notification of transition into a sleep state from the mobile station, transmitted upon a timeout of a sleep state determination timer with neither packet transmission nor reception at the mobile station, it is determined that the mobile station has moved into the sleep state, and control processing in the link layer is executed (S12) (the control processing in the link layer carried out when the mobile station moves between cells). Thereafter, based on a notification of transition into an idle state from the mobile station, which is transmitted upon a timeout of an idle state determination timer with neither packet transmission nor reception at the mobile station, it is determined that the mobile station has moved into the idle state, and control processing in the network layer is executed (S14) (the control processing in the network layer carried out when the mobile station changes its location registration area). In this way, the control processings are executed based on the states of the mobile station according to durations in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted at the mobile station.

Claims

1. A server, together with a plurality of mobile stations and with a plurality of base stations connected to a network, constituting a mobile communication system, being connected to the network, and being configured to manage a paging area formed by a collection of cells established by the base stations and location information of the mobile stations,

the server comprising:

determining means for determining as a state of a mobile station as mentioned, a state according to a duration in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted between said mobile station and a base station within the cell established thereby, out of a plurality of states including a sleep state or an idle state; and

setting means for setting for the mobile station both or either of a paging period of the mobile station and a reception timing of intermittent reception by the mobile station, according to the state acquired by the determination.

2. The server according to claim 1, further comprising measuring-retaining means for measuring both or either of the number of mobile stations located in each paging area and having moved into said state, and paging traffics at respective reception timings of a paging channel in each paging area as mentioned, and for retaining measurement values thus measured,

wherein, where the determining means determines that a state of a mobile station is the sleep state, the setting means sets for the mobile station both or either of the paging period of the mobile station and the reception timing of intermittent reception by the mobile station, according to the retained measurement values.

3. The server according to claim 1, further comprising:

area change detecting means for detecting a change of a location registration area on which a mobile station is under location registration; and

paging group assignment controlling means for, when the area change detecting means detects a change of the location registration area of the mobile station, selecting one paging group out of a plurality of paging groups categorized by respective timings of receiving a paging signal for the mobile stations, based on predetermined information, and for assigning the mobile station the selected paging group.

4. A mobile communication system comprising a plurality of mobile stations, a plurality of base stations connected to a network, and a server connected to the network and configured to manage a paging area formed by a collection of cells established by the base stations and location information of the mobile stations,

wherein the server comprises:

determining means for determining as a state of a mobile station as mentioned, a state according to a duration in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted between said mobile station and a base station within the cell established thereby, out of a plurality of states including a sleep state or an idle state; and

setting means for setting for the mobile station both or either of a paging period of the mobile station and a reception timing of intermittent reception by the mobile station, according to the state acquired by the determination.

5. A location information managing method in a server, together with a plurality of mobile stations and with a plurality of base stations connected to a network, constituting a mobile communication system, being connected to the network, and being configured to manage a paging area formed by a collection of cells established by the base stations and location information of the mobile stations,

the location information managing method comprising the steps of:

determining as a state of a mobile station as mentioned, a state according to a duration in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted between said mobile station and a base station within the cell established thereby, out of a plurality of states including a sleep state or an idle state; and

setting for the mobile station both or either of a paging period of the mobile station and a reception timing of intermittent reception by the mobile station, according to the state acquired by the determination.

6. A server, together with a plurality of mobile stations and with a plurality of base stations connected to a network, constituting a mobile communication system, being connected to the network, and being configured to manage a paging area formed by a collection of cells established by the base stations and location information of the mobile stations,

the server constituting the mobile communication system in which the mobile stations are configured so that a mobile station in a cell established by a base station transmits or receives a packet to or from the base station and so that, when neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted during a predetermined duration, the mobile station moves into a sleep mode of periodically receiving a signal from the base station and in which the base stations have a paging channel capable of specifying a mobile station and notifying the mobile station of arrival of a packet or capable of transmitting an incoming packet addressed to a mobile station having moved in the sleep mode and can intermittently transmit the paging channel in a predetermined period,

wherein the sleep mode comprises a plurality of sleep states according to durations in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted, a plurality of paging periods are prepared corresponding to the respective sleep states, and in the mobile communication system it is possible to set paging areas corresponding to the respective paging periods and reception timings of intermittent reception by the mobile stations,

the server comprising:

measuring-retaining means for measuring both or either of the number of mobile stations located in each paging area as mentioned and having moved into the sleep mode, and paging traffics at respective reception timings of the paging channel in each paging area as mentioned, and for retaining measurement values thus measured; and

change instructing means for instructing a mobile station to change both or either of a paging period and a reception timing, according to the retained measurement values, in a case where the mobile station newly moves into the sleep mode, or in a case where the mobile station previously having moved into the sleep mode changes the sleep state, or in a case where the mobile station previously having moved into the sleep mode moves into a new paging area, or in an arbitrary case determined by the server.

7. The server according to claim 6, wherein the mobile communication system comprises servers in the respective paging areas and the servers are in a hierarchical relation based on a predetermined rule,

wherein the change instructing means of the server in each layer instructs a mobile station to change both or either of the paging period and the reception timing, according to both or either of the number of mobile stations located in the corresponding paging area and having moved into the sleep mode, and the paging traffics at the respective reception timings of the paging channel in the paging area.

8. The server according to claim 6, further comprising recognizing-retaining means for recognizing a service class of a mobile station and for retaining the service class information,

wherein the change instructing means instructs the mobile station to change both or either of the paging period and the reception timing, further according to the service class recognized.

9. A base station, together with a plurality of mobile stations, constituting a mobile communication system,

the base station constituting the mobile communication system in which the mobile stations are configured so that a mobile station in a cell established by the base station transmits or receives a packet to or from the base station and so that, when neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted during a predetermined duration, the mobile station moves into a sleep mode of periodically receiving a signal from the base station and in which the base station has a paging channel capable of specifying a mobile station and notifying the mobile station of arrival of a packet or capable of transmitting an incoming packet addressed to a mobile station having moved in the sleep mode and can intermittently transmit the paging channel in a predetermined period,

wherein the sleep mode comprises a plurality of sleep states according to durations in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted, and in the mobile communication system it is possible to set paging periods corresponding to the respective sleep states and reception timings of intermittent reception by the mobile stations,

the base station comprising:

measuring-retaining means for measuring both or either of the number of mobile stations located in the cell and having moved into the sleep mode, and paging traffic of the paging channel, and for retaining measurement values thus measured; and

change instructing means for instructing a mobile station to change both or either of a paging period and a reception timing, according to the retained measurement values, in a case where the mobile station newly moves into the sleep mode, or in a case where the mobile station previously having moved into the sleep mode newly moves into the cell, or in a case where the mobile station previously having moved into the sleep mode changes the sleep state, or in an arbitrary case determined by the base station.

10. The base station according to claim 9, further comprising recognizing-retaining means for recognizing a service class of a mobile station and for retaining the service class information,

wherein the change instructing means instructs the mobile station to change both or either of the paging period and the reception timing, further according to the service class recognized.

11. A mobile station, together with a base station, constituting a mobile communication system, being capable of transmitting or receiving a packet to or from the base station in a cell established by the base station, and being configured to move into a sleep mode of periodically receiving a signal from the base station, in a case where neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted during a predetermined duration,

the mobile station constituting the mobile communication system in which the base station has a paging channel capable of specifying the mobile station and notifying the mobile station of arrival of a packet or capable of transmitting an incoming packet addressed to the mobile station having moved into the sleep mode, and can intermittently transmit the paging channel in a predetermined period,

wherein the sleep mode comprises a plurality of sleep states according to durations in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted, and in the mobile communication system it is possible to set paging periods corresponding to the respective sleep states and reception timings of intermittent reception by the mobile station,

the mobile station comprising:

change instruction receiving means for receiving from the base station, a change instruction for change of both or either of a paging period and a reception timing, according to measurement values of both or either of the number of mobile stations located in the cell and having moved into the sleep mode, and paging traffic of the paging channel, in a case where the mobile station newly moves into the sleep mode, or in a case where the mobile station previously having moved into the sleep mode newly moves into the cell, or in a case where the mobile station previously having moved into the sleep mode changes the sleep state, or in an arbitrary case determined by the base station; and

intermittent reception controlling means for performing intermittent reception in the paging period and at the reception timing based on the change instruction.

12. A mobile station, together with a plurality of base stations connected to a network and with a server connected to the network and configured to manage a paging area formed by a collection of cells established by the base stations, and location information of mobile stations located therein, constituting a mobile communication system and being capable of transmitting or receiving a packet to or from a base station in the cell established by the base station, the mobile station being configured to move into a sleep mode of periodically receiving a signal from the base station, in a case where neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted during a predetermined duration,

the mobile station constituting the mobile communication system in which the base station has a paging channel capable of specifying the mobile station and notifying the mobile station of arrival of a packet or capable of transmitting an incoming packet addressed to the mobile station having moved into the sleep mode, and can intermittently transmit the paging channel in a predetermined period,

wherein the sleep mode comprises a plurality of sleep states according to durations in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted, a plurality of paging periods are prepared corresponding to the respective sleep states, and in the mobile communication system it is possible to set paging areas corresponding to the respective paging periods and reception timings of intermittent reception by the mobile station,

the mobile station comprising:

change instruction receiving means for receiving from the server, a change instruction for change of both or either of a paging period and a reception timing, according to measurement values of both or either of the number of mobile stations located in each paging area and having moved into the sleep mode, and paging traffics at respective reception timings of the paging channel in each paging area, in a case where the mobile station newly moves into the sleep mode, or in a case where the mobile station previously having moved into the sleep mode newly moves into the cell, or in a case where the mobile station previously having moved into the sleep mode changes the sleep state, or in an arbitrary case determined by the base station; and

intermittent reception controlling means for performing intermittent reception in the paging period and at the reception timing based on the change instruction.

13. A mobile communication system comprising a base station, and a plurality of mobile stations capable of transmitting or receiving a packet to or from the base station in a cell established by the base station,

in which the mobile station moves into a sleep mode of periodically receiving a signal from the base station, in a case where neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted during a predetermined duration, and

in which the base station has a paging channel capable of specifying a mobile station and notifying the mobile station of arrival of a packet or capable of transmitting an incoming packet addressed to a mobile station having moved into the sleep mode, and can intermittently transmit the paging channel in a predetermined period,

wherein the sleep mode comprises a plurality of sleep states according to durations in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted, and in the mobile communication system it is possible to set paging periods corresponding to the respective sleep states and reception timings of intermittent reception by the mobile stations,

wherein the base station comprises:

measuring-retaining means for measuring both or either of the number of mobile stations located in the cell and having moved into the sleep mode, and paging traffic of the paging channel, and for retaining measurement values thus measured; and

change instructing means for instructing a mobile station to change both or either of a paging period and a reception timing, according to the measurement values retained, in a predetermined case,

wherein the mobile stations comprise;

intermittent reception controlling means for performing intermittent reception in the paging period and at the reception timing based on the change instruction.

14. A mobile communication system comprising a plurality of mobile stations, a plurality of base stations connected to a network, and a server connected to the network and configured to manage a paging area formed by a collection of cells established by the base stations and location information of the mobile stations,

in which the mobile stations are configured to move into a sleep mode of periodically receiving a signal from the base station, in a case where neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted during a predetermined duration, and

in which the base stations have a paging channel capable of specifying a mobile station and notifying the mobile station of arrival of a packet or capable of transmitting an incoming packet addressed to a mobile station having moved into the sleep mode, and can intermittently transmit the paging channel in a predetermined period,

wherein the sleep mode comprises a plurality of sleep states according to durations in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted, a plurality of paging periods are prepared corresponding to the respective sleep states, and in the mobile communication system it is possible to set paging areas corresponding to the respective paging periods and reception timings of intermittent reception by the mobile stations,

wherein the server comprises:

measuring-retaining means for measuring both or either of the number of mobile stations located in each paging area and having moved into the sleep mode, and paging traffics at respective reception timings of the paging channel in each paging area, and for retaining measurement values thus measured; and

change instructing means for instructing a mobile station to change both or either of a paging period and a reception timing, according to the measurement values retained, in a predetermined case,

wherein the mobile stations comprise intermittent reception controlling means for performing intermittent reception in the paging period and at the reception timing based on the change instruction.

15. A paging method in a mobile communication system comprising a base station, and a plurality of mobile stations capable of transmitting or receiving a packet to or from the base station in a cell established by the base station,

in which the mobile stations are configured to move into a sleep mode of periodically receiving a signal from the base station, in a case where neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted during a predetermined duration, and

in which the base station has a paging channel capable of specifying a mobile station and notifying the mobile station of arrival of a packet or capable of transmitting an incoming packet addressed to a mobile station having moved into the sleep mode, and can intermittently transmit the paging channel in a predetermined period,

wherein the sleep mode comprises a plurality of sleep states according to durations in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted, and in the mobile communication system it is possible to set paging periods corresponding to the respective sleep states and reception timings of intermittent reception by the mobile stations,

wherein the base station instructs a mobile station to change both or either of a paging period and a reception timing, according to both or either of the number of mobile stations existing in the cell and having moved into the sleep mode, and paging traffic of the paging channel, in a predetermined case,

wherein the mobile station performs intermittent reception in the paging period and at the reception timing based on the change instruction.

16. A paging method in a mobile communication system comprising a plurality of mobile stations, a plurality of base stations connected to a network, and a server connected to the network and configured to manage a paging area formed by a collection of cells established by the base stations and location information of the mobile stations,

in which the mobile stations are configured to move into a sleep mode of periodically receiving a signal from the base station, in a case where neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted during a predetermined duration, and

in which the base stations have a paging channel capable of specifying a mobile station and notifying the mobile station of arrival of a packet or capable of transmitting an incoming packet addressed to a mobile station having moved into the sleep mode, and can intermittently transmit the paging channel in a predetermined period,

wherein the sleep mode comprises a plurality of sleep states according to durations in which neither packet transmission nor reception is conducted, a plurality of paging periods are prepared corresponding to the respective sleep states, and in the mobile communication system it is possible to set paging areas corresponding to the respective paging periods and reception timings of intermittent reception by the mobile stations,

wherein the server instructs a mobile station to change both or either of a paging period and a reception timing, according to both or either of the number of mobile stations located in each paging area and having moved into the sleep mode, and paging traffics at respective reception timings of the paging channel in each paging area, in a predetermined case,

wherein the mobile station performs intermittent reception in the paging period and at the reception timing based on the change instruction.

17. A server comprising:

paging group detecting means for detecting one paging group out of a plurality of paging groups categorized by respective timings of receiving a paging signal for a mobile station, based on predetermined information; and

area change detecting means for detecting a change of a location registration area on which the mobile station is under location registration,

wherein, where the area change detecting means detects a change of the location registration area of the mobile station, the paging group detecting means assigns the mobile station the paging group detected.

18. The server according to claim 17, wherein the area change detecting means comprises paging group acquiring means for acquiring a previous paging group assigned to the mobile station, when detecting a change of the location registration area of the mobile station,

wherein the paging group detecting means determines whether the previous paging group acquired by the paging group acquiring means is identical to or different from the detected paging group, and assigns the mobile station the detected paging group only if they are different.

19. The server according to claim 17, comprising traffic volume measuring means for measuring paging traffic volumes at timings of the respective paging groups in the location registration area,

wherein the paging group detecting means detects said paging group, based on a result of the measurement by the traffic volume measuring means.

20. The server according to claim 17, comprising number-of-mobile-stations measuring means for measuring the numbers of mobile stations belonging to the respective paging groups in the location registration area,

wherein the paging group detecting means detects said paging group, based on a result of the measurement by the number-of-mobile-stations measuring means.

21. The server according to claim 17, comprising data volume measuring means for measuring volumes of data to be transmitted at timings of the respective paging groups in the location registration area,

wherein the paging group detecting means detects said paging group, based on a result of the measurement by the data volume measuring means.

22. The server according to claim 17, wherein the paging group detecting means comprises quality acquiring means for acquiring a service quality requested by the mobile station,

wherein the paging group detecting means detects said paging group, based on the service quality acquired by the quality acquiring means.

23. A mobile station comprising:

requesting means for, at a time of moving into a location registration area different from a location registration area on which the mobile station is under location registration, detecting the movement and requesting a change of the location registration area; and

setting changing means for changing setting of a paging group according to information notified of, when receiving an information signal from a base station,

wherein, where paging group information is included in information notified of by the base station when the requesting means requests the change of the location registration area, the setting changing means changes the setting of the paging group.

24. The mobile station according to claim 23, wherein, where the paging group information is not included, the setting changing means continuously uses a paging group to which the mobile station belonged before the change of the location registration area.

25. A mobile communication system comprising:

paging group detecting means for detecting one paging group out of a plurality of paging groups categorized by respective timings of receiving a paging signal for a mobile station, based on predetermined information; and

area change detecting means for detecting a change of a location registration area on which the mobile station is under location registration,

wherein when the area change detecting means detects a change of the location registration area of the mobile station, the paging group detecting means assigns the mobile station the paging group detected.

26. A mobile communication method comprising:

a step of detecting one paging group out of a plurality of paging groups categorized by respective timings of receiving a paging signal for a mobile station, based on predetermined information;

a step of detecting a change of a location registration area on which the mobile station is under location registration; and

a step of, when detecting a change of the location registration area of the mobile station, assigning the mobile station the paging group detected.