MILLIMETER-WAVE COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD AND MILLIMETER-WAVE COMMUNICATION CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20170142540A1
• Filed: 11/11/2016
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: SHIRAKATA, NAGANORI, TAKINAMI, KOJI
• Granted Patent: US 10,218,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A millimeter-wave controller receives, from a microwave-communication control apparatus belonging to a microwave network, a first signal including location information of a first terminal belonging thereto and a use request for the first terminal to use the millimeter-wave network. A beam range for the first terminal and a first wireless resource that is included in one or more wireless resources of one or more millimeter-wave access points and that is to be allocated to the first terminal are set based on the location information. A use permission for the millimeter-wave network and first connection information for connection to a first millimeter-wave access point corresponding to the first wireless resource are transmitted to the microwave-communication control apparatus. The first connection information differs from second connection information for a second terminal belonging to the millimeter-wave network, the second terminal connects to the first millimeter-wave access point by using the second connection information.

Claims

1. A millimeter-wave communication control method for a communication system including a microwave network and a millimeter-wave network having one or more millimeter-wave access points placed in the microwave network, the millimeter-wave communication control method comprising:

Receiving, by a millimeter-wave communication control apparatus belonging to the millimeter-wave network, a first signal from a microwave-communication control apparatus belonging to the microwave network, the first signal including location information of a first terminal belonging to the microwave network and a use request for the first terminal to use the millimeter-wave network;

setting, by the millimeter-wave communication control apparatus, a beam range for the first terminal and a first wireless resource that is included in one or more wireless resources of the one or more millimeter-wave access points and that is to be allocated to the first terminal, based on the location information of the first terminal; and

transmitting, by the millimeter-wave communication control apparatus, a use permission for the millimeter-wave network and first connection information for connection to a first millimeter-wave access point corresponding to the first wireless resource, to the microwave-communication control apparatus, wherein the first connection information is different from second connection information for a second terminal belonging to the millimeter-wave network, the second terminal connects to the first millimeter-wave access point by using the second connection information.

2. The millimeter-wave communication control method according to claim 1,

wherein the first connection information includes a validity period for the first terminal to use the millimeter-wave network;

and

when the validity period expires, the millimeter-wave communication control apparatus issues a notification indicating that the first connection information is invalidated with respect to the first millimeter-wave access point.

3. The millimeter-wave communication control method according to claim 1,

wherein the first connection information includes at least one of a service set identifier (SSID) indicating the first millimeter-wave access point, a cryptographic key used for millimeter-wave communication between the first terminal and the first millimeter-wave access point, and an identifier (ID) indicating a virtual network for the first terminal to connect to the microwave network through the millimeter-wave network.

4. A millimeter-wave communication control apparatus in a communication system including a microwave network and a millimeter-wave network having one or more millimeter-wave access points placed in the microwave network, the millimeter-wave communication control apparatus belonging to the millimeter-wave network and comprising:

reception circuitry, which in operations, receives a first signal from a microwave-communication control apparatus belonging to the microwave network, the first signal including location information of a first terminal belonging to the microwave network and a use request for the first terminal to use the millimeter-wave network;

setting circuitry, which in operations, sets a beam range for the first terminal and a first wireless resource that is included in one or more wireless resources of the one or more millimeter-wave access points and that is to be allocated to the first terminal, based on the location information of the first terminal; and

transmission circuitry, which in operations, transmits, to the microwave-communication control apparatus, a use permission for the millimeter-wave network and first connection information for connection to a first millimeter-wave access point corresponding to the first wireless resource, wherein the first connection information is different from second connection information for a second terminal belonging to the millimeter-wave network, the second terminal connects to the first millimeter-wave access point by using the second connection information.