Mobile communication method, radio access apparatus, and gateway apparatus

• US 8,442,534 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2009
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Hapsari, Wuri Andarmawanti, Ishii, Minami, Suzuki, Keisuke, TOOYAMA, Hiroto, Morihiro, Yoshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US13/142,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20110269495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/424, 4554321-4323, 455/435.2, 455436-444, 455/101, 455/517, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps of: when a gateway apparatus (S-GW) is switched from a first state where downlink data is transmitted to a first radio access apparatus to a second state where the downlink data is transmitted to a second radio access apparatus, transferring, from the first radio access apparatus to the second radio access apparatus, the downlink data which is received from the gateway apparatus and to which specific information is added; and transmitting, from the second radio access apparatus to a mobile station (UE), transfer downlink data which is transferred from the first radio access apparatus and to which the specific information is added, before new downlink data transmitted from the gateway apparatus (S-GW).

Claims

1. A mobile communication method in which a mobile station receives downlink data from one of a first radio access apparatus within a first radio access network and a second radio access apparatus within a second radio access network, the method comprising the steps of:

when a gateway apparatus is switched from a first state where the downlink data is transmitted to the first radio access apparatus to a second state where the downlink data is transmitted to the second radio access apparatus,

transferring, from the first radio access apparatus to the second radio access apparatus, the downlink data received from the gateway apparatus;

transmitting, from the gateway apparatus to the first radio access apparatus, a specific message indicating that the last downlink data is transmitted, after the gateway apparatus has transmitted the last downlink data;

transmitting, from the first radio access apparatus to the second radio access apparatus, the specific message, after the first radio access apparatus has transmitted the last downlink data;

transmitting, from the second radio access apparatus to the mobile station, transfer downlink data transferred from the first radio access apparatus, before new downlink data transmitted from the gateway apparatus; and

transmitting, from the second radio access apparatus to the mobile station, the new downlink data, after the second radio access apparatus has received the specific message.

2. A radio access apparatus that can operate as a second radio access apparatus in a mobile communication system in which a mobile station receives downlink data from one of a first radio access apparatus within a first radio access network and the second radio access apparatus within a second radio access network, the apparatus comprising:

a first reception unit configured to directly receive downlink data, from a gateway apparatus that connects the second radio access apparatus to the first radio access network and the second radio access network;

a second reception unit configured to receive downlink data that is transmitted from the gateway apparatus to the first radio access apparatus and then transferred from the first radio access apparatus to the second reception unit; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the mobile station, the downlink data received by the first reception unit and the second reception unit;

wherein

when the gateway apparatus is switched from a first state where the downlink data is transmitted to the first radio access apparatus to a second state where the downlink data is transmitted to the second radio access apparatus;

the transmission unit is configured to transmit, to the mobile station, the downlink data received by the second reception unit before the downlink data received by the first reception unit; and

the transmission unit is configured to transmit, to the mobile station, the downlink data received by the first reception unit, after the second reception unit receives a specific message indicating that last downlink data is transferred in the first radio access apparatus.

3. A radio access apparatus that can operate as a first radio access apparatus in a mobile communication system in which a mobile station receives downlink data from one of the first radio access apparatus within a first radio access network and a second radio access apparatus within a second radio access network, the apparatus comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive downlink data, from a gateway apparatus that connects the second radio access apparatus to the first radio access network and the second radio access network; and

a transfer unit configured to transfer, to the second radio access apparatus, the downlink data received by the reception unit;

wherein

when the gateway apparatus is switched from a first state where the downlink data is transmitted to the first radio access apparatus to a second state where the downlink data is transmitted to the second radio access apparatus, and when the reception unit receives a specific message indicating that last downlink data is transmitted from the gateway apparatus, the transfer unit is configured to transfer the specific message to the second radio access apparatus after transferring the last downlink data.