Packet Radio Transmission Over An Unlicensed-Radio Access Network

• US 20070291750A1
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Niska, Hakan, Nylander, Tomas, Vikberg, Jari
• Granted Patent: US 8,320,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An unlicensed-radio access network is connected to a packet service node in a core network portion of a licensed mobile network. The unlicensed-radio access network includes an access controller connected to the core network portion and having a packet controller, a fixed broadband network connected to the access controller and having a plurality of access points. Each of the access points defines a mini-cell coverage area and supports an unlicensed-radio interface permitting communication of packet data between mobile stations located within a respective mini-cell and the access controller. In accordance with the invention the access controller comprises a database for storing the identification of mobile stations in association with packet path information addressing said mobile station on the fixed broadband network.

Claims

1. An unlicensed-radio access network connected to a packet service node (200) in a core network portion (20) of a licensed mobile network, said unlicensed-radio access network (30) including an access controller (303) connected to said core network portion and having a packet controller (3031), a fixed broadband network (302) connected to said access controller and having a plurality of access points (301), each said access point defining a mini-cell coverage area (304) and supporting an unlicensed-radio interface permitting communication of packet data between mobile stations (1) located within a respective mini-cell and said access controller (303), characterised in that said access controller (303) comprises a database (3031) for storing temporary identification information assigned to mobile stations for use in packet service messages in association with packet path information addressing said mobile station on said fixed broadband network.

2. An access network as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said database (3031) is adapted to store the identification of mobile stations in association with at least one specific access point (301) for the coverage area in which said mobile station is located.

3. An access network as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said access point controller (303) is adapted to receive from said core network portion (20) a packet data message containing said temporary identification information of a mobile station (1) located in the associated location area, to retrieve the packet path address associated with said identified mobile station and to transmit said packet data message to said identified packet path address.

4. An access network as claimed in any previous claim, characterised in that said access network controller (303) is adapted to receive from a mobile station (1) a message registering temporary identification information for said mobile station and to store said new temporary identification information data in said database in association with packet path address information for said mobile station on said fixed broadband network (302).

5. An access network as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said mobile station temporary identification information is the temporary logical link identifier (TLLI).

6. An access network as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said packet path address information is a network address of said access points (301) on said fixed broadband network (302).

7. An access network as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said packet path address information is assigned to an access point (301) communicating with said mobile station.

8. An access network as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said access controller (303) is adapted to delete said temporary identification information on receipt of a message from at least one of said access point (301) and said mobile station that said stored temporary identification information is no longer valid.

9. An access network as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said access network controller (303) is adapted to determine whether a connection with said mobile station is maintained and to delete said temporary identification information from said database (3031) on determining that said connection is no longer maintained.

10. An access network as claimed in claims 9, characterised in that said access controller (303) comprises a timer with a predetermined count duration and adapted to restart upon receipt of a packet data message from said mobile station containing a stored temporary identification information, said packet controller (3031) being arranged to delete the mobile station identification when said timer has terminated its count duration.

11. A method in an unlicensed-radio access network comprising a plurality of access points (301) adapted to communicate with mobile stations (1) over an unlicensed-radio interface and an access controller (303) connected to said access points and to a packet service node (200) in a core network portion of a licensed-radio cellular network, said method including the steps of:

receiving temporary identification information for use in packet service messages specific to a mobile station from said mobile station,

registering said mobile station temporary identification information in said access point controller in association with packet path information identifying at least one access point.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, further characterised by the steps of:

receiving in said access controller a packet service message from said core network portion addressing a mobile station,

retrieving said temporary identification information from said packet service message;

identifying a packet path address to at least one access point for said addressed mobile station, and forwarding said packet service message to the at least one access point identified in association with said registered mobile station identification information.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, further characterised by the steps of:

updating said mobile station identification information on receipt of a message from the access point identified in association with said mobile station identification information that said mobile station identification information is no longer valid.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, further characterised by the step of

setting a timer on receipt of a packet service message containing stored temporary identification information from a mobile station,

resetting said timer if a further packet service message containing said stored temporary identification information is received from said mobile station within a predetermined time delay and

deleting said mobile station identification information registered for said mobile station if no further packet service message containing said stored temporary identification information is received from said mobile station within said predetermined time delay.

15. A method in an unlicensed-radio access network comprising a fixed broadband network with plurality of access points (301) and an access controller (303) connected to said fixed broadband network and to packet service node of a core network portion of a licensed-radio cellular network and adapted to exchange packet service messages with mobile stations (1) over an unlicensed-radio interface via said access points, said method including the steps of:

said access controller establishing communication with a mobile station using a network address on said fixed broadband network for said mobile station,

receiving temporary identification information for use in packet service messages specific to a mobile station from said mobile station,

registering said mobile station identification information in association with a network address on said fixed broadband network specific to said mobile station,

retrieving said temporary identification information from a packet data message received from said core network, and

directing said packet data message to said network address stored in association with said temporary identification information.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further characterised by the steps of:

said access point controller determining when a connection established with said mobile station is no longer maintained and deleting said mobile station identification information when it is determined that a connection is no longer maintained.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, further characterised by the step of

setting a timer on receipt of a packet service message containing stored temporary identification information from a mobile station,

resetting said timer if a further packet service message containing said stored temporary identification information is received from said mobile station within a predetermined time delay and

deleting said mobile station identification information registered for said mobile station if no further packet service message containing said stored temporary identification information is received from said mobile station within said predetermined time delay.