Wireless communication in multi-RAT system
First Claim
1. A multi-RAT (radio access technologies) wireless communication system, comprising:
- a terminal;
a first base station wirelessly communicating with the terminal via a first RAT; and
a second base station wirelessly communicating with the terminal via a second RAT;
the first and second RATs each having a Packet Data Control Protocol (PDCP) or equivalent layer as an upper protocol layer, and a Radio Link Control (RLC) or equivalent layer and a Media Access Control (MAC) or equivalent layer as lower protocol layers associated with the upper protocol layer;
the first and second base stations maintaining entities at each of a plurality of the protocol layers for configuring one or more radio bearers for wireless communication with the terminal; and
wherein the one or more radio bearers are carried by both the first and second RATs, a radio bearer being configured in the first and second base stations with a same entity at the PDCP or equivalent layer for the first and second RATs, and with different entities at one of the Radio Link Control (RLC) or equivalent, and the Media Access Control (MAC) or equivalent, protocol layers for the first and second RATs.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A scheme for the co-ordination of multiple base stations of different RATs (radio access technologies), such as a LTE eNB, UMTS base station, and WiFi access point with the assistance of the terminals in order to achieve efficient radio resource scheduling for multi-RAT multi-flow aggregation in the downlink. At the network side, multi-RAT flows (RB11) share the same PDCP Entity, (PDCP Entity) while each has independent RLC/MAC (RAT1 RLC Entity, RAT2 RLC Entity). The terminal (UE1) performs necessary measurements on all involved RATs, depending on the requirements of different RATs, and sends measurement reports/indication to all involved base stations. Based on the measurement report as well as pre-defined rules/policy, a decision is made on which RAT should be used for next DL transmission or next period of DL transmission.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A multi-RAT (radio access technologies) wireless communication system, comprising:
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a terminal; a first base station wirelessly communicating with the terminal via a first RAT; and a second base station wirelessly communicating with the terminal via a second RAT; the first and second RATs each having a Packet Data Control Protocol (PDCP) or equivalent layer as an upper protocol layer, and a Radio Link Control (RLC) or equivalent layer and a Media Access Control (MAC) or equivalent layer as lower protocol layers associated with the upper protocol layer; the first and second base stations maintaining entities at each of a plurality of the protocol layers for configuring one or more radio bearers for wireless communication with the terminal; and wherein the one or more radio bearers are carried by both the first and second RATs, a radio bearer being configured in the first and second base stations with a same entity at the PDCP or equivalent layer for the first and second RATs, and with different entities at one of the Radio Link Control (RLC) or equivalent, and the Media Access Control (MAC) or equivalent, protocol layers for the first and second RATs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a wireless communication system comprising:
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a first base station wirelessly communicating with a terminal via a first RAT (radio access technologies); and a second base station wirelessly communicating with the terminal via a second RAT; providing the first and second RATs with Packet Data Control Protocol (PDCP) or equivalent layer as an upper protocol layer, and a Radio Link Control (RLC) or equivalent layer and a Media Access Control (MAC) or equivalent layer as lower protocol layers associated with the upper protocol layer; maintaining, at the first and second base stations, entities at each of a plurality of the protocol layers for configuring one or more radio bearers for wireless communication with the terminal; and carrying the one or more radio bearers by both the first and second RATs, the first and second base stations configuring a radio bearer with a same entity at the PDCP or equivalent layer for the first and second RATs, and with different entities at the RLC or equivalent layer or at the MAC or equivalent layer for the first and second RATs.
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14. Base station equipment for use in a multi-RAT (radio access technologies) wireless communication system and providing at least one of a first base station wirelessly communicating with a terminal via a first RAT and a second base station wirelessly communicating with the terminal via a second RAT, the first and second RATs each defining a PDCP or equivalent layer as an upper protocol layer, and a Radio Link Control (RLC) or equivalent layer and a Media Access Control (MAC) layer or equivalent layer as lower protocol layers associated with the upper protocol layer;
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wherein said base station equipment is arranged to maintain entities at each of a plurality of the protocol layers for configuring one or more radio bearers to be carried by both the first and second RATs for wireless communication with the terminal; and the base station equipment being arranged to maintain a single entity per terminal at the PDCP or equivalent layer for the first and second RATs, and different entities per terminal at the RLC or equivalent layer or at the MAC or equivalent layer for the first and second RATs.
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Specification