Method and Relay Node for Mobile Relay Enablement

• US 20160373980A1
• Filed: 08/30/2016
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Yu, Yi, Cai, Zhijun, Song, Yi, Blankenship, Yufei Wu, Bontu, Chandra Sekhar
• Granted Patent: US 10,028,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0009 for a plurality of users or terminals, e.g. group communication or moving wireless networks user group management H04W4/08; processing of subscriber group data H04W8/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0077 of access information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/083 wherein at least one of the access points is a moving node
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

A method and relay node for managing a relay node that is moving relative to a source network node, the method receiving parameters of a target network node from a source network node at the relay node; initiating a direct attachment of the relay node to the target network node; and detaching the relay node from the source network node. Also, a method and network node for managing a relay node that is moving relative to a source network node, the method sending a handover request of a relay node from the source network node to a target network node; performing handover of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) from the source network node to the target network node, wherein the plurality of UEs are attached to the relay node, and establishing an interface between the relay node and the target network node.

Claims

1. A method for managing a relay node that is moving relative to a source network node, the method comprising:

sending a handover request of a relay node from the source network node to a target network node;

performing handover of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) from the source network node to the target network node, wherein the plurality of UEs are attached to the relay node, and

establishing an interface between the relay node and the target network node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing handover of a plurality of UEs further comprises:

aggregating handover signals of the plurality of UEs into a group handover signal; and

sending the group handover signal from the source network node to the target network node.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the group handover signal is a handover request signal.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the group handover signal is a path switch signal.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the group handover signal is a data forwarding signal.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the group handover signal is at least one of:

a handover complete signal, a UE context release signal, and a sequence number status transfer signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface is an X2 or an S1 interface.

8. A source network node configured for managing a relay node that is moving relative to the source network node, the source network node comprising:

a processor; and

a communications subsystem,

wherein the processor and the communications subsystem cooperate to;

send a handover request of a relay node from the source network node to a target network node;

perform handover of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) from the source network node to the target network node, wherein the plurality of UEs are attached to the relay node, and

establish an interface between the relay node and the target network node.

9. The source network node of claim 8, wherein source network node is configured to perform handover of a plurality of UEs further by:

aggregating handover signals of the plurality of UEs into a group handover signal; and

sending the group handover signal from the source network node to the target network node.

10. The source network node of claim 9, wherein the group handover signal is a handover request signal.

11. The source network node of claim 9, wherein the group handover signal is a path switch signal.

12. The source network node of claim 9, wherein the group handover signal is a data forwarding signal.

13. The source network node of claim 9, wherein the group handover signal is at least one of:

a handover complete signal, a UE context release signal, and a sequence number status transfer signal.

14. The source network node of claim 8, wherein the interface is an X2 or an S1 interface.