Station side apparatus, resource allocating method in station side apparatus and mobile communication system

• US 7,613,461 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Inoko, Katsutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): BALAOING, ARIEL A
• Application Number:
  US10/914,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20050009515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426.2, 455/436, 455/450, 455/453, 370/230, 370/235, 370/331, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/72 using reservation actions during connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/765 triggered by the end-points
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/781 Centralised allocation of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/822 Collecting or measuring resource availability data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/36 for reassigning the resources associated with the released connections

Abstract

Even if a communication resource needed for connection processing with a user (subscriber terminal) and an actual packet data communication is in a full condition in an active subscriber resource managing unit, when a communication resource needed for only maintaining a logical connection with a user is in a free condition in a dormant subscriber resource managing unit, for accommodating a new user in a dormant state through this free resource, a control unit carries out connection processing answering a new connection request through the use of a radio resource secured in advance or a free radio resource produced by shifting a portion of active users forcibly to a dormant state. This enables using a packet communication total resource without waste and considerably improving the packet service connectivity to a user.

Claims

1. A station side apparatus made to manage a communication resource needed for making packet data communication with a plurality of subscriber terminals and to allocate said communication resource to said subscriber terminal according to a connection request from said subscriber terminal for making the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal, characterized by comprising:

an active subscriber resource managing unit for managing a communication resource needed for implementing connection processing in which, in response to a connection request from one subscriber terminal, a communication link with said subscriber terminal is established so that packet data communication with said subscriber terminal is placed into an active state;

a dormant subscriber resource managing unit for managing a communication resource needed for maintaining a communication link other than at least a radio zone when said subscriber terminal which is in said active state shifts to a dormant state in which no packet data transmission actually takes place;

a dormant state shift resource managing unit for managing a radio resource to be used for said subscriber terminal to be shifted to said dormant state after the implementation of said connection processing; and

a control unit for, upon receipt of a new connection request from a subscriber terminal which is not in said active state nor in said dormant state, even if a free radio resource is absent in said active subscriber resource managing unit, carrying out connection processing answering said new connection request through the use of a radio resource secured in advance in said dormant state shift resource managing unit to control packet data communication with said subscriber terminal, issuing said new connection request, into an active state,

wherein said control unit once places said subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request into said active state and then immediately shifts said subscriber terminal to said dormant state when the free radio resource is absent in said active subscriber resource managing unit.

2. The station side apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said control unit includes means for, after the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request is controlled into said active state, forcibly shifting the packet data communication to a dormant state.

3. The station side apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said control unit includes dormant state shift terminal determining means for, upon receipt of said new connection request, determining said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of a predetermined condition.

4. The station side apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, an elapsed time period after said subscriber terminal is placed into said active state.

5. The station side apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a management number of said subscriber terminal placed into said active state.

6. The station side apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, the number of times of state transition of said subscriber terminal to an active state and a dormant state within a constant period of time.

7. The station side apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a packet data communication rate while said subscriber terminal is in an active state.

8. The station side apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a period of time taken from which said subscriber terminal becomes an active state until said subscriber terminal shifts to a dormant state.

9. A station side apparatus made to manage a communication resource needed for making packet data communication with a plurality of subscriber terminals and to allocate said communication resource to said subscriber terminal according to a connection request from said subscriber terminal for making the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal, characterized by comprising:

an active subscriber resource managing unit for managing a communication resource needed for implementing connection processing in which, in response to a connection request from one subscriber terminal, a communication link with said subscriber terminal is established so that packet data communication with said subscriber terminal is placed into an active state;

a dormant subscriber resource managing unit for managing a communication resource needed for maintaining a communication link other than at least a radio zone when said subscriber terminal placed into said active state is shifted to a dormant state in which no packet data transmission actually takes place; and

a control unit for, upon receipt of a new connection request from a subscriber terminal which is not in said active state nor in said dormant state, if a radio resource secured in advance is absent, forcibly shifting a portion of subscriber terminals placed into an active state to a dormant state to produce a free resource from a radio resource and for carrying out connection processing answering said new connection request through the use of the free radio resource to control packet data communication with said subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request into an active state,

wherein said control unit once places said subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request into said active state and then immediately shifts said subscriber terminal to said dormant state when the radio resource secured in advance is absent.

10. The station side apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said control unit includes means for, after the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request is controlled into said active state, forcibly shifting the packet data communication to a dormant state and returning the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal, forcibly shifted to said dormant state so that said radio resource is made free, to an active state.

11. The station side apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that said control unit includes dormant state shift terminal determining means for, upon receipt of said new connection request, determining said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of a predetermined condition.

12. The station side apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said control unit includes dormant state shift terminal determining means for, upon receipt of said new connection request, determining said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of a predetermined condition.

13. The station side apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, an elapsed time period after said subscriber terminal is placed into said active state.

14. The station side apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a management number of said subscriber terminal placed into said active state.

15. The station side apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, the number of times of state transition of said subscriber terminal to an active state and a dormant state within a constant period of time.

16. The station side apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a packet data communication rate while said subscriber terminal is in an active state.

17. The station side apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said dormant state shift terminal determining means is made to determine said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state, on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a period of time taken from which said subscriber terminal becomes an active state until said subscriber terminal shifts to a dormant state.

18. A resource allocating method in a station side apparatus made to manage a communication resource needed for making packet data communication with a plurality of subscriber terminals and to allocate said communication resource to said subscriber terminal according to a connection request from said subscriber terminal for making the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal, characterized by:

managing a communication resource needed for implementing connection processing in which, in response to a connection request from one subscriber terminal, a communication link with said subscriber terminal is established so that packet data communication with said subscriber terminal is placed into an active state, a communication resource needed for maintaining a communication link other than at least a radio zone when said subscriber terminal which is in said active state shifts to a dormant state in which no packet data transmission actually takes place, and a radio resource to be used for said subscriber terminal to be shifted to said dormant state after the implementation of said connection processing;

upon receipt of a new connection request from a subscriber terminal which is not in said active state nor in said dormant state, making a decision as to whether or not said communication resource is in a free condition in said dormant subscriber resource managing unit;

when said communication resource is in a free condition, even if a free radio resource is absent in said active subscriber resource managing unit, carrying out connection processing answering said new connection request through the use of a radio resource secured in advance for shifting to said dormant state to control packet data communication with said subscriber terminal, issuing said new connection request, into an active state; and

placing said subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request into said active state and then immediately shifting said subscriber terminal to said dormant state when the free radio resource is absent in said active subscriber resource managing unit.

19. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that, after the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request is controlled into said active state, forcibly shifting the packet data communication to a dormant state.

20. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that, upon receipt of said new connection request, said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of a predetermined condition.

21. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, an elapsed time period after said subscriber terminal is placed into said active state.

22. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a management number of said subscriber terminal placed into said active state.

23. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, the number of times of state transition of said subscriber terminal to an active state and a dormant state within a constant period of time.

24. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a packet data communication rate while said subscriber terminal is in an active state.

25. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a period of time taken from which said subscriber terminal becomes an active state until said subscriber terminal shifts to a dormant state.

26. A resource allocating method in a station side apparatus made to manage a communication resource needed for making packet data communication with a plurality of subscriber terminals and to allocate said communication resource to said subscriber terminal according to a connection request from said subscriber terminal for making the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal, characterized by:

managing a communication resource needed for implementing connection processing in which, in response to a connection request from one subscriber terminal, a communication link with said subscriber terminal is established so that packet data communication with said subscriber terminal is placed into an active state and a communication resource needed for maintaining a communication link other than at least a radio zone when said subscriber terminal placed into said active state is shifted to a dormant state in which no packet data transmission actually takes place;

upon receipt of a new connection request from a subscriber terminal which is not in said active state nor in said dormant state, if a radio resource secured in advance is absent, forcibly shifting a portion of subscriber terminals placed into an active state to a dormant state to make a radio resource free;

carrying out connection processing answering said new connection request through the use of the free radio resource to control packet data communication with said subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request into an active state; and

placing aid subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request into said active state and then immediately shifting said subscriber terminal to said dormant state when the radio resource secured in advance is absent.

27. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that, after the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal issuing said new connection request is controlled into said active state, forcibly shifting the packet data communication to a dormant state and returning the packet data communication with said subscriber terminal, forcibly shifted to said dormant state so that said radio resource is made free, to an active state.

28. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that, upon receipt of said new connection request, said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of a predetermined condition.

29. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that, upon receipt of said new connection request, said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of a predetermined condition.

30. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, an elapsed time period after said subscriber terminal is placed into said active state.

31. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a management number of said subscriber terminal placed into said active state.

32. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, the number of times of state transition of said subscriber terminal to an active state and a dormant state within a constant period of time.

33. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a packet data communication rate while said subscriber terminal is in an active state.

34. The resource allocating method in a station side apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said subscriber terminal to be forcibly shifted to said dormant state is determined on the basis of, as said predetermined condition, a period of time taken from which said subscriber terminal becomes an active state until said subscriber terminal shifts to a dormant state.

35. A mobile communication system including a radio base station for making a connection through a radio channel with respect to a subscriber terminal and a logical connection unit for making a logical connection with respect to said subscriber terminal through the use of said connection, and having a function to release the radio channel connection on one subscriber terminal while maintaining said logical connection with said subscriber terminal in accordance with a situation of a communication using said logical connection with said subscriber terminal,

characterized by comprising control means for, when a connection request occurs from a subscriber terminal, even if a free radio channel runs short, permitting the radio channel connection through the use of a radio resource secured in advance on the condition that said subscriber terminal is at least once exposed to the release,

wherein said control means once places said subscriber terminal issuing said connection request into said active state and then immediately shifts said subscriber terminal to said dormant state when the free radio channel runs short.

36. A mobile communication system including a radio base station for making a connection through a radio channel with respect to a subscriber terminal and a logical connection unit for making a logical connection with respect to said subscriber terminal through the use of said connection, and having a function to release the radio channel connection on one subscriber terminal while maintaining said logical connection with said subscriber terminal in accordance with a situation of a communication using said logical connection with said subscriber terminal,

characterized by comprising control means for, when a connection request occurs from one subscriber terminal, if a radio resource secured in advance is absent, making another subscriber terminal exposed to the release and allocating a radio channel, made free by the release on said another subscriber terminal, to said one subscriber terminal on the condition that said one subscriber terminal is at least once exposed to the release and for, after the release on said one subscriber terminal, allocating a free radio channel to said another subscriber terminal,

wherein said control means once places said subscriber terminal issuing said connection request into said active state and then immediately shifts said subscriber terminal to said dormant state when the radio resource secured in advance is absent.