Cluster structured mobile communication system base station, cluster control station, line control station and mobile station

• US 6,831,904 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamao, Yasushi, Umeda, Narumi, Suda, Hirohito
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mills, Donald L
• Application Number:
  US09/626,541
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/331, 370/338, 370/401, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/436, 455/445
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A mobile communication system includes a line control station, and a plurality of base stations belonging to a plurality of clusters so that each of the clusters includes a plurality of base stations. Each of the clusters includes a cluster control station which is connected to the line control station via a line and controls the base stations within the cluster to which the cluster control station belongs. In addition, each of the base stations within one cluster is connected to other base stations within the one cluster and/or the cluster control station within the one cluster via lines, so that each of the base stations within the one cluster is directly or indirectly connected to the cluster control station within the one cluster.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system comprising:

a line control station; and

a plurality of base stations belonging to a plurality of clusters so that each of the clusters includes a plurality of base stations,

each of the clusters including a cluster control station which is connected to said line control station via a line and controls the base stations within the cluster to which the cluster control station belongs, said cluster control station including means for sending signals received from the line control station to a plurality of base stations within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster,

each of the base stations within one cluster being connected to other base stations within said one cluster and/or the cluster control station within said one cluster via lines, so that each of the base stations within said one cluster is directly or indirectly connected to the cluster control station within said one cluster,

wherein said base stations simultaneously send signals with respect to a single mobile station to said cluster control station, and

said cluster control station comprises;

means for assigning IP addresses of registered specified base stations to a mobile station based on information indicating the specified base stations; and

means for combining the signals into a combined signal with respect to a single mobile station from said base stations and sending the combined signal to the line control station.

2. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein connections within each of the clusters are made by high-speed cable lines or high-speed radio lines.

3. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cluster control station and each of the base stations within a single cluster are connected via a loop network or a bus network.

4. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein Internet Protocol (IP) is used as a communication protocol on the lines within each of the clusters.

5. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said base stations simultaneously receive signals sent from a single mobile station.

6. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of clusters are mutually connected via lines.

7. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said line control station connects corresponding cluster control stations within the plurality of clusters via the lines.

8. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cluster control station for controlling a plurality of base stations within one cluster to which the cluster control station belongs comprises:

means for connecting the cluster control station to the line control station via a line;

means for sending signals received from the line control station to a plurality of base stations within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster; and

means for combining signals received from a plurality of base stations within said one cluster and sending combined signals to the line control station.

9. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said cluster control station is connected to the plurality of base stations within said one cluster via a loop network or a bus network.

10. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base station provided within one cluster which includes a cluster control station and a plurality of base station comprises:

means for receiving signals from said cluster control station within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster; and

means for sending signals received from a mobile station to the cluster control station within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster.

11. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

means for connecting to one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster via a loop network or a bus network.

12. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base station provided within one cluster which includes a cluster control station and a plurality of base stations comprises:

means for receiving signals from the cluster control station within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster, and sending to a mobile station information included in the signals and required by the mobile station.

13. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the base station comprises means for connecting one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster via a loop network or a bus network.

14. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said line control station comprises:

means for carrying out a handover between first and second clusters when a mobile station moves between areas of the first and second clusters,

each of the clusters including a cluster control station which controls a plurality of base stations within one cluster,

said cluster control station including means for sending signals received from the line control station to a plurality of base stations within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster.

15. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said means for carrying out the handover control carries out the handover control via cluster control stations included in the first and second clusters.

16. A mobile communication system comprising:

a line control station; and

a plurality of base stations belonging to a plurality of clusters so that each of the clusters includes a plurality of base stations,

each of the clusters including a cluster control station which is connected to said line control station via a line and controls the base stations within the cluster to which the cluster control station belongs, said cluster control station including a signal transmission mechanism configured to send signals received from the line control station to a plurality of base stations within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster,

each of the base stations within one cluster being connected to other base stations within said one cluster and/or the cluster control station within said one cluster via lines, so that each of the base stations within said one cluster is directly or indirectly connected to the cluster control station within said one cluster,

wherein said base stations simultaneously send signals with respect to a single mobile station to said cluster control station, and

said cluster control station comprises;

an address assignment mechanism configured to assign IP addresses of registered specified base stations to a mobile station based on information indicating the specified base stations; and

a signal combiner configured to combine the signals into a combined signal with respect to a single mobile station from said base stations and sending the combined signal to the line control station.

17. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cluster control station for controlling a plurality of base stations within one cluster to which the cluster control station belongs comprises:

a signal transmission line that connects the cluster control station to the line control station;

the signal transmission mechanism; and

a base station signal combiner configured to combine signals received from a plurality of base stations within said one cluster and sending combined signals to the line control station.

18. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the base station provided within one cluster which includes a cluster control station and a plurality of base station comprises:

a receiver configured to receive signals from said cluster control station within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster; and

a transmitter configured to send signals received from a mobile station to the cluster control station within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster.

19. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the base station provided within one cluster which includes a cluster control station and a plurality of base stations comprises:

a transceiver configured to receive signals from the cluster control station within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster, and send to a mobile station information included in the signals and required by the mobile station.

20. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said line control station comprises:

a controller configured to perform a handover between first and second clusters when a mobile station moves between areas of the first and second clusters,

each of the clusters including a cluster control station which controls a plurality of base stations within one cluster,

said cluster control station including a transmitter configured to transmit signals received from the line control station to a plurality of base stations within said one cluster directly or via one or a plurality of other base stations within said one cluster.