Cellular communication system utilizing upgraded moving relays and methods useful in conjunction therewith

• US 9,369,941 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ELTA Systems Limited (Government of Israel)
• Original Assignee: ELTA Systems Limited (Government of Israel)
• Inventors: Shoshan, Yaakov, Schwartz, Adi, Koifman, Gil
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh P
• Application Number:
  US14/004,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20140087736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15542 Selecting at relay station its transmit and receive resources selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02; arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path by two-dimensional division of the resources H04L5/0003, or by allocating sub-channels H04L5/003
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1555 Selecting relay station antenna mode, e.g. selecting omnidirectional -, directional beams, selecting polarizations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/005 of intercell interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0056 Inter-base station aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0018 based on latency requirement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2517 using port numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 : in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 : Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 : Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/085 : involving hierarchical organized mobility servers, e.g. hierarchical mobile IP [HMIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 : Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 : using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 : using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 : adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A moving cellular communication system comprising at least one upgraded moving relay including at least two base station functionalities and at least one mobile station functionality and a relay resource manager, all co-located, wherein each base station functionality of the upgraded moving relay is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link therebetween, and wherein each base station functionality has a connection to its relay resource manager, wherein each mobile station functionality of the upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least one second radio link, respectively, wherein the relay resource manager in each individual moving relay comprises a radio resource manager; and functionality for exchanging information with relay resource managers is included in moving relays other than the individual moving relay.

Claims

1. A method for providing moving cellular communication, the method comprising:

providing at least one upgraded moving relay including at least two base station functionalities and at least one mobile station functionality and a relay resource manager, all co-located,

wherein each base station functionality from among said at least two base station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link therebetween,

and wherein each base station functionality has a connection to its co-located relay resource manager,

wherein each mobile station functionality of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least one second radio link, respectively,

wherein providing the relay resource manager in each individual moving relay comprises;

providing a radio resource manager; and

providing functionality for exchanging information with relay resource managers included in moving relays other than said individual moving relay,

the method also comprising effecting dynamic cell setup without interrupting service to mobile stations served by said base station functionalities,

wherein said dynamic cell setup is effected by initiating a first hand-over between a first of the two base station functionalities to a second thereof;

effecting the dynamic cell setup on the first base station functionality, then initiating a second hand-over between the second of the two base station functionalities to the first thereof and effecting the dynamic cell setup on the second base station functionality,

and wherein said first and second base station functionalities operate at first and second output powers respectively and wherein initiating the first hand-over comprises increasing a current level of the second output power of the second base station functionality and substantially simultaneously reducing the first output power of the first base station functionality to a reduced first output power level far enough below the second output power of the second base station functionality, to trigger hand-over from the first base station functionality to the second base station functionality.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one mobile station functionality includes at least two mobile station functionalities co-located with said base station functionalities and relay resource manager,

wherein each mobile station functionality from among said at least two mobile station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least two second radio links, respectively.

3. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a bandwidth to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is wider than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said using base station functionalities to provide, comprises coordinating the scheduler subsystems of said two base station functionalities to decrease interference between said two base station functionalities and to increase capacity achievable in at least one access link.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein said using base station functionalities to provide, comprises coordinating the scheduler subsystems of said two base station functionalities to decrease interference between said two base station functionalities without separating said two base station functionalities to an extent that prevents the interference, and to increase the capacity achievable in said first link, and wherein the two base station functionalities are co-located.

6. The method according to claim 3 wherein said using base station functionalities to provide, comprises separating a large bandwidth to smaller bandwidth portions, wherein each of several base stations is assigned to a different bandwidth portion, and wherein portions reused more frequently are used near a cell and portions used less frequently are used closer to the edge of the cell, thereby, in combination with dynamic cell setup, enabling changing of bands more frequently.

7. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising:

providing a first set-up, suited to a first subset of a population of mobile stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, for a first base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

providing a second set-up, which is suited to mobile stations not belonging to said first subset and which differs from the first set-up, for a second base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

using the first base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the first subset; and

using the second base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the second subset.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a cell center frequency parameter.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a cell bandwidth parameter.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a frame timing parameter.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a master information block (MIB) parameter.

12. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a data rate to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is higher than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to at least one base station parameter of each of said at least two base station functionalities.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said at least one base station parameter includes at least one of:

output power, center frequency, bandwidth, PLMN ID, MIB data, frame timing.

15. A method for providing moving cellular communication, the method comprising:

providing at least one upgraded moving relay including at least two base station functionalities and at least one mobile station functionality and a relay resource manager, all co-located,

wherein each base station functionality from among said at least two base station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link therebetween,

and wherein each base station functionality has a connection to its co-located relay resource manager,

wherein each mobile station functionality of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least one second radio link, respectively,

wherein providing the relay resource manager in each individual moving relay comprises;

providing a radio resource manager; and

providing functionality for exchanging information with relay resource managers included in moving relays other than said individual moving relay, and also comprising;

providing a first set-up, suited to a first subset of a population of mobile stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, for a first base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

providing a second set-up, which is suited to mobile stations not belonging to said first subset and which differs from the first set-up, for a second base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

using the first base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the first subset; and

using the second base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the second subset.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the first subset comprises mobile stations requiring a particularly low latency.

17. The method according to claim 15 and also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a bandwidth to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is wider than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities.

18. A method for providing moving cellular communication, the method comprising:

providing at least one upgraded moving relay including at least two base station functionalities and at least one mobile station functionality and a relay resource manager, all co-located,

wherein each base station functionality from among said at least two base station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link therebetween,

and wherein each base station functionality has a connection to its co-located relay resource manager,

wherein each mobile station functionality of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least one second radio link, respectively,

wherein providing the relay resource manager in each individual moving relay comprises;

providing a radio resource manager; and

providing functionality for exchanging information with relay resource managers included in moving relays other than said individual moving relay,

the method also comprising effecting dynamic cell setup without interrupting service to mobile stations served by said base station functionalities,

wherein said dynamic cell setup is effected by initiating a first hand-over between a first of the two base station functionalities to a second thereof;

effecting the dynamic cell setup on the first base station functionality, then initiating a second hand-over between the second of the two base station functionalities to the first thereof and effecting the dynamic cell setup on the second base station functionality,

and wherein said first and second base station functionalities operate at first and second output powers respectively and wherein initiating the first hand-over comprises reducing the first output power of the first base station functionality to a reduced first output power level far enough below the second output power of the second base station functionality, to trigger hand-over from the first base station functionality to the second base station functionality.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein initiating the second hand-over comprises reducing a current level of the second output power of the second base station functionality to a reduced second output power level far enough below a current level of the first output power of the first base station functionality, to trigger hand-over from the second base station functionality back to the first base station functionality.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein initiating the second hand-over comprises increasing a current level of the first output power of the first base station functionality and substantially simultaneously reducing a current level of the second output power of the second base station functionality to a reduced second output power level far enough below a current level of the first output power of the first base station functionality, to trigger hand-over from the second base station functionality back to the first base station functionality.

21. The method according to claim 18 wherein the at least one mobile station functionality includes at least two mobile station functionalities co-located with said base station functionalities and relay resource manager,

wherein each mobile station functionality from among said at least two mobile station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least two second radio links, respectively.

22. The method according to claim 18 and also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a bandwidth to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is wider than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities.

23. The method according to claim 18 and also comprising:

providing a first set-up, suited to a first subset of a population of mobile stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, for a first base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

providing a second set-up, which is suited to mobile stations not belonging to said first subset and which differs from the first set-up, for a second base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

using the first base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the first subset; and

using the second base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the second subset.

24. The method according to claim 18 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a cell center frequency parameter.

25. The method according to claim 18 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a cell bandwidth parameter.

26. The method according to claim 18 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a frame timing parameter.

27. The method according to claim 18 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a master information block (MIB) parameter.

28. A method according to claim 18 wherein said first and second base station functionalities operate at first and second output powers respectively and wherein initiating the first hand-over comprises reducing the first output power of the first base station functionality to a reduced first output power level far enough below the second output power of the second base station functionality, to trigger hand-over from the first base station functionality to the second base station functionality.

29. A method according to claim 18 and also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a data rate to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is higher than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities.

30. A method according to claim 18 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to at least one base station parameter of each of said at least two base station functionalities.

31. A method for providing moving cellular communication, the method comprising:

providing at least one upgraded moving relay including at least two base station functionalities and at least one mobile station functionality and a relay resource manager, all co-located,

wherein each base station functionality from among said at least two base station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link therebetween,

and wherein each base station functionality has a connection to its co-located relay resource manager,

wherein each mobile station functionality of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least one second radio link, respectively,

wherein providing the relay resource manager in each individual moving relay comprises;

providing a radio resource manager; and

providing functionality for exchanging information with relay resource managers included in moving relays other than said individual moving relay,

the method also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a bandwidth to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is wider than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities,

wherein said using base station functionalities to provide, comprises coordinating the scheduler subsystems of said two base station functionalities to decrease interference between said two base station functionalities without separating said two base station functionalities to an extent that prevents the interference, and to increase the capacity achievable in said first link, and wherein the two base station functionalities are co-located.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the at least one mobile station functionality includes at least two mobile station functionalities co-located with said base station functionalities and relay resource manager,

wherein each mobile station functionality from among said at least two mobile station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least two second radio links, respectively.

33. The method according to claim 31 and also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a bandwidth to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is wider than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities.

34. The method according to claim 31 and also comprising:

providing a first set-up, suited to a first subset of a population of mobile stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, for a first base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

providing a second set-up, which is suited to mobile stations not belonging to said first subset and which differs from the first set-up, for a second base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

using the first base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the first subset; and

using the second base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the second subset.

35. The method according to claim 31 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a cell center frequency parameter.

36. The method according to claim 31 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a cell bandwidth parameter.

37. The method according to claim 31 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a frame timing parameter.

38. The method according to claim 31 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a master information block (MIB) parameter.

39. A method according to claim 31 wherein said first and second base station functionalities operate at first and second output powers respectively and wherein initiating the first hand-over comprises reducing the first output power of the first base station functionality to a reduced first output power level far enough below the second output power of the second base station functionality, to trigger hand-over from the first base station functionality to the second base station functionality.

40. A method according to claim 31 and also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a data rate to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is higher than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities.

41. A method according to claim 31 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to at least one base station parameter of each of said at least two base station functionalities.

42. A method for providing moving cellular communication, the method comprising:

providing at least one upgraded moving relay including at least two base station functionalities and at least one mobile station functionality and a relay resource manager, all co-located,

wherein each base station functionality from among said at least two base station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link therebetween,

and wherein each base station functionality has a connection to its co-located relay resource manager,

wherein each mobile station functionality of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least one second radio link, respectively,

wherein providing the relay resource manager in each individual moving relay comprises;

providing a radio resource manager; and

providing functionality for exchanging information with relay resource managers included in moving relays other than said individual moving relay,

the method also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a bandwidth to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is wider than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities,

wherein said using base station functionalities to provide, comprises separating a large bandwidth to smaller bandwidth portions, wherein each of several base stations is assigned to a different bandwidth portion, and wherein portions reused more frequently are used near a cell and portions used less frequently are used closer to the edge of the cell, thereby, in combination with dynamic cell setup, enabling changing of bands more frequently.

43. The method according to claim 42 wherein the at least one mobile station functionality includes at least two mobile station functionalities co-located with said base station functionalities and relay resource manager,

wherein each mobile station functionality from among said at least two mobile station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least two second radio links, respectively.

44. The method according to claim 42 and also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a bandwidth to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is wider than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities.

45. The method according to claim 42 and also comprising:

providing a first set-up, suited to a first subset of a population of mobile stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, for a first base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

providing a second set-up, which is suited to mobile stations not belonging to said first subset and which differs from the first set-up, for a second base station functionality of said at least two base station functionalities;

using the first base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the first subset; and

using the second base station functionality to serve mobile stations in the second subset.

46. The method according to claim 42 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a cell center frequency parameter.

47. The method according to claim 42 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a cell bandwidth parameter.

48. The method according to claim 42 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a frame timing parameter.

49. The method according to claim 42 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to a master information block (MIB) parameter.

50. A method according to claim 42 wherein said first and second base station functionalities operate at first and second output powers respectively and wherein initiating the first hand-over comprises reducing the first output power of the first base station functionality to a reduced first output power level far enough below the second output power of the second base station functionality, to trigger hand-over from the first base station functionality to the second base station functionality.

51. A method according to claim 42 and also comprising using said at least two base station functionalities to provide a data rate to a set of mobile base stations served by said at least two base station functionalities, that is higher than would be possible if the set of mobile base stations were to be served by only one of said at least two base station functionalities.

52. A method according to claim 42 wherein said dynamic cell setup comprises providing a new value to at least one base station parameter of each of said at least two base station functionalities.