IP based cellular communication system utilizing advanced tunnels and encapsulation methods useful in conjunction therewith

• US 9,668,195 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• 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: Sherman, Itay
• Primary Examiner(s): Mesfin, Yemane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elmejjarmi, Abdelillah
• Application Number:
  US14/004,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20140071884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• 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 dynamic hierarchical cellular system implementing multi-hop encapsulation, wherein in at least one message destined for an individual base station functionality, the individual base station functionality'"'"'s header is encapsulated within an individual mobile station functionality'"'"'s header, so as to allow said message to be routed by said router to the individual base station functionality, via the individual mobile station functionality.

Claims

1. An Internet Protocol (IP)-based cellular communication system operative in conjunction with a moving relay, the system comprising:

an IP connectivity gateway coupled to a network router and to a mobility management entity; and

a router configured to;

route, to the gateway, at least one packet designated to an IP address of at least one first moving relay, wherein

the router is configured to;

(i) use a tunneling protocol other than a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) tunneling protocol, and (ii) bounce packets back and forth between itself and the gateway, to allow creation of at least one multi-level tunnel that can support multi-level relay deployment on a standard network,

the first moving relay comprises base station functionality, a radio manager and mobile station functionality, all co-located,

the base station functionality is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby defining a first radio link there between, and

said base station functionality having a physical connection to the co-located radio manager,

the mobile station functionality communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define a second radio link,

the radio manager comprises;

a radio resource manager; and

functionality for exchanging information with radio managers included in moving relays other than the first moving relay,

the radio manager is configured to use the exchanged information to select, for at least one individual mobile station which seeks to be served by establishing a standard connection, one of;

a static base station; and

a base station functionality, to which to connect the individual mobile station in order to provide cellular communication services thereto,

the system is configured to support multiple relay scenarios with dynamic topology, in which relay connections vary over time, in that at least one mobile station functionality, UE, with plural potential connections to plural nodes respectively, is provided in at least one relay, with IP level relayed information regarding various of said plural potential connections via at least one relay that said UE is currently connected to, the plural nodes including at least one of (a) base stations and (b) relay nodes'"'"' base station functionalities;

and decision making functionality is provided to;

dynamically derive from said information, a correct IP routing over multiple relays, from among multiple alternative routes available for a one to one entity connection, which will connect said UE to a given final destination via a suitable number of available relay nodes, given a current topology of said available relay nodes, and

dynamically select a relay for the UE to be served by, from among said plural potential connections, accordingly.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a mobile management entity (MME) configured to store at least (i) IP addresses of plurality stationary relays, (ii) IP addresses of mobile relays and the IP address of a linked relay that each individual mobile relay is anchored to, and (iii) IP addresses of mobile stations and the IP address of a linked relay that each individual mobile station is anchored to.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said MME comprises a single MME configured to store at least (i) IP addresses of plurality stationary relays, (ii) IP addresses of mobile relays and the IP address of a linked relay that each individual mobile relay is anchored to, and (iii) IP addresses of mobile stations and the IP address of a linked relay that each individual mobile station is anchored to.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein packets are bounced back to the IP connectivity gateway by the router.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein packets are bounced back to the gateway, which is a P/S-GW gateway, internally in the IP connectivity gateway by virtue of the IP connectivity gateway recognizing a destination IP address as its own address.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gateway is aware of all UEs and rUEs in relays'"'"' addresses.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein

said router is configured to allow for a varying number of layers of encapsulations by the gateway, and

said varying corresponds to a number of relay layers a packet needs to go through to reach said final destination, given the current topology.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the router is aware of whether a given destination address refers to a particular static base station or a UE or a rUE and responsively bounce packets back to the S/P-GW for encapsulation when the destination is found to be a connected UE or rUE.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gateway comprises a standard legacy S/P-GW.

10. A dynamic hierarchical cellular system implementing multi-hop encapsulation, the system comprising:

a core including a mobility management entity (MME) and an IP connectivity gateway interfacing therewith,

at least one static base station coupled to the mobility management entity and the IP connectivity gateway in the core,

at least one individual moving relay coupled to at least one individual static base station and including a mobile station functionality and a base station functionality; and

at least one mobile station coupled to at least one of the static base station and the moving relay, wherein

the core comprises an encapsulating router, whose routing operations encapsulate messages to and from the at least one mobile station, without resorting to use of a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) tunneling protocol,

the encapsulating router is coupled to the IP connectivity gateway, to the mobility management entity and to the individual static base station via which the individual moving relay connects to the core, and the router is;

(i) operative for re-routing, to the gateway, at least packets designated to an IP address of one of the moving relays, and (ii) configured to bounce packets back and forth between itself and the gateway, to allow creation of at least one multi-level tunnel that can support multi-level relay deployment on a standard network, wherein

the system is configured to;

implement multi-hop encapsulation, such that, for at least one message destined for an individual base station functionality, the individual base station functionality'"'"'s header is encapsulated within an individual mobile station functionality'"'"'s header, so as to allow the message to be routed by the router to the individual base station functionality, via the individual mobile station functionality,

support multiple relay scenarios with dynamic topology, in which relay connections vary over time, in that at least one mobile station functionality, UE, with plural potential connections to plural nodes respectively, is provided in at least one relay, with IP level relayed information regarding various of said plural potential connections via at least one relay that said UE is currently connected to, the plural nodes including at least one of (a) base stations and (b) relay nodes'"'"' base station functionalities; and

provide decision making functionality to;

dynamically derive from said information, a correct IP routing over multiple relays, from among multiple alternative routes available for a one to one entity connection, which will connect said UE to a given final destination via a suitable number of available relay nodes, given a current topology of said available relay nodes, and

dynamically select a relay for the UE to be served by, from among said plural potential connections, accordingly.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the router is configured to:

if an IP address of a destination in a header of a packet indicates one of a mobile station destination and a relay destination, route the packet to the IP connectivity gateway, and

if an IP address of a destination in a header of a packet indicates a static base station, route the packet to the static base station.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least one pair of IP addresses of at least one mobile station functionality and base station functionality have a common portion which is recognized by the router.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein all mobile station functionalities served by the core have IP addresses with a common portion which is recognized by the router.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the core is configured to:

assign identical IP addresses to at least one base station functionality and at least one mobile station functionality, and assign different first and second ports to the respective at least one base station functionality and at least one mobile station functionality.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least one pair of IP addresses of a base station functionality and a mobile station functionality respectively includes:

a first portion, common to both IP addresses in the pair, common to the base station functionality and the mobile station functionality, and

a second portion, which differs between the IP addresses in the pair and represents uniqueness of each of the base station functionality and the mobile station functionality, respectively.

16. The system according to claim 10, further comprising an additional router in the relay that is configured to, upon receipt of a message from a co-located base station functionality, send to the additional encapsulating router in the core the message with a header indicating that the message was sent by the additional router.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein at least one moving relay has a relay resource manager operative, when the moving relay joins a network served by the core, to instruct the additional router to store an association between the moving relay'"'"'s base station functionality and the moving relay'"'"'s co-located mobile station functionality.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein the router is operative to route information to at least one base station functionality, via at least one mobile station functionality.

19. The system according to claim 10, wherein the router cooperates with a logical table in the mobility management entity which indicates which base station serves each mobile station.

20. The system according to claim 10, wherein as each individual relay enters a network served by the core, the individual relay'"'"'s mobile station functionality is assigned an IP address which the router is pre-configured to identify as an IP address of the individual relay'"'"'s base station functionality.

21. The system according to claim 10, wherein

the core includes a core network, and

all mobile station functionalities in relays served by the core form a subnet of the core network.

22. The system according to claim 10, wherein

the core includes a core network, and

all base station functionalities in relays served by the core form a subnet of the core network.

23. The system according to claim 10, wherein the router is operative to route IP-packets arriving from a mobility management entity within the core.

24. The system according to claim 10, wherein all base station functionalities'"'"' IP addresses have a common portion which is recognized by the router.

25. The system according to claim 10, wherein

the first moving relay comprises a radio manager co-located with said base station functionality and said mobile station functionality,

the base station functionality is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link there between,

said base station functionality has a physical connection to its co-located radio manager,

the mobile station functionality communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define a second radio link,

the radio manager comprises:

a radio resource manager; and

functionality for exchanging information with radio managers included in moving relays other than said first moving relay, and

the radio resource manager is configured to use the exchanged information to select, for at least one individual mobile station seeking to be served, one of;

a static base station; and

a base station functionality, to which to connect the individual mobile station in order to provide cellular communication services thereto.

26. A method for internet protocol (IP) based cellular communication in an IP based cellular communication system comprising a plurality of base stations and a cellular communication system core connected to each of the plurality of base stations and including an IP connectivity gateway operative to receive at least one packet having an IP-address designating a node in the cellular communication system, to add thereto a header of a base station serving the node, and to forward the packet with the header to a router, the method comprising:

providing at least one moving relay having a mobile station functionality and a base station functionality which is addressed by the core using the mobile station functionality'"'"'s IP address; and

providing a router coupled to the gateway, configured to recognize packets for the individual base station as designated to a mobile station and operative for routing, packets received from the gateway, as follows;

packets whose IP address is any one of the plurality of base stations, are routed to the base stations; and

at least one packet designated to an IP address of a mobile station is routed back to the gateway, wherein

the router is;

(i) operative to receive the packets from an IP connectivity gateway at a cellular communication system core which is connected to each of the plurality of base stations, and (ii) bounce packets back and forth between itself and the gateway, to allow creation of at least one multi-level tunnel that can support multi-level relay deployment on a standard network,

at least one of the packets includes;

an IP-address designating a node in the cellular communication system, and

a header, added by the gateway and recognized by the router, of a base station serving the node,

the method is configured to support multiple relay scenarios with dynamic topology, in which relay connections vary over time, in that at least one mobile station functionality, UE, with plural potential connections to plural nodes respectively, is provided in at least one relay, with IP level relayed information regarding various of said plural potential connections via at least one relay that said UE is currently connected to, the plural nodes including at least one of (a) base stations and (b) relay nodes'"'"' base station functionalities, and

decision making functionality is provided to;

dynamically derive from said information, a correct IP routing over multiple relays, from among multiple alternative routes available for a one to one entity connection, which will connect said UE to a given final destination via a suitable number of available relay nodes, given a current topology of said available relay nodes, and

dynamically select a relay for the UE to be served by, from among said plural potential connections, accordingly.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

when the core receives an individual packet having an IP-address designating a mobile station served by a peripheral base station located at a location which enables communication with a central base station, from among the plurality of base stations connected to the core, performing the following steps;

at the gateway, adding a header of the peripheral base station and forwarding the individual packet with the header of the peripheral base station to the router;

at the router, routing the individual packet, since its outermost IP address is recognized as designated to a mobile station, back to the gateway;

at the gateway, adding a header of the central base station and forwarding the individual packet with the header of the central base station to the router;

at the router, routing the individual packet, since its outermost IP address is one of the plurality of base stations, to the central base station;

at the central base station, routing the individual packet, since its outermost IP address is the peripheral base station, to the peripheral base station; and

at the peripheral base station, routing the individual packet to the mobile station designated in the individual packet'"'"'s innermost IP address.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the using the Mobile station functionality'"'"'s IP address is effected by using a NAT application.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein the using the mobile station functionality'"'"'s IP address is effected by sharing one ipv6 network prefix and using a stateless address auto-configuration in the IP address allocation of the Mobile station functionality.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein

the first moving relay comprises a radio manager co-located with the base station functionality and the mobile station functionality,

the base station functionality is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link there between,

said base station functionality has a physical connection to its co-located radio manager,

the mobile station functionality communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define a second radio link,

the radio manager comprises:

a radio resource manager; and

functionality for exchanging information with radio managers included in moving relays other than said first moving relay, and

the radio resource manager is configured to use the exchanged information to select, for at least one individual mobile station seeking to be served, one of;

a static base station; and

a base station functionality, to which to connect the individual mobile station in order to provide cellular communication services thereto.