RELAY STATION, BASE STATION, MOBILE STATION, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20120322363A1
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Hitoshi, TSUBOUCHI, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 9,084,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

A relay station capable of communicating with a first base station, a second base station, and a mobile station, includes a relay unit configured to relay communication between the first base station and the mobile station; a receiving unit configured to receive load information concerning the second base station; and a changeover unit configured to change, from the first base station over to the second base station, a communication counterpart of the mobile station, communicating with the mobile station via the relay unit, the communication counterpart being changed based on the received load information.

Claims

1. A relay station capable of communicating with a first base station, a second base station, and a mobile station, the relay station comprising:

a relay unit configured to relay communication between the first base station and the mobile station;

a receiving unit configured to receive load information concerning the second base station; and

a changeover unit configured to change, from the first base station over to the second base station, a communication counterpart of the mobile station, communicating with the mobile station via the relay unit, the communication counterpart being changed based on the received load information.

2. The relay station according to claim 1, wherein

the receiving unit receives the load information for a plurality of the second base stations, and

the changeover unit selects based on the received load information and from among the second base stations, a base station as a new communication counterpart and changes the communication counterpart over to the selected base station.

3. The relay station according to claim 1 and further comprising a communication load monitoring unit configured to monitor a load volume of communication by the relay unit, wherein

the changeover unit changes the communication counterpart based on the load information and a monitoring result obtained by the communication load monitoring unit.

4. The relay station according to claim 3, wherein

the changeover unit calculates for the second base station and based on the load information and the monitoring result, a load volume expected to result when the communication counterpart is changed over to the second base station, and based on a calculation result, changes the communication counterpart.

5. The relay station according to claim 3 and further comprising a power measuring unit configured to measure incoming signal power from the second base station, wherein

the changeover unit changes the communication counterpart based on the measured incoming signal power, the monitoring result, and the load information.

6. The relay station according to claim 1, wherein

the receiving unit receives the load information distributed by the second base station through radio communication.

7. The relay station according to claim 1, wherein

the receiving unit receives the load information from the second base station through the first base station.

8. The relay station according to claim 1, wherein

the changeover unit changes the communication counterpart upon receiving a congestion notification signal indicating that the first base station is in a congested state.

9. The relay station according to claim 1, wherein

the changeover unit changes the communication counterpart upon receiving a cell barring notification signal indicating that the first base station is in a cell barring state.

10. The relay station according to claim 1, wherein

the receiving unit periodically receives the load information.

11. The relay station according to claim 1, wherein

the load information is information that indicates a margin of a processing load volume of the second base station.

12. The relay station according to claim 1 and further comprising a transmitting unit configured to transmit to the first base station, base station information that indicates the second base station, wherein

the changeover unit changes the communication counterpart under control by the first base station based on the base station information transmitted by the transmitting unit.

13. A base station capable of communicating with a relay station that relays communication between another base station and a mobile station, the base station comprising:

a transmitting unit configured to transmit to the relay station, load information concerning the base station; and

a communicating unit configured to start communicating with the mobile station through relay by the relay station, when the relay station changes a communication counterpart of the mobile station from the other base station over to the base station, based on the load information transmitted by the transmitting unit.

14. The base station according to claim 13, wherein

the transmitting unit transmits the load information through radio communication.

15. The base station according to claim 13, wherein

the transmitting unit transmits the load information through the other base station.

16. The base station according to claim 13, wherein

the transmitting unit transmits the load information periodically.

17. A mobile station capable of communicating with a first base station and with a second base station through relay by a relay station, wherein

the mobile station, when during communication with the first base station through relay by the relay station, the relay station changes a communication counterpart of the mobile station from the first base station over to the second base station based on load information concerning the second base station in a vicinity of the relay station, continues communication by communicating with the second base station through relay by the relay station.

18. A communication system comprising a first base station;

a second base station;

a relay station; and

a mobile station capable of communicating with the first base station and with the second base station through relay by the relay station, wherein

the second base station transmits to the relay station, load information concerning the second base station, and

the relay station changes a communication counterpart of the mobile station communicating with the first base station from the first base station over to the second base station, based on the load information transmitted by the second base station.

19. The communication system according to claim 18, wherein

when the mobile station performs handover of the communication counterpart from the first base station to the second base station, the first base station transmits to the relay station, a consolidated message that includes individual messages for handover of a plurality of the mobile stations, and the relay station transmits to the mobile stations, the individual messages into which the consolidated message is divided, and further transmits to the second base station, a consolidated message that includes individual messages transmitted from the mobile stations in response to the individual messages transmitted to the mobile stations.

20. A communication method comprising:

performing communication between a first base station and a mobile station through relay by a relay station;

transmitting from the second base station to the relay station, load information concerning a second base station in a vicinity of the relay station; and

changing a communication counterpart of the mobile station from the first base station over to the second base station, based on the transmitted load information.

21. A base station comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with a mobile station through relay by a relay station;

a receiving unit configured to receive load information concerning another base station in a vicinity of the relay station; and

a changeover unit configured to change a communication counterpart of the mobile station from the base station over to the other base station, based on the load information received by the receiving unit.

22. The base station according to claim 21 and further comprising a second receiving unit configured to receive communication load information that indicates a load volume of communication by the relay station, wherein

the changeover unit changes the communication counterpart based on the load information and the load volume indicated by the communication load information.

23. The base station according to claim 22 and further comprising a third receiving unit configured to receive information that indicates incoming signal power from the other base station and measured at the relay station, wherein

the changeover unit changes the communication counterpart based on the incoming signal power indicated by the information received by the third receiving unit, the communication load information, and the load information.

24. A relay station capable of communicating with a first base station, a second base station, and a mobile station, wherein

the relay station starts relaying communication between the second base station and the mobile station when the first base station changes a communication counterpart of the mobile station from the first base station over to the second base station, based on load information concerning the second base station.

25. A mobile station capable of communicating with a first base station and with a second base station through relay by a relay station, wherein

the mobile station, when during communication with the first base station through relay by the relay station, the first base station changes a communication counterpart of the mobile station from the first base station over to the second base station based on load information concerning the second base station in a vicinity of the relay station, continues communication by communicating with the second base station through relay by the relay station.

26. A communication system comprising a first base station;

a second base station;

a relay station; and

a mobile station capable of communicating with the first base station and with the second base station through relay by the relay station, wherein

the second base station transmits to the first base station, load information concerning the second base station, and

the first base station changes a communication counterpart of the mobile station communicating with the first base station from the first base station over to the second base station, based on the load information transmitted by the second base station.

27. A communication method comprising:

performing communication between a first base station and a mobile station through relay by a relay station;

transmitting from a second base station to the first base station, load information concerning the second base station in a vicinity of the relay station; and

changing a communication counterpart of the mobile station from the first base station over to the second base station, based on the transmitted load information.