WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, BASE STATION, AND TERMINAL

• US 20130242843A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: KOJIMA, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 9,137,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/245 Link aggregation, e.g. trunking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless communication system including: a terminal, and a base station that forwards a traffic flow to the terminal, wherein the terminal includes a plurality of first wireless interfaces, and a first processor that selects a first wireless interface from among the plurality of first wireless interfaces, the first wireless interface from which to transmit a response packet in response to a multicast packet or broadcast packet, based on first information indicating the operational states of the plurality of first wireless interfaces, and the preferability of link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows the response packet.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a terminal; and

a base station that forwards a traffic flow to the terminal;

wherein the terminal includes

a plurality of first wireless interfaces, and

a first processor that selects a first wireless interface from among the plurality of first wireless interfaces, the first wireless interface from which to transmit a response packet in response to a multicast packet or broadcast packet, based on first information indicating the operational states of the plurality of first wireless interfaces, and the preferability of link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows the response packet.

2. The wireless communication system according to the claim 1, wherein

the base station includes

a second wireless interface that receives the first information from the terminal, and

a second processor that applies control to discard the multicast packet or broadcast packet based on the first information from the second wireless interface.

3. The wireless communication system according to the claim 2, wherein

the second wireless interface further reports to the terminal with second information indicating whether to use link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows the response packet in response to the multicast packet or broadcast packet.

4. The wireless communication system according to the claim 3, wherein

the second processor further generates the second information by determining whether to use link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows the response packet in response to the multicast packet or broadcast packet, based on information indicating the operational states of the plurality of first wireless interfaces, and the preferability of link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows.

5. The wireless communication system according to the claim 3, wherein

one of the plurality of first wireless interfaces receives the second information from the base station, and

the first processor selects the first wireless interface based on the second information.

6. The wireless communication system according to the claim 1, wherein

the first processor transmits, follows from among the plurality of first wireless interfaces, the response packet from the first wireless interface able to use link aggregation on the traffic flow that.

7. The wireless communication system according to the claim 1, wherein

the first processor determines whether link aggregation is preferred based on the protocol of the traffic flow that follows the response packet in response to the multicast packet or broadcast packet.

8. A base station that forwards a traffic flow to a terminal, comprising:

a second wireless interface that receives, from the terminal, first information indicating the operational states of a plurality of first wireless interfaces included in the terminal; and

a processor that applies control to discard a multicast packet or broadcast packet based on the first information from the second wireless interface.

9. The base station according to the claim 8, wherein

the second wireless interface further reports to the terminal with second information indicating whether to use link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows a response packet in response to the multicast packet or broadcast packet.

10. The base station according to the claim 9, wherein

the processor further generates the second information by determining whether to use link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows the response packet that is in response to the multicast packet or broadcast packet, based on information indicating the operational states of the plurality of first wireless interfaces, and the preferability of link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows.

11. A terminal that receives a traffic flow from a base station, comprising:

a plurality of wireless interfaces; and

a processor that selects a wireless interface from among the plurality of wireless interfaces, the wireless interface from which to transmit a response packet for a multicast packet or broadcast packet, based on information indicating the operational states of the plurality of wireless interfaces, and the preferability of link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows the response packet.

12. The terminal according to the claim 11, wherein

one of the plurality of wireless interfaces receives, from the base station, second information indicating whether to use link aggregation on the traffic flow from the base station received by one of the plurality of wireless interfaces, and

the processor selects the wireless interface based on the second information.

13. The terminal according to the claim 11, wherein

the processor transmits, from among the plurality of wireless interfaces, the response packet from the wireless interface able to use link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows.

14. The terminal according to the claim 11, wherein

the processor determines whether link aggregation is preferred based on the protocol of the traffic flow that follows the response packet in response to the multicast packet or broadcast packet.