Mobile communication system, base station terminal, and control method therefor

• US 20050255889A1
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Iwasaki, Motoya, Hirade, Sei, Haseba, Yukio, Nishimura, Osami
• Application Number:
  US11/102,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20050255889A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures

Abstract

A control method comprises, transmitting wireless signals to an overall area assigned to said base station area; receiving wireless signals from the overall area; communicating via a first wireless channel with a terminal station located within the overall area; transmitting wireless signals to a limited area which lies within the overall area; receiving wireless signals from the limited area; and communicating via a second channel with the terminal station when the terminal station is located within the limited area.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system, comprising:

a base station, comprising;

a first means for providing first wireless communication services within a first geographic area,

a second means for providing second wireless communication services within only a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area; and

a mobile terminal, comprising;

a transmission and reception means for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the base station.

2. The mobile communication system, according to claim 1, wherein:

the base station further comprises;

control means for transmitting second area information to mobile terminals within only the second geographic area.

3. The mobile communication system, according to claim 2, wherein:

the mobile terminal further comprises;

notification means for notifying a user of second area information, in response to the reception of second area information by the transmission and reception means.

4. The mobile communication system according to claim 3, wherein:

the mobile terminal further comprises;

user input means for receiving user input, in response to the notification of the user of the second area information;

determination means for determining whether the user wishes to utilize the second wireless communication services based on received user input; and

connection request means for transmitting to the base station, via the transmission and reception means, a request for the second wireless communication services, in response to a determination, by the determination means, that the user wishes to utilize the second wireless communication services.

5. The mobile communication system according to claim 2, wherein:

the mobile terminal further comprises;

connection request means for transmitting to the base station, via the transmission and reception means, a request for the second wireless communication services, in response to the reception, by the transmission and reception means, of the second area information.

6. The mobile communication system according to claim 5,

wherein:

the request for a communication connection transmitted from the mobile terminal to the base station includes identification information identifying the mobile terminal or a user of the mobile terminal;

further comprising;

as authentication server, comprising;

authentication means for determining whether the mobile terminal is authenticated to utilize the second wireless communication services, based upon the identification information, and

transmission and reception means for transmitting channel assignment instructions to the base station upon a determination that the mobile terminal is authenticated; and

wherein the control means of the base station provides the second wireless communication services to the mobile terminal in response to a reception by the transmission and reception means of the base station of the channel assignment instruction.

7. The mobile communication system according to claim 6,

further comprising:

a charging server, comprising charging means for;

charging the user of the mobile terminal for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal, or

charging a third party for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal, or

determining that there is to be no charge for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal.

8. The mobile communication system according to claim 5, wherein the second wireless communication services are high-speed wireless communication services.

9. A mobile communication system, comprising:

a base station, comprising;

at least one first antenna which transmits and receives signals to and from a first geographic area;

at least one second antenna which transmits and receives signals to and from only a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area; and

a mobile terminal, comprising;

at least one antenna which transmits and receives signals to and from the base station.

10. The mobile communication system according to claim 9, wherein:

the base station further comprises;

a controller which transmits second area information to mobile terminals within only the second geographic area via only the at least one second antenna.

11. The mobile communication system according to claim 10, wherein:

the controller of the base station provides second area wireless communication services only to mobile terminals within the second geographic area via the at least one second antenna; and

the mobile terminal further comprises;

a controller which transmits, via the at least one antenna, a request for the second area wireless communication services, in response to the reception, by the at least one antenna, of the second area information.

12. A mobile communication base station, comprising:

a first means for providing first wireless communication services within a first geographic area,

a second means for providing second wireless communication services within a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area.

13. The mobile communication base station according to claim 12, further comprising:

control means for transmitting second area information to mobile terminals within only the second geographic area.

14. A mobile communication base station, comprising:

at least one first antenna which transmits and receives signals to and from a first geographic area; and

at least one second antenna which transmits and receives signals to and from only a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area.

15. A mobile communication method, comprising:

at a base station;

providing first wireless communication services to mobile terminals within a first geographic area; and

providing second wireless communication services to mobile terminals within only a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area.

16. The mobile communication method, according to claim 15, further comprising:

at the base station;

transmitting first area information to mobile terminals the first geographic area;

transmitting second area information to mobile terminals within only the second geographic area;

at a mobile station;

receiving the second area information from the base station;

notifying a user of the second area information;

transmitting a request for the second wireless communication services, including identification information identifying the mobile terminal or a user of the mobile terminal;

at an authentication server;

determining whether the mobile terminal is authenticated to utilize the second wireless communication services based on the identification information;

if the mobile terminal is authenticated to utilize the second wireless communication services, transmitting a channel assignment instruction to the base station;

at the base station;

providing the second wireless communication services to the mobile station in response to the channel assignment instructions.

17. The mobile communication method, according to claim 16, further comprising:

at a charging server;

charging the user of the mobile terminal or a third party for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal or determining that there is no charge for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal.

18. The mobile communication method according to claim 16, wherein the second wireless communication services are high-speed wireless communication services.

19. A mobile communication system, comprising:

a first base station, comprising;

a first means for, during a first time period, providing first wireless communication services within a first geographic area; and

a second means for,

during only a second time period, providing second wireless communication services within only a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area,

wherein the second time period is less than the first time period; and

at least one second base station, comprising;

means for providing first wireless communication services within a third geographic area, wherein the third geographic area is adjacent to the first geographic area; and

means for enlarging the third geographic area during the second time period;

a mobile terminal, comprising;

a transmission and reception means for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the first base station and the at least one second base station.

20. The mobile communication system, according to claim 19, wherein:

the first base station further comprises;

control means for transmitting second area information to mobile terminals within only the second geographic area, only within the second time period.

21. The mobile communication system, according to claim 20, wherein:

the mobile terminal further comprises;

notification means for notifying a user of second area information, in response to the reception of second area information to the transmission and reception means.

22. The mobile communication system, according to claim 21, wherein:

the mobile terminal further comprises;

user input means for receiving user input, in response to the notification of the user of the second area information;

determination means for determining whether the user wishes to utilize second wireless communication services based on received user input; and

connection request means for transmitting to the first base station, via the transmission and reception means, a request for the second wireless communication services, in response to a determination by the determination means, that the user wishes to utilize the second wireless communication services.

23. The mobile communication system, according to claim 20, wherein:

the mobile terminal further comprises;

connection request means for transmitting to the first base station, via the transmission and reception means, a request for the second wireless communication services, in response to the reception, by the transmission and reception means, of the second area information.

24. The mobile communication system, according to claim 23,

wherein:

the request for a communication connection transmitted form the mobile terminal to the first base station includes identification information identifying the mobile terminal or a user of the mobile terminal;

further comprising an authentication server, comprising;

authentication means for determining whether the mobile terminal is authenticated to utilize the second wireless communication services, based upon the identification information, and

transmission and reception means for transmission channel assignment instructions to the first base station upon a determination that the mobile terminal is authenticated; and

wherein the control means of the first base station provides the second wireless communication services to the mobile terminal in response to a reception by the transmission and reception means of the first base station of the channel assignment instruction.

25. The mobile communication system, according to claim 24, further comprising:

a charging server, comprising charging means for;

charging the user of the mobile terminal for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal, or

charging a third party for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal, or

determining that there is to be no charge for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal.

26. A mobile communication system, comprising:

a first base station, comprising;

at least one first antenna which, during a first time period, transmits and receives signals to and from a first geographic area;

at least one second antenna which,

during only a second time period transmits and receives signals to and from only a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area;

wherein the second time period is less than the first time period; and

at least one second base station, comprising;

at least one antenna which transmits and receives signals to and from a third geographic area, wherein the third geographic area is adjacent to the first geographic area; and

a controller which enlarges the third geographic area during the second time period; and

a mobile terminal, comprising;

at least one antenna which transmits and receives signals to and from the first base station and the at least one second base station.

27. The mobile communication system, according to claim 26, wherein:

the first base station further comprises;

a controller which transmits second area information to mobile terminals within only the second geographic area, only within the second time period, via only the at least one second antenna.

28. The mobile communication system, according to claim 27, wherein:

the controller of the first base station provides second area wireless communication services only to mobile terminals within the geographic area, only within the second time period, via the at least one second antenna; and

the mobile terminal further comprises;

a controller which transmits, via the at least one antenna, a request for the second area wireless communication services, in response to the reception, by the at least one antenna, of the second area information.

29. A mobile communication base station, comprising:

a first means for, during a first time period, providing first wireless communication services within a first geographic area; and

a second means for,

during only a second time period, providing second wireless communication services within only a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area,

wherein the second time period is less than the first time period.

30. The mobile communication base station, according to claim 29, further comprising:

control means for transmitting second area information to mobile terminals within only the second geographic area, only within the second time period.

31. A mobile communication base station, comprising:

at least one first antenna which, during a first time period, transmits and receives signals to and from a first geographic area; and

at least one second antenna which,

during only a second time period transmits and receives signals to and from only a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area;

wherein the second time period is less than the first time period.

32. A mobile communication method, comprising:

at a first base station;

during a first time period, providing first wireless communication services to mobile terminals within a first geographic area; and

during only a second period of time, providing second wireless communication services to mobile terminals within only a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic area is smaller than and located within the first geographic area and wherein the second time period is less than the first time period; and

at at least one second base station;

providing first wireless communication services to mobile terminals within a third geographic area, wherein the third geographic area is adjacent to the first geographic area; and

enlarging the third geographic area during the second time period.

33. The mobile communication method, according to claim 32, further comprising:

at the first base station;

transmitting first area information to mobile terminals within the first geographic area;

transmitting second area information to mobile terminals within only the second geographic area, only during the second time period;

at a mobile station;

receiving the second area information from the base station;

notifying a user of the second area information;

transmitting a request for the second wireless communication services, including identification information identifying the mobile terminal or a user of the mobile terminal;

at an authentication server;

determining whether the mobile terminal is authenticated to utilize the second wireless communication services based on the identification information;

if the mobile terminal is authenticated to utilize the second wireless communication services, transmitting a channel assignment instruction to the first base station;

at the first base station;

providing the second wireless communication services to the mobile station in response to the channel assignment instructions.

34. The mobile communication method, according to claim 33, further comprising:

at a charging server;

charging the user of the mobile terminal or a third party for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal or determining that there is no charge for the second wireless communication services provided to the mobile terminal.