Apparatus and method for transmitting wireless LAN information in mobile communication network for wireless LAN interworking

• US 7,706,841 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeong, Kyeong-In, Lee, Kook-Heui
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro; Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ajayi; Joel
• Application Number:
  US11/202,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20060034236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/436, 455/439, 455/448, 455/444
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for transmitting wireless local area network (WLAN) information in a mobile communication network for WLAN-interworking. The method includes the steps of setting a WLAN threshold value, which is used for determining if a WLAN area is present in a cell, and a measurement period in system information, broadcasting the system information in the cell, and transmitting a common pilot channel, which indicates that the WLAN area is present in the cell, in a predetermined direction with predetermined transmission power to cover the WLAN area by using beam forming.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting wireless local area network (WLAN) information in a mobile communication network for WLAN-interworking, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a WLAN area present in a cell has both a radius characteristic and a directional characteristic relative to a base station (node B) provided in the cell;

establishing a WLAN threshold value for determining if the WLAN area is present in the cell, and a measurement period in system information, the WLAN threshold value allowing a terminal to determine if the result of a common pilot channel measurement is sufficient, if the WLAN area has both the radius characteristic and the directional characteristic;

broadcasting the system information in the cell; and

transmitting the common pilot channel, which indicates that the WLAN area is present at the terminal in the cell, in a predetermined direction with predetermined transmission power to cover the WLAN area by using beam forming.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system information comprises:

code information of the common pilot channel though which a WLAN scanning indication is transmitted and a measurement period of the common pilot channel.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system information comprises:

detailed information of the WLAN area comprising frequency information and an identifier of the WLAN area and a system identifier.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of:

transmitting detailed information of the WLAN area comprising frequency information and an identifier of the WLAN area and a system identifier in a predetermined direction with predetermined transmission power to cover the WLAN area by using beam forming.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the system information comprises:

code information of a channel for carrying the detailed information of the WLAN area.

6. A method for receiving wireless local area network (WLAN) information in a mobile communication network for WLAN-interworking, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a WLAN area present in a cell has both a radius characteristic and a directional characteristic relative to a base station (node B) provided in the cell;

receiving system information broadcasted in a cell and determining whether the system information includes a WLAN threshold value for determining if the WLAN area is present in the cell, as well as code information and a measurement period of a second common pilot channel, the WLAN threshold value allowing a terminal to determine if the result of a common pilot channel measurement is sufficient, if the WLAN area has both the radius characteristic and the direction characteristic;

measuring a first common pilot channel and determining whether a measurement result of the first common pilot channel exceeds the WLAN threshold value if the system information includes the WLAN threshold value only;

measuring the second common pilot channel and determining whether a measurement result of the second common pilot channel exceeds the WLAN threshold value if the system information includes all of the code information and the measurement period of the second pilot channel and the WLAN threshold value; and

initiating a WLAN scan if the measurement result of the first common pilot channel or the second common pilot channel exceeds the WLAN threshold value.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the system information includes a WLAN scan indication, which indicates that the WLAN area is present in the cell, and

initiating the WLAN scan if the system information includes the WLAN scan indication.

8. A system for transceiving wireless local area network (WLAN) information in a mobile communication network for WLAN-interworking, the system comprising:

determining whether a WLAN area present in a cell has both a radius characteristic and a directional characteristic relative to a base station (node B) provided in the cell;

a radio network controller for establishing a WLAN threshold value which is used for determining if the WLAN area is present in the cell, in system information, the WLAN threshold value allowing a terminal to determine if the result of a common pilot channel measurement is sufficient, if the WLAN area has both the radius characteristic and the directional characteristic;

broadcasting the system information in the cell, and transmitting the common pilot channel, which indicates that the WLAN area is present at the terminal in the cell, in a predetermined direction with predetermined transmission power to cover the WLAN area by using beam forming; and

a terminal for receiving the system information, determining whether the system information comprises the WLAN threshold value as well as code information and a measurement period of a second common pilot channel, measuring a first common pilot channel for distinguishing the cell, if the system information comprises the WLAN threshold value only, determining whether a measurement result of the first common pilot channel exceeds the WLAN threshold value, and initiating a WLAN scan if the measurement result of the first common pilot channel exceeds the WLAN threshold value.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the terminal determines whether the system information comprises:

a WLAN scan indication, which indicates that the WLAN area is present in the cell, and initiates the WLAN scan if the system information includes the WLAN scan indication.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system information comprises:

code information of the common pilot channel through which a WLAN scanning indication is transmitted and a measurement period of the common pilot channel.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system information comprises detailed information of the WLAN area including frequency information and an identifier of the WLAN area and a system identifier.

12. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the radio network controller transmits detailed information of the WLAN area including frequency information and an identifier of the WLAN area and a system identifier in a predetermined direction with predetermined transmission power to cover the WLAN area by using beam forming.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the system information further comprises:

code information of a channel carrying the detailed information of the WLAN area.