Radio communication system, communication apparatus, method for controlling simultaneous transmission from multiple base stations, and non-transitory computer readable medium

• US 8,885,545 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Aminaka, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Phuc
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US13/636,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20130010702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

A first GW function block (6) transmits packet data to a first base station (1). A second GW function block (7) is able to communicate with the first base station (1), a second base station (2), and the first GW function block (6). A control function block (5) signals information related to a communication path configuration to transfer the packet data. Setup of a communication path, to transmit the packet data to the base station (1) from the GW function block (6) through the GW function block (7), is performed based on first packet data communication information signaled by the control function block (5). Setup of a communication path, to transmit the packet data to the base station (2) from the GW function block (7), is performed based on at least one of the first packet data communication information, second packet data communication information signaled by the control function block (5) to the base station (1), and third packet data communication information signaled by the control function block (5) to the GW function block (7).

Claims

1. A radio communication system comprising:

first and second base stations being capable of wirelessly transmitting packet data addressed to a mobile station;

a first gateway unit configured to transmit the packet data to the first base station;

a second gateway unit configured to communicate with the first base station, the second base station, and the first gateway unit; and

a control unit configured to signal information related to a communication path configuration to transfer the packet data, wherein

setup of a first communication path, to transmit the packet data to the first base station from the first gateway unit through the second gateway unit, is performed based on first packet data communication information signaled by the control unit, and

setup of a second communication path, to transmit the packet data to the second base station from the second gateway unit, is performed based on at least one of the first packet data communication information, second packet data communication information signaled by the control unit to the first base station, and third packet data communication information signaled by the control unit to the second gateway unit.

2. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the first base station is configured to set up the first communication path to receive the packet data from the first gateway unit through the second gateway unit based on the second packet data communication information, and

the second base station is configured to set up the second communication path to receive the packet data from the second gateway unit based on fourth packet data communication information signaled by the second gateway unit or the control unit.

3. The radio communication system according to claim 2, wherein

the second packet data communication information includes configuration information related to a first radio bearer to transmit the packet data to the mobile station from the first base station, and

the fourth packet data communication information includes configuration information related to a second radio bearer to transmit the packet data to the mobile station from the second base station.

4. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein the second gateway unit receives the second packet data communication information from the control unit and sets up the second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station based on the second packet data communication information.

5. The radio communication system according to claim 2,

wherein the second gateway unit generates the fourth packet data communication information using at least one of the first and second packet data communication information.

6. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein

the second gateway unit receives the third packet data communication information from the control unit and sets up the second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station based on the third packet data communication information.

7. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first base station transmits, to the second base station, transmission information including information about at least one of a radio transmission timing of the packet data and a radio resource used in the radio transmission of the packet data.

8. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein at least one base station of the first and second base stations wirelessly transmits the packet data when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

9. The radio communication system according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined condition is related to a load of the at least one base station.

10. The radio communication system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one base station wirelessly transmits the packet data when the load of the radio resource of the at least one base station is lower than a predetermined value.

11. The radio communication system according to claim 8, wherein

the at least one base station is the second base station, and

the predetermined condition is related to a timing when the packet data reaches the second base station.

12. The radio communication system according to claim 11, wherein

the transmission information indicates both the radio transmission timing of the packet data and the radio resource used for the radio transmission of the packet data, and

when the second base station has not received the packet data by a predetermined period prior to the radio communication timing notified in the transmission information, the second base station stops using the radio resource, used by the first base station for the transmission of the packet data, at the radio transmission timing notified in the transmission information.

13. The radio communication system according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined condition is related to an instruction from the control unit or the first base station.

14. The radio communication system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one base station stops the radio transmission of the packet data when the at least one base station receives a transmission stop notification of the packet data from the control apparatus or the first base station.

15. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit or the second gateway unit is configured to notify the mobile station of radio connection information necessary to connect to the second base station.

16. The radio communication system according to claim 15, wherein the radio connection information is notified to the mobile station through a downlink control channel between the first base station and the mobile station.

17. The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein the packet data transmitted to the first base station by the second gateway unit includes the same content as the packet data transmitted to the second base station by the second gateway unit.

18. A communication apparatus capable of communicating with first and second base stations that are capable of wirelessly transmitting packet data addressed to a mobile station, a gateway apparatus that transmits the packet data to the first base station, and a control apparatus that signals information related to a communication path configuration to transfer the packet data, the communication apparatus comprising:

a control unit configured to set up a second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station from the communication apparatus based on at least one of the first to third packet data control information; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit the packet data transmitted from the gateway apparatus to the first and second base stations, wherein

the first packet data communication information is related to a configuration of a first communication path to transmit the packet data to the first base station from the gateway apparatus through the communication apparatus and is signaled by the control apparatus,

the second packet data communication information is related to a communication path configuration of a second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station from the communication apparatus and is signaled by the control apparatus to the first base station, and

the third packet data communication information is signaled by the control apparatus to the communication apparatus.

19. The communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the control unit receives the second packet data communication information from the control apparatus and sets up the second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station based on the second packet data communication information.

20. The communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the control unit generates fourth packet data communication information, related to a configuration of the second communication path to receive the packet data from the communication apparatus by the second base station, using at least one of the first and second packet data communication information and transmits the fourth packet data communication information to the second base station.

21. The communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the control unit receives the third packet data communication information from the control apparatus and sets up the second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station based on the third packet data communication information.

22. A method for controlling simultaneous transmission from multiple base stations performed by a communication apparatus, the communication apparatus being disposed communicatively with first and second base stations capable of wirelessly transmitting packet data addressed to a mobile station, a gateway apparatus that transmits the packet data to the first base station, and a control apparatus that signals information related to a communication path configuration to transfer the packet data, the method comprising:

setting up a second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station from the communication apparatus based on at least one of first to third packet data control information; and

transmitting the packet data transmitted from the gateway apparatus to the first and second base stations, wherein

the first packet data communication information is related to a configuration of a first communication path to transmit the packet data to the first base station from the gateway apparatus through the communication apparatus and is signaled by the control apparatus,

the second packet data communication information is related to a configuration of the second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station from the communication apparatus and is signaled by the control apparatus to the first base station, and

the third packet data communication information is signaled by the control apparatus to the communication apparatus.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising receiving the second packet data communication information from the control apparatus,

wherein the setting up the second communication path includes setting up the second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station from the communication apparatus based on the second packet data communication information.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

generating fourth packet data communication information, related to a configuration of the second communication path to receive the packet data from the communication apparatus by the second base station, using at least one of the first and second packet data communication information; and

transmitting the fourth packet data communication information to the second base station.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising receiving the third packet data communication information from the control apparatus,

wherein the setting up the second communication path includes setting up the second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station from the communication apparatus based on the third packet data communication information.

26. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method, performed by a communication apparatus, for controlling simultaneous transmission from multiple base stations, the communication apparatus being disposed communicatively with first and second base stations capable of wirelessly transmitting packet data addressed to a mobile station, a gateway apparatus that transmits the packet data to the first base station, and a control apparatus that signals information related to a communication path configuration to transfer the packet data, the method comprising:

setting up a second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station from the communication apparatus based on at least one of first to third packet data control information; and

transmitting the packet data transmitted from the gateway apparatus to the first and second base stations, wherein

the first packet data communication information is related to a configuration of a first communication path to transmit the packet data to the first base station from the gateway apparatus through the communication apparatus and is signaled by the control apparatus,

the second packet data communication information is related to a configuration of the second communication path to transmit the packet data to the second base station from the communication apparatus and is signaled by the control apparatus to the first base station, and

the third packet data communication information is signaled by the control apparatus to the communication apparatus.