Radio Network Controller and Radio Network Controller Assembly

• US 20120208579A1
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Persson, Bengt, Wahlman, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,626,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/507
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/088 among core entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/22 between access point controllers

Abstract

It is presented a radio network controller assembly for controlling base stations. The radio network controller assembly comprises: a plurality of unit radio network controllers, wherein each unit radio network controller comprises: a set of external interfaces configured for interaction with a core network, base stations and other radio network controllers; and a set of internal interfaces, distinct from the set of external interfaces, configured at least for interaction with peer unit radio network controllers belonging to the radio network controller assembly. The radio network assembly further comprises a database arranged to store configuration data comprising mappings of each base station to one of the plurality of unit radio network controllers. The radio network controller assembly is arranged to use the set of external interfaces for communication with the plurality of base stations, the core network and other radio network controllers external to the radio network controller assembly.

Claims

1. A unit radio network controller for use in a radio network controller assembly and configured to control a plurality of base stations, each base station controlling at least one radio cell, the unit radio network controller comprising:

a set of external interfaces configured for interaction with a core network, at least one base station, and at least one radio network controller; and

a set of internal interfaces, distinct from the set of external interfaces, the set of internal interfaces configured at least for interaction with peer unit radio network controllers belonging to the radio network controller assembly.

2. The unit radio network controller according to claim 1, wherein the set of internal interfaces comprises an interface for interaction with a database associated with the radio network assembly, the database storing configuration data comprising mappings of each base station and one of the unit radio network controllers of the radio network assembly.

3. The unit radio network controller according to claim 1, wherein the internal interfaces are simpler than the external interfaces in terms of the communication protocol employed.

4. A radio network controller assembly configured to control a plurality of base stations, each base station controlling at least one radio cell, the radio network controller assembly comprising:

a plurality of unit radio network controllers, each unit radio network controller comprising;

a set of external interfaces configured for interaction with a core network, at least one base station, and at least one radio network controller; and

a set of internal interfaces, distinct from the set of external interfaces, the set of internal interfaces configured at least for interaction with peer unit radio network controllers also comprised in the radio network controller assembly; and

a database configured to store configuration data comprising mappings of each base station and one respectively associated unit radio network controller;

wherein the radio network controller assembly is configured to use said sets of external interfaces for communication with the plurality of base stations, the core network, and radio network controllers external to the radio network controller assembly.

5. The radio network controller assembly according to claim 4, wherein the configuration data further comprises mappings between each radio cell and one respectively associated unit radio network controller.

6. The radio network controller assembly according to claim 4, wherein the database is comprised in one of the unit radio network controllers.

7. The radio network controller assembly according to claim 4, wherein the database is comprised in a device distinct from each of the unit radio network controllers.

8. The radio network controller assembly according to claim 4, wherein each unit radio network controller comprises mobile device control functionality for any associated mobile devices.

9. The radio network controller assembly according to claim 4, wherein each unit radio network controller is configured to redirect traffic on an end user connection basis to another unit radio network controller for load management.

10. The radio network controller assembly according to claim 4, wherein one of the unit radio network controllers is configured to be a singleton device, responsible for radio singleton functionality comprising network control functionality, which is to be performed by only one unit radio network controller.

11. The radio network controller assembly according to claim 10, wherein a second one of the unit radio network controllers is configured to be a standby singleton device, arranged to take over network control functionality tied to the singleton device when that singleton device is unable to continue to perform the radio singleton functionality.