METHOD AND APPARATUS AT THE PHYSICAL AND LINK LAYER FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20150017993A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishii, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/444
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0069 in case of dual connectivity, e.g. decoupled uplink/downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00692 using simultaneous multiple data streams, e.g. cooperative multipoint [CoMP], carrier aggregation [CA] or multiple input multiple output [MIMO] allocation of physical resources in CoMP or in CA H04L5/0035
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

In a telecommunications network, a system to offload data traffic from base stations to small node devices includes a small node device. The small node device includes a macro-base-station-to-small-node-device (BS2D) communication section in communication with a source base station through a first link, and a small-node-device-to-user-equipment (D2UE) communication section in wireless communication with a mobile station through a fourth link. A control unit in the source base station determines a configuration of the fourth link, a macro-base-station-to-user-equipment (BS2UE) communication section is in wireless communication with the mobile station and the source base station through a second link, and a macro-base-station-to-macro-base-station (BS2BS) communication section is in communication with a target radio base station and the source base station through a third link, and a backhaul communication section is in communication with a server.

Claims

1. In a cellular telecommunications network, a mobile communication system to offload data traffic from radio base stations to small node devices comprising a small node device, wherein the small node device comprises:

a macro-base-station-to-small-node-device (BS2D) communication section in communication with a source base station through a first link; and

a small-node-device-to-user-equipment (D2UE) communication section in wireless communication with a mobile station through a fourth link,

wherein a control unit in the source base station determines a configuration of the fourth link,

wherein a macro-base-station-to-user-equipment (BS2UE) communication section is in wireless communication with the mobile station and the source base station through a second link, and a macro-base-station-to-macro-base-station (BS2BS) communication section is in communication with a target radio base station and the source base station through a third link,

wherein a backhaul communication section is in communication with a server,

wherein the BS2D communication section exchanges, through the first link, a first control signal from the source radio base station to establish the fourth link,

wherein the BS2UE communication section exchanges, through the second link, a second control signal from the source radio base station to establish the fourth link,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a set of information for the fourth link,

wherein the backhaul communication section receives first data which is sent by the server to the mobile station, wherein the D2UE communication section transmits the first data to the mobile station through the fourth link, and

wherein the D2UE communication section receives second data through the fourth link which is sent by the mobile station to the server, and wherein the backhaul communication section transmits the second data to the server.

2. The small node device of claim 1, further comprising:

a handover request comprising a third control signal for requesting a handover between the source radio base station and the target radio base station and the set of information.

3. The small node device of claim 1,

wherein the set of information includes at least one from a group consisting of radio bearer information of the fourth link, frequency-domain information of the fourth link, time-domain information of the fourth link, identification information of the device, transmit power control information of the fourth link, control channel information of the fourth link, data channel information of the fourth link, MAC/RLC/PDCP layer configuration of the fourth link, and security information of the fourth link.

4. The small node device of claim 1,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover.

5. The small node device of claim 1,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover.

6. The small node device of claim 1,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover, and

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command.

7. The small node device of claim 1,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover, and

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command.

8. The small node device of claim 1,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

9. The small node device of claim 1,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is not allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

10. In a cellular telecommunications network, a mobile communication system to offload data traffic from radio base stations to small node devices comprising a source base station, wherein the source base station comprises:

a macro-base-station-to-small-node-device (BS2D) communication section in communication with a small node device through a first link;

a macro-base-station-to-user-equipment (BS2UE) communication section in wireless communication with a mobile station through a second link;

a macro-base-station-to-macro-base-station (BS2BS) communication section in communication with a target radio base station through a third link; and

a control unit for determining a configuration of a fourth link through which a small-node-device-to-user-equipment (D2UE) communication section in the small node devices is in wireless communication with the mobile station and the small node device,

wherein a backhaul communication section in the small node devices is in communication with a server,

wherein the BS2D communication section exchanges, through the first link, a first control signal from the source radio base station to establish the fourth link,

wherein the BS2UE communication section exchanges, through the second link, a second control signal from the source radio base station to establish the fourth link,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a set of information for the fourth link,

wherein the backhaul communication section receives first data which is sent by the server to the mobile station, wherein the D2UE communication section transmits the first data to the mobile station through the fourth link, and

wherein the D2UE communication section receives second data through the fourth link which is sent by the mobile station to the server, and wherein the backhaul communication section transmits the second data to the server.

11. The source base station of claim 10, further comprising:

a handover request comprising a third control signal for requesting a handover between the source radio base station and the target radio base station and the set of information.

12. The source base station of claim 10,

wherein the set of information includes at least one from a group consisting of radio bearer information of the fourth link, frequency-domain information of the fourth link, time-domain information of the fourth link, identification information of the device, transmit power control information of the fourth link, control channel information of the fourth link, data channel information of the fourth link, MAC/RLC/PDCP layer configuration of the fourth link, and security information of the fourth link.

13. The source base station of claim 10,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

14. The source base station of claim 10,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is not allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

15. In a cellular telecommunications network, a mobile communication system to offload data traffic from radio base stations to small node devices comprising a mobile station, wherein the mobile station comprises:

a macro-base-station-to-user-equipment (BS2UE) communication section in wireless communication with a source base station through a second link; and

a small-node-device-to-user-equipment (D2UE) communication section in wireless communication with a small node device through a fourth link,

wherein a control unit in the source base station determines a configuration of the fourth link,

wherein a macro-base-station-to-small-node-device (BS2D) communication section in the source base station is in communication with the small node device and a source base station through a first link, and a macro-base-station-to-macro-base-station (BS2BS) communication section in the source base station is in communication with a target radio base station and the source base station through a third link,

wherein a backhaul communication section in the small node devices is in communication with a server,

wherein the BS2D communication section exchanges, through the first link, a first control signal from the source radio base station to establish the fourth link,

wherein the BS2UE communication section exchanges, through the second link, a second control signal from the source radio base station to establish the fourth link,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a set of information for the fourth link,

wherein the backhaul communication section receives first data which is sent by the server to the mobile station, wherein the D2UE communication section receives the first data at the mobile station through the fourth link, and

wherein the D2UE communication section transmits second data through the fourth link from the mobile station to the server, and wherein the backhaul communication section transmits the second data to the server.

16. The mobile station of claim 15, further comprising:

a handover request comprising a third control signal for requesting a handover between the source radio base station and the target radio base station and the set of information.

17. The mobile station of claim 15,

wherein the set of information includes at least one from a group consisting of radio bearer information of the fourth link, frequency-domain information of the fourth link, time-domain information of the fourth link, identification information of the device, transmit power control information of the fourth link, control channel information of the fourth link, data channel information of the fourth link, MAC/RLC/PDCP layer configuration of the fourth link, and security information of the fourth link.

18. The mobile station of claim 15,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

19. The mobile station of claim 15,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is not allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

20. In a cellular telecommunication network, a method to offload data traffic from radio base stations to small node devices, comprising:

communicating with a small node device through a first link using a macro-base-station-to-small-node-device (BS2D) communication section;

communicating wirelessly with a mobile station through a second link using a macro-base-station-to-user-equipment (BS2UE) communication section;

communicating with a target radio base station through a third link using a macro-base-station-to-macro-base-station (BS2BS) communication section;

determining a configuration of a fourth link through which a small-node-device-to-user-equipment (D2UE) communication section is in wireless communication with the mobile station using a control unit;

communicating with a server using a backhaul communication section;

exchanging, using the BS2D communication section through the first link, a first control signal from a source radio base station to establish the fourth link;

exchanging, using the BS2UE communication section through the second link, a second control signal from the source radio base station to establish the fourth link;

exchanging a set of information for the fourth link using the BS2BS communication section;

receiving first data which is sent by the server to the mobile station using the backhaul communication section, wherein the D2UE communication section transmits the first data to the mobile station through the fourth link; and

receiving second data through the fourth link using the D2UE communication section which is sent by the mobile station to the server, and wherein the backhaul communication section transmits the second data to the server.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

a handover request comprising a third control signal for requesting a handover between the source radio base station and the target radio base station and the set of information.

22. The method of claim 20,

wherein the set of information includes at least one from a group consisting of radio bearer information of the fourth link, frequency-domain information of the fourth link, time-domain information of the fourth link, identification information of the device, transmit power control information of the fourth link, control channel information of the fourth link, data channel information of the fourth link, MAC/RLC/PDCP layer configuration of the fourth link, and security information of the fourth link.

23. The method of claim 20,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

24. The method of claim 20,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is not allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

25. The method of claims 20,

wherein the BS2D communication section, the BS2UE communication section, the BS2BS communication section, and the control unit are located with the source base station, and

wherein the D2UE communication section and the backhaul communication section are located with the small node devices.

26. In a cellular telecommunications network, a mobile communication system to offload data traffic from radio base stations to small node devices, comprising:

at least one macro-base-station-to-small-node-device (BS2D) communication section in communication with a small node device through a first link;

at least one macro-base-station-to-user-equipment (BS2UE) communication section in wireless communication with a mobile station through a second link;

at least one macro-base-station-to-macro-base-station (BS2BS) communication section in communication with a target radio base station through a third link;

at least one control unit for determining a configuration of a fourth link through which a small-node-device-to-user-equipment (D2UE) communication section is in wireless communication with the mobile station; and

a backhaul communication section in communication with a server,

wherein the BS2D communication section exchanges, through the first link, a first control signal from a source radio base station to establish the fourth link,

wherein the BS2UE communication section exchanges, through the second link, a second control signal from the source radio base station to establish the fourth link,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a set of information for the fourth link,

wherein the backhaul communication section receives first data which is sent by the server to the mobile station, wherein the D2UE communication section transmits the first data to the mobile station through the fourth link, and

wherein the D2UE communication section receives second data through the fourth link which is sent by the mobile station to the server, and wherein the backhaul communication section transmits the second data to the server.

27. The mobile communication system of claim 26, further comprising:

a handover request comprising a third control signal for requesting a handover between the source radio base station and the target radio base station and the set of information.

28. The mobile communication system of claim 26,

wherein the set of information includes at least one from a group consisting of radio bearer information of the fourth link, frequency-domain information of the fourth link, time-domain information of the fourth link, identification information of the device, transmit power control information of the fourth link, control channel information of the fourth link, data channel information of the fourth link, MAC/RLC/PDCP layer configuration of the fourth link, and security information of the fourth link.

29. The mobile communication system of claim 26,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

30. The mobile communication system of claim 26,

wherein the BS2BS communication section exchanges a fourth control signal which notifies the target radio base station that the mobile station is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the BS2UE communication section transmits a fifth control signal which notifies the mobile station that it is not allowed to communicate with the small node device after a handover,

wherein the fifth control signal is included in a handover command,

wherein the BS2D communication section transmits a sixth control signal which notifies the small node device that it is not allowed to communicate with the mobile station after a handover.

31. The mobile communication system of claim 26, wherein the small node device further comprises:

the D2UE communication section;

the backhaul communication section in communication with the server;

a first BS2D communication section in communication with the source radio base station through the first link; and

a second BS2D communication section in communication with the target radio base station through a fifth link.