JP2017216733A - Radio communication system for distributing system information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distribute system information in an improved energy efficient manner.SOLUTION: A radio access network includes: an SA-cell (microcell, pico-cell, or femtocell) with which a terminal in an execution mode has established data connection and an LA-cell (macro-cell) which a terminal in a standby mode camps on. When a terminal is in the standby mode and an LA-cell radio interface of the terminal is enabled, the terminal receives at least a first part of system information on the LA-cell and at least a first part of system information on the SA-cell from the LA-cell via the LA-cell radio interface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  In general, the invention relates to the field of wireless communications. More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of distributing system information from cells to terminals.

  The cell phone radio access communication network (system) is called, for example, a radio base station, and GSM (registered trademark), WCDMA (registered trademark) consisting of Node B (UMTS), LTE consisting of improved Node B or eNB, Typically, it is also known to include a plurality of base stations. A base station, also known formally as a UE (User Equipment), includes at least transceiver equipment that supports wireless communication with standardized (probably mobile) terminals. The range that can be covered by the transmitter / receiver in the base station is limited. The area serviceable by the base station transmitter / receiver is referred to as its “cover area” or “cell”. As used herein, the term “cell” refers to both the base station itself and its associated coverage area. In general, a cell relates to a specific sector that radiates from the base station location (eg, 120 degrees), and multiple sectors (cells) may cover the entire area surrounding the base station location, or A high specific sector (for example, a section of a highway covering a narrow sector) may be covered.

  Cells (base stations) in a cellular network are typically connected to the rest of the network via one or more trunk lines, which are, for example, optical fiber, copper wire or radio. The base station has processing capabilities such as wireless transmission / reception and protocol designation between the base station and the terminal, between the base station and a network including another base station (cell), for example.

  In cellular networks, different cells may have different sizes, eg, shown as macrocells, microcells, picocells, or femtocells in descending order of cell size. A cell can show partial overlap with nearby cells, and smaller cells (eg, picocells) can overlap completely larger cells (eg, macrocells). A plurality of cells may thus form a cellular network provided adjacent to a continuous range within a very large area.

In a cellular radio network, it is common to distinguish terminals depending on whether they are in “standby mode” or “execution mode”. In the execution mode, the terminal can exchange data via the cell in which the terminal is located (e.g., receiving / sending email and making a phone call). This requires resources in the network (eg, frequency and / or signal and / or time zone) and requires a terminal and network to supply power for the purpose. Since the terminal in the standby mode cannot exchange data, it does not need the above resources and consumes less power. The terminal in standby mode periodically listens to the signal communicated by the cell and selects the signal that the terminal receives strongly, for example, the cell that becomes the “best cell”. The terminal in standby mode also monitors the computer paging channel transmitted by the cell selected for the paging message addressing the terminal. A cell in which such a (standby mode) terminal is selected is called camp-on. For example, due to the mobility of the terminal, if another cell is identified as the best cell, the terminal can reselect the “best cell” and the newly selected cell of camp-on as another cell. It should be noted that if a terminal in standby mode does not successfully reselect another cell as the best cell, the terminal will not inform the cell and / or network about the cell selected for camp on. . When reselecting a terminal to a cell that has been found to be another location area (LA or RA-routing area), the terminal can determine from the system information of the cell that the contact via the network (Including the exchange of signaling or network control messages between the terminal and the cell), select a new cell for performing the LA or RA update procedure, and then perform the monitoring operation as described above Resume. Therefore, the LA / RA network normally set by the network operator is informed that it is in a standby state from a terminal arranged on the LA / RA including a plurality of cells. As a result, the network does not recognize that the standby mode terminal has camped on the cell, and it only recognizes that the LA / RA standby mode terminal has been deployed (scheduled).

  In a cellular network for wireless communication, each cell, wireless base station, Node B, or improved Node B, when operating in data communication, sends so-called “system information” for reception by terminals in the coverage area of the cell. Data communication is common. In FIG. 1, in which this is schematically shown, the cell 1 is a terminal indicating that the system information is in data communication with the system information 9 within the cover area in the cell (illustrated as a lightly shaded area in FIG. 1). 2 may be received, or the cell 1 may be connected to the network 3.

  The system information transmitted by the cell may relate to a wide variety of information related to operation on the cell or network. Some examples of system information and possible uses of that information by terminal. If the person skilled in the art receives the terminal itself and sets the system information, the system information includes other system information as well as one or more of these examples. It will be understood that it is good.

  In one example, the system information may be, for example, a public land mobile network (PLMN), a cell to which it belongs, possibly a terminal capable of receiving system information to determine whether it can be used in all of the cells, etc. May include a display of the network. In another example, the system information may include an indication of the state of the cell, for example, whether the cell is in operation or whether any restrictions apply, eg, access class. Such information allows the terminal to determine whether it can currently use the cell. Further, the system information may include a cell (cell ID) identification indication that allows the terminal to determine the identity of a group of cells in the network. In still other embodiments, the system information includes, for example, frequency or frequency band or code or cell operating time, information about channel settings provided by the cell, and accurate settings for receiving the various channels of the cell. Or, for example, frequency, channel, and code may include an indication of the configuration of the cell, such as a RACH (Random Access Channel) parameter that allows the terminal to initially connect with the cell. . Further, the system information may be information on neighboring cells such as, for example, transmitting identity and / or frequency and / or neighboring cell list including, for example, identification symbol, transmission frequency, code, operation time of neighboring cells. May be included. The network is, for example, GSM® (GERAN-GPRS / EDGE radio access network), UMTS (UTRAN-UMTS terrestrial radio access network, WCDMA®-wideband code division multiple access), or LTE (E- When supporting a plurality of radio access technologies (RAT) such as UTRAN-modified UTRAN, OFDM use-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, neighboring cell information may be separately supplied for each RAT, for example. This allows and facilitates the terminal to (swiftly) search for neighboring cells, for example, to re-select potential cells or evaluate neighboring cells for handover purposes. In yet another example, the system information is applied, for example, in reselection cells and / or execution start points and / or measurements on neighboring cells and / or frequencies in other cells and / or in the network or in the cell It may include an indication about the criteria related to the RAT authorized to the network terminal about the criteria to be done.

For example, a cell generally communicates system information over a data communication channel so that all terminals within the cell coverage area can receive the cell system information. Usually, the cell periodically transmits the system information in order, and repeats the transmission of the periodic system information in a fairly continuous manner, for example, a carousel-like structure as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, cycle 4 is shown as system information blocks M, S1, S2, S3 and S4 and includes system information organized in another category. While blocks S1-S4 are trying to exemplify an additional system information block (SIB) with additional information that may only be required for some terminals, block M containing essential system information is almost or Let us exemplify the master information block (MIB) required for all terminals in the network. As shown in array 5 of transmitted system information, cycle 4 may then be repeated continuously. Several times, some blocks of system information may be replaced by other blocks, as shown in array 6 that the last occurrence of blocks S3 and S4 shown in array 6 can be replaced with new blocks of system information S5 and S6. May be replaced. Nevertheless, as shown in FIG. 2, in both arrays 5 and 6, system information is transmitted continuously.

  There is an exchange between the use of a large portion of the cell's resources (eg, high bit rate and / or wide frequency bandwidth) and the use of a smaller portion of the cell's resources for data communication of system information. Using the majority of resources, a short cycle time can be achieved, allowing the terminal to receive all of the system information with a small delay, but requires considerable resources of the cell. In contrast, using a smaller part of the resource, the terminal must accept a longer latency when receiving all or a specific part of the system information, resulting in a longer cycle time. .

  Full consideration of the current state-of-the-art technology is given to the realization of a flexible and efficient way to distribute system information. Nevertheless, in practice, data communication of this information requires part of the cell's resources and also constitutes part of the cell's transmit power and energy consumption. It should be noted that even though this is a small percentage of the cell's peak power (eg, less than 10%), this consumption is substantially continuous. In particular, the distribution of system information during a slight traffic load period may be configured to greatly exceed the percentage. Thus, it appears that the conventional network structure has room for improvement with respect to the delivery of system information in a more resource efficient manner.

  Recently, new and more energy efficient network structures are being developed. One aspect of the new structure is the use of relatively small cells. A high bit rate data connection is much more likely to be provided by a large number of small cells (eg, microcells, picocells, femtocells) than at a smaller number (eg, macrocells) of larger cells. It can be supplied efficiently. As a further aspect of the new structure, the power consumption of the cell is to provide a service that is as realistic as possible on a scale that assumes a reduction (for example, the number of execution terminals is provided, the bit rate provided to the terminal, The distance by the connection to the terminal). One approach to realizing this vision includes, for example, having a terminal that is switched off almost completely and that does not actually execute in a cell in power save mode. Another, complementary approach involves reducing or refraining from sending common data signaling in conventional networks. Especially for cells where transmission of these data signaling operates below full load, it actually causes overload.

FIG. 3, which schematically shows the new structure, assumes different types of cells. The first type of cell in this specification is referred to as “SA-cell” and, as shown in FIG. 3 as cell 7, mainly supports the wireless exchange of data with the terminal 2 in operation. Optimized for. Improvements in energy efficiency as described above focus on the SA-cell. The second type of cell in this specification is referred to as the “LA-cell” and is primarily shown in FIG. 3 as cell 8, mainly including those found in conventional networks, and others in the cellular network. Optimize functions. Therefore, it is assumed that the overload in the system is reduced due to the LA-cell.

  An LA-cell typically covers a large area, for example, comparable to that of a conventional macrocell. LA-cells often provide close proximity within a continuous coverage within the desired area to be covered, as in conventional networks. The LA-cell, like many conventional cells, may data communicate system information. In other words, the terminal in the standby state may camp on the LA-cell, and start transmission signal connection with the LA-cell, for example, in order to perform LA / RA update or leave the network. May be.

  SA-cells, for example, cover a smaller area and are typically comparable to those of conventional microcells, picocells or femtocells. Together, SA-cells may support a specific bit rate within a desired contiguous contiguous area. So far, the SA-cell transmits a signal only when it is needed. That is, normally, it may be considered to be in an off state, a power save state, or a standby mode state. The standby terminal is not camping on the SA-cell. Such networks are referred to as “Beyond Cellular Green Generation” (BCG2) networks, but this term may change in the future. Therefore, in the specification of the present application, a network having such a structure will be referred to as an “energy efficient cellular radio network”.

  Within an energy efficient cellular radio network, a terminal may handle two types of cells, one or more LA-cells and one or more SA-cells, and one or more associated LAs. -Cell system information and one or more related SA-cell system information may be required. Two problems may then occur.

  One problem is that when a standby terminal becomes active, i.e., when the standby terminal establishes a data connection, the appropriate SA-cell would normally support the establishment of the data connection. Stems from the fact that it must be selected and attributed to the process as "setting up the data connection". Some solutions for establishing a data connection may require the terminal to obtain relevant system information such as cell ID, frame time, cell bandwidth, etc. from one or more candidate SA-cells. unknown. If an appropriate SA-cell for data connection is selected, the terminal may add system information necessary for that SA-cell. If the selected SA-cell is currently off or in an energy saving mode that is part of the BCG2 concept, the SA-cell needs to be activated. Selection and operation of an appropriate SA-cell can take time. As a result, it may take some time for the SA-cell to operate sufficiently by providing the terminal with the necessary system information. Also, the concept of a high energy efficiency cellular radio network assuming dynamic cells is obtained previously for a specific SA-cell (eg, system information of SA-cell acquired and stored at the time of previous data connection setup). Using the stored SA-cell system information has a high risk that the previously acquired SA-cell system information is no longer valid. It is therefore necessary to provide the terminal with relevant and up-to-date SA-cell system information in order to be able to quickly establish a data connection with the appropriate SA-cell.

Another problem arises from the fact that when a running terminal resumes standby mode after closing all data connections, the terminal needs to camp on the LA-cell again. For this purpose, the terminal may need to obtain relevant system information such as cell ID, frame time, cell bandwidth, channel paging, etc. from one or more candidate LA-cells. While not, the terminal performs a cell search and / or cell reselection procedure. In the context of an energy efficient cellular radio network, the LA-cell structure that does not have to be dynamic, and then the SA-cell structure, has previously acquired LA-cell system information (eg, previously established and acquired data connection). Using LA-cell system information) takes the risk that previously obtained and stored LA-cell system information is no longer valid. This is because, for example, the LA-cell system information has been changed to an average time, or an example where the LA-cell system information is no longer relevant, eg, for another LA-cell that has no previously acquired and stored information. This may be the case because it has moved to the cover area. In order to acquire related and latest LA-cell system information, the terminal can perform the cell search procedure again in the same manner as the cell search procedure at power-on. In this way, it may take time until the terminal again finds an LA-cell suitable for camp-on and can monitor the paging channel of the LA-cell. As a result, when the terminal resumes the standby mode after the execution mode, the terminal immediately prompts the appropriate LA-cell (the same or different from the cell that is one of the LA-cells that have previously established the data connection and camped on) There is also a need to provide the terminal with the latest relevant LA-cell system information in order to recamp on.

  As indicated above, what is needed in the art is a method and system for distributing traditional network system information in a more energy efficient manner. In addition, what is needed in the art, methods and systems for distributing LA-cell system information and SA-cell system information within an energy efficient cellular radio network, such as a BCG2 network, is that The problem described above can be solved. And preferably, it imposes communication resource efficiency, energy efficiency, and hardware and computer resource restriction requirements on the terminal.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a radio access comprising at least an SA-cell configured with a terminal in an execution mode to establish a data connection and an LA-cell configured to camp on in a standby mode. A method for a terminal to acquire at least LA-cell system information and SA-cell system information in a communication network system is disclosed. In the method, when the terminal is in the execution mode and the SA-cell communication interface is enabled, the terminal displays the first system information of the SA-cell and the first system information of the LA-cell. A method for receiving from an SA-cell via a communication interface is included.

  This solution is similar to LA-cell system information that is considered at least part of the LA-cell, and the SA-cell transmits SA-cell system information that is probably associated with the terminal within the SA-cell coverage area. Based on the idea that it may be used to. In another form, the SA-cell may be configured to use one or more dedicated channels with an execution terminal for transmitting at least part of the system information to individual terminals. The SA-cell may be configured to use a data communication / common channel to transmit all system information about the terminal.

The method of an embodiment may further include a terminal configuring one or more settings based at least in part on the received SA-cell system information and / or LA-cell system information. Additionally or alternatively, the terminal may store at least a portion of the received SA-cell system information and / or LA-cell system information for future use. In a further embodiment, a stand-by terminal that wants to remain in stand-by mode just applies what it receives, whereas SA-cell system information is stored for later use, Probably it seems to store only LA-cell system information to configure settings. A terminal will only try to receive when it is about to enter execution mode, and will probably try to store SA-cell system information that configures the settings for the particular SA-cell of the connected and / or connected terminal.

  The expressions “transmission information by cell to terminal”, “information to terminal” and variations thereof used in this specification are described as system information intended for the terminal in order to be a useful terminal, for example. doing. For example, some system information may be primarily intended for a terminal in standby mode, primarily intended for a terminal in execution mode, or regardless of its mode. In this regard, it does not matter whether the system information transmitted by the cell is actually received and / or actually used by the terminal. For example, to receive system information, a cell transmits its system information via a data communication channel that is valid for all terminals within the coverage area of the cell. In reality, however, only some of these terminals are interested in the system information being transmitted, while others are not. Also, perhaps not all but perhaps only some terminals interested in the transmitted system information actually receive it and others (eg, transmission errors, terminal performing other tasks) Missed), and others easily ignore transmissions, perhaps deliberately, for example because they have previously acquired the transmitted system information.

  In the context of an embodiment of the invention, the expressions “LA-cell” and “SA-cell” are used to distinguish two different types of cells.

  The first type of cell refers to a LA-cell (large area cell) that can cover a larger area with a smaller bit rate compared to the second type of cell. The LA-cell is primarily intended to carry signaling messages from terminal to terminal, for example at least be able to call the terminal. Further, a terminal in standby mode may be used to “camp on” at least one of these LA-cells. While the LA-cell is not primarily intended to be used for terminal-to-terminal transmission, it also eliminates other signaling, paging, or user data transmission over the LA-cell. Not done. Within the intended coverage area of the radio access network, at least one LA-cell is fully operational, in other words it can be used with the LA-cell “always on”.

  The second type of cell refers to a cell that can cover a smaller area with a higher bit rate compared to SA-cell (small area cell), LA-cell. The SA-cell is primarily intended for transmission of user data from a terminal that has established a data connection to the terminal (i.e., the SA-cell mainly handles connection with a running terminal). . However, it also does not exclude the transmission of some other information and / or some signals over the SA-cell. Within the intended coverage area of the radio access network, at least one SA-cell may be used to provide coverage area. SA-cells are only fully operational when in the required range. In other words, it is in an “always off” state.

  According to various embodiments of the present invention, SA-cells may occur in any combination of frequency band and / or radio access technology (RAT). With other sizes of SA-cells (eg, with or without a hierarchical structure, eg, macro, micro, pico and femto SA-cells), larger SA-cells may be provided on high mobile terminals. It's good and not something to exclude

As used herein, the expression “data connection between a terminal and an SA-cell” means a wireless communication path for user data exchange between the terminal and the SA-cell. The communication path related to user data including the section between the terminal and the SA-cell is normally set according to the parameter setting,
For example, it depends on the type of user data that needs to be exchanged (eg, sent / received mail, voice or video call, etc.). Parameter settings commonly referred to in the art as “QoS parameters” or “QoS profiles” include, for example, maximum bit rate, guaranteed (minimum) bit rate, bit error rate, delay / latency, etc. Parameters may be included.

  In contrast, the exchange of signaling messages between the terminal and the LA-cell does not include user data and is exchanged within the communication system, for example, between the terminal and various entities. Signal messages may be exchanged via a “signal connection” without establishing a data connection or with a reasonable bit rate and with sufficient quality signal information that arrives with little loss. In the signal connection at the time of use, the independent parameter in the “data connection” occupies most and may be associated with this.

  Furthermore, the terms “user data” and “user terminal” do not necessarily require human intervention, and in embodiments of the present invention, for example, email checking without human intervention on a smartphone, machine-to-machine It is understood that this may apply for (M2M) communication and / or machine type communication (MTC). The term “user data” is used simply to distinguish between actual data exchanged over a data connection and exchange via signals.

  As described herein, the terminal may be in either “execution mode” or “standby mode”. As used herein, the expression “terminal in standby mode” refers to a terminal from an LA-cell that camps on an LA-cell, even if the terminal does not exchange or exchange user data. Refers to a terminal that enables paging monitoring for. In other words, the expression “terminal in standby mode” is used to describe a terminal that does not support wireless exchange of user data between the terminal and the SA-cell. In contrast, the expression “terminal in execution mode” refers to a terminal that can exchange user data or exchange user data via at least one SA-cell. In other words, the running terminal can support or can support the wireless exchange of user data between the terminal and the SA-cell. These concepts of standby mode and execution mode may be comparable to a standardized traditional network-like concept, but do not necessarily exactly match the standardized definition.

  In one embodiment, the method is configured such that when the terminal is in an execution mode and the terminal's SA-cell radio interface is enabled, the terminal can communicate with the SA-cell radio interface via at least the SA-cell radio interface. Receiving a portion of the system information related to the system information and / or part of the SA-cell system information related to one or more SA-cells in the wireless communication network. Such an embodiment conveniently provides the terminal with system information regarding neighboring SA-cells. In one embodiment, with respect to system information via other SA-cells than the SA-cell itself with which the terminal has established a data connection, the terminal may supply information related to the SA-cell to which the terminal is data-connected to the terminal. it can. That is, this embodiment can obtain system information about other SA-cells, especially without the terminal having a data connection with those cells, and one or more of those SA-cells It is an energy efficient network because it is in a non-executable state. For the embodiment, each of the other SA-cells may provide system information to the terminal independently, or the terminal receives system information from another SA-cell via its SA-cell radio interface. May be.

The method of the embodiment further comprises that if the terminal is in standby mode and the terminal's LA-cell radio interface is enabled, the terminal receives at least a portion of the LA-cell second system information. Contains. The SA-cell supports transmission of SA-cell system information, as well as LA-cell system information for at least some of the LA-cells associated with terminals in the SA-cell coverage area, in order to support idle terminals. Although it may be used, transmission by LA-cell may still be necessary. In a further embodiment, the method further comprises, if the terminal is in standby mode and the terminal's LA-cell radio interface is enabled, the terminal at least for part of the SA-cell second system information. Receiving from the LA-cell via the LA-cell radio interface.

  In an embodiment, the method further includes: if the terminal is in a running mode and the terminal's SA-cell radio interface is enabled, the terminal is at least one or more other LAs in the wireless communication network. Receiving part of the LA-cell system information about the cell from the SA-cell via the SA-cell radio interface. Thus, the terminal in the execution mode may acquire not only the system information related to the previously-camped LA-cell but also the system information related to other LA-cells.

In an embodiment, the method further disables the SA-cell radio interface when the LA-cell radio interface is enabled and disables the LA-cell radio interface when the SA-cell radio interface is enabled. Includes making.

  In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an SA-cell for use in the methods described herein is disclosed. The SA-cell obtains at least first system information of the LA-cell from the LA-cell and / or from a network management unit in the wireless communication network, and at least the first system information of the LA-cell. For transmitting at least a part of the first system information of the SA-cell. In an embodiment, the SA-cell obtains system information about other SA-cells or other LA-cells that can be obtained directly from other cells and / or from the network management part of the radio access communication network; It may be configured to transmit.

  In an embodiment, a portion of the first system information of the LA-cell and / or a portion of the first system information of the SA-cell includes the first period proximate to the second period, the LA-cell system information, and The period during which a part of the SA-cell system information is not transmitted may be repeatedly transmitted. Further, in an embodiment, the second period may be at least as long as the first period.

  In an embodiment, at least part of the first system information of the LA-cell and / or at least part of the first system information of the SA-cell is a terminal, an LA-cell, and a node of a wireless communication network, or It may be transmitted to the SA-cell that has received the trigger from the network management unit. In a further embodiment, at least part of the first system information of the LA-cell and / or at least part of the first system information of the SA-cell is transmitted according to reception of the trigger after expiration of a predetermined delay period. May be.

Also, due to the above-mentioned solution, the SA-cell is likely to have a plurality of LA-cells similar to the transmission of system information about at least one LA-cell and at least system information about itself. You can expect to send system information about It may also be possible for an SA-cell to transmit some other SA-cell system information, eg, for all neighbors to that SA-cell. In such a case, it may be expected that much of the system information is the same for multiple SA-cells, or at least for the fraction of SA-cell groups. This situation where an SA-cell may be configured to transmit system information to a terminal in such a way that parts of the same system information do not overlap between different cells is a very efficient way of transmission. Of course, the information still needs to be transmitted in such a way that the terminal can identify the system information about the cell, but the person skilled in the art ensures that various methods can be easily conceived and Support everything in range.

  In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an example use of the LA-cell is disclosed herein. The LA-cell is configured to provide at least a portion of the first system information of the LA-cell to one of the plurality of SA-cells in the wireless communication network for transmission to the terminal. .

  In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a terminal, a portion of a computer program (perhaps distributed) for performing various functions, a data transmission for a portion of such software, and a telecommunications system are disclosed. Has been. As described herein, a telecommunications system may include two or more terminals, an LA-cell, and an SA-cell.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail. It is understood that these embodiments are not to be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

It is the schematic of system information distribution in the conventional network. It is the schematic of continuous transmission of the system information by a prior art. 1 is a schematic diagram of SA-cells and LA-cells in an energy efficient cellular radio access communication network. FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of intermittent periodic transmission of system information according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a triggered transmission of system information according to various embodiments of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system with high energy efficiency according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a coverage area of a plurality of SA-cells in an LA-cell and a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an LA-cell radio communication interface of a terminal that is alternatively enabled in an SA-cell radio communication interface and a time multiplexed mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of SA-cell and LA-cell providing SA-cell system information and LA-cell system information to a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there are four steps for obtaining system information for one or more SA-cells and for obtaining system information for system information for one or more LA-cells. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an LA-cell that provides both LA cell system information and SA-cell system information to a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an LA-cell providing both LA-cell system information and SA-cell system information to a terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an SA-cell providing both SA-cell system information and LA-cell system information to a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. as well as, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an SA-cell providing both SA-cell system information and LA-cell system information to a terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Examples # 1-4 provide various methods and systems for distributing the following system information. While Example 1 will be described with reference to a conventional network as shown in FIG. 1, Example # 2-4 is specifically adapted for split distribution of system information within an energy efficient network It is described as being. However, those skilled in the art will be aware of system information by SA-cells and LA-cells in an energy efficient network as provided in Example # 1 regarding the delivery of system information by cells in a conventional network. The techniques that are applicable to the delivery of will be understood.

Example # 1: Distribution of System Information According to Various Embodiments of the Invention Example # 1 seeks to focus on the possibility of improving the efficiency (including energy efficiency) of distributing system information primarily by cells. Yes. As mentioned above, Example # 1 can be described with reference to a conventional network as shown in FIG. 1, but several cells can be applied to deliver system information, eg It can be applied to SA-cells and / or LA-cells in efficient networks as well as conventional cells such as transmitting base stations, Node Bs or improved Node Bs.

  Example # 1 provides five different ways to improve the energy efficiency of split distribution of system information by cell. The first method transmits system information at every divided time rather than continuously transmitting as usual as in the prior art, and can still send any system information at every divided time. (Or not transmitting sufficient system information). The second method is based on transmitting system information when a trigger is indicated by a specific event. The third method is based on transmitting system information with reduced power from the point of the loss of the transmission path, the outer edge of the cell coverage area, rather than transmitting at normal full power that reliably reaches far away. . The fourth method is based on transmitting only reduced and fragmented system information rather than using it for regular periodic transmission of the system information part. The fifth method uses the normal transmission channel to send system information to all terminals that may possibly be in the coverage area of the cell, rather than to a specific terminal via a dedicated channel. Based on sending information. These five different methods are described in more detail.

1. Transmission of periodic system information (for every divided time only) The first way to achieve a more efficient energy distribution of system information is periodically, ie only during divided times, For example, a cell such as cell 1 shown in FIG. For example, a cell may be configured to transmit a system information signal for 100 milliseconds (MS), which corresponds to 1/10, following 900 milliseconds that do not transmit any system information. To that end, the cell may include at least a transmitter and / or a controller to prepare a signal for transmission. The cell may further include a memory for storing a computer program related to the controller, or a transmitter configured to process data in the same manner as the CPU processes data and the program operates on the program.

  The duration of transmission of the system information signal may correspond to a full cycle of cell system information or a specific portion of system information. FIG. 4 shows a period between a duration t1 and a duration t2 adjacent to t1 in which the system information 10b is not transmitted in the full cycle of the system information 10a of the cell including the transmission blocks M, S1, S2, S3, and S4. , Schematically shows that a signal 10 is transmitted. The cell then transmits a repetitive signal 10, thus repeating the system information block M corresponding to 10a repeatedly during the duration t1 and the duration t2 adjacent to t1 where system information 10b is not transmitted. Sending S1-S4 is indicated by signal 11. If blocks S5 and S6 are present instead of system information blocks S3 and S4, some of the system information may be replaced by other parts, as shown in signal 12.

  The duration of transmission of the system information signal may be shortened to correspond to, for example, only a part of the system information (or system information part) cycle. As signal 13 in FIG. 4 shows, transmission of a full cycle of system information or a portion of system information may be distributed over multiple periods of transmitting and not transmitting system information signals to the terminal. The time increment may need to obtain full system information (or part of system information) compared to the case of a substantially continuous transmission of system information.

  The duration of transmission of the system information signal may be longer than the entire cycle of the system information or a part of the system information. For example, this may be a period corresponding to twice the period of the system information or part of the system information. In another example, this is in addition to the duration corresponding to a single cell, full cycle system information, or part of system information, e.g., repeatedly transmitted information in system information or part of system information. It is desirable to transmit more reliably for the case of allowing the extension to be considered more important than other information or to be estimated to be more urgent. It fails to receive the system information element, or the terminal detects or suspicious detection, i.e. within the same period when the wrong system information element is received and the system information is transmitted, Or the system information is transmitted by a method capable of reconfirming the system information element repeatedly.

  In this method of changing the cycle efficiency (ie, the ratio between “on” and “on” and “off” time for transmitting system information or a part signal of system information) In contrast to the conventional approach of substantially 100%, it is observed that the emission power of the transmitted signal is reduced at approximately the same split time. In one embodiment, the maximum cycle efficiency of periodic system information, or part of the system information signal, is the same continuously emitted when emitted by the cell, for example, 1/2 or 1/8. Compared with the signal, there is a possibility that the result of power saving is 2 times and 8 times, respectively. Another cycle efficiency may be applied to the transmission of another system information part, for example, because the terminal needs an emergency (estimated or expected) that requires information.

The following example may be this explanation. In current systems, when a terminal is powered on, the terminal initiates a cell search procedure to search for an appropriate cell to camp on. As part of such a procedure, the terminal identifies one or more candidate cells, and then, for example, the network (public land communication network) determines the cell ID for the cell and / or the operational status of the cell (eg, It may be necessary to determine for a particular candidate cell, such as whether the terminal access is currently prohibited and / or whether there is a possibility of overloading. As is common in prior art systems, the continuous or very frequent transmission of system information may be tailored to the needs of such terminals. However, such transmission is not energy efficient if there is a terminal that has not been powered on and / or does not perform a cell search procedure on a specific cell within a specific period. According to an embodiment of the present invention, energy efficiency is improved by transmitting a system information part intended for a terminal that performs a cell search procedure only once every second, for example, every divided time. . A terminal that wants to receive a portion of specific system information may actually need to wait for a while before it can receive it. In this example, in the worst case, the latency would be 1 second, but on average, the latency would be 1/2 second. Because of latency considerations, the upper limit of this transmission has an upper bound on time rather than during successive transmissions of the system information portion that does not exceed the upper bound of the latency or withstands unexpected latency. is there. For example, when the waiting time for a part of specific system information is allowed rather than the case of a part of other system information, the upper limit transmission is different for a part of other system information. May be. The upper limit transmission of a part of system information including the handover parameter of a cell is, for example, that a terminal performing handover to a new cell hardly needs information on the handover parameter of the cell immediately. Thus, the terminal that initiates contact with the cell selected via the RACH is motivated to require the RACH parameter before the handover can be performed, and the RACH (random access channel) parameter of the cell. A higher selection may be made.

  In the embodiment, the continuous transmission of a part of the system information or the upper limit period therebetween may be changed with the passage of time. For example, during the peak time of 0.25 seconds (s) when people switch their cell phones to power saving in the morning, the system information of the terminal normally used to perform the power-on procedure It may be selected for some upper limit transmissions. If most terminals can be expected to turn on during the day, a high value such as 1 second may be selected. During the night, a higher value such as 5 seconds may continue to be selected. At this time, even a high value exceeding that which the terminal can withstand normally can be considered acceptable from the viewpoint of achieving energy saving.

  In particular, when periodic transmissions of system information parts are performed, for example every second it synchronizes with those transmissions of certain system information parts so that transmissions with neighboring cells do not overlap It is preferable. For example, assuming transmission of a portion of system information, cell A is 1.0, 2.0, 3.0,. . . , The system information is transmitted in equal seconds, and neighbor cell B is 1.1, 2.1, 3.1,. . . , The system information is transmitted in equal seconds, and the neighboring cell C is 1.4, 2.4, 3.4,. . . The system information may be transmitted in equal seconds, and is considered to take less than 100 milliseconds. By doing so, the terminal can perform a cell search procedure almost simultaneously with a plurality of candidate cells (such as cells A, B, C) without requiring an average or maximum waiting time separately for each candidate cell. Can be executed. For example, in the above-mentioned plurality of figures, a part of the system information of up to 10 cells that can be received in a time frame of about 1 second is not transmitted with the transmission time of a part of the system information being “shifted little by little”. In the worst case, it can take as long as 10 seconds (ie 10 times the worst case delay of 1 second) or on average 5 seconds (ie 10 times the average delay of 0.5 seconds) There is. Specifically, cells set up in the same public cellular network or in a cooperating public cellular network can be expected to benefit from that approach.

2. In the case where a terminal transmitting system information triggered by an event of several events, multiple events, or a combination is powered up to obtain system information of a specific cell, network, the cell is usually a terminal Does not recognize the need for In other cases, the network and / or cell may recognize and / or predict, or expect the terminal need and / or recognize the terminal need for specific system information portions. May be. Thus, in various embodiments, the trigger for transmitting a portion of the system information may include an implicit or explicit trigger.

Implicit trigger to send some system information
For example, if a terminal establishes a data connection via a cell (a normal cell in which the terminal is camped on), a network, and a specific cell involved in the data connection, the terminal You may expect that you may need a department. For example, the terminal is a standard for making measurements with other cells, and (for example, the terminal is called an “event” in the context of a mobile station, and the event predetermines the signal level of the serving cell. Report below the threshold and / or the signal level of the neighboring cell exceeds the signal level of the serving cell by a predetermined tolerance that is either positive or negative of a predetermined tolerance) There are cases where the parameters specified by the criteria are required. In that case, for example, after setting up a short data connection via the cell, the cell may send part of this system information. Doing so will result in significant energy savings compared to the normal case of continuing to transmit some of this system information repeatedly.

  In a further aspect, the cell is in a short time when the first trigger is received (eg, setting up a data connection through the cell) and some of the relevant system information (ie possibly required by the terminal) A delay between the transmission of part of the system information may be applied, for example 10 seconds. Within the delay period, other terminals that have established a data connection via the same cell (each of which may be interpreted as a trigger) also reduce the cell from transmitting the same information multiple times in this way, Part of the same system information can be received.

  Preferably, the delay value should generally not exceed a predetermined threshold that corresponds to a maximum latency that is considered acceptable to the terminal, eg 15 seconds. Thus, when a plurality of terminals establish data connection settings within a delay period, it is sufficient to notify these terminals of a single transmission of the system information portion.

  Those skilled in the art will be aware of other triggers related to some part of system information (eg, setting up one or more additional data connections), such as can be expected within a delay time such as during peak hours. As long as you will recognize it is beneficial. However, if the trigger (eg, data connection setup) rate is low, eg, less than or equal to the delay time per data connection setup, the delay is preferably set to a small value or zero.

  As described in more detail below, the delayed transmission of the triggered system information portion may be combined with the option of low power transmission. Next, the reduced power setting must match at the farthest distance from the point of view of the terminals in the terminal group that have completed the setup of the data loss within the path loss, specific delay period.

  As another example, a cell is configured with a plurality of RACH channels, and a general RACH channel (that is, all cells in a network configured with a predetermined RACH channel, or at least a plurality of cells in an area). A cell is configured for one or a plurality of RACH channels. A terminal that has not (yet) received the RACH channel configuration for a particular cell may then indicate its initial request via the cell's general RACH channel. The request may be processed by the cell or discarded depending on the system configuration and cell load. A cell that has received a RACH request specific to the RACH channel may consider such an event as a trigger for transmitting a system information portion related to the setting of the RACH channel, or from a terminal that has transmitted the request. May be transmitted on a RACH channel configured per cell as in subsequent requests. This not only applies to the specific terminal that sent the request, but other terminals in the cell that have not (yet) issued such a request sent as a result of this specific terminal's RACH request. A part of the RACH configuration system information of the cell may be received.

  Note that in this case, there may be no significant benefit from applying the delay as described above, and there may be no significant benefit from applying the power saving option. Substantially full power and RACH configured delay-free transmission can then be used to monitor multiple terminals on the system information channel of the cell in a single transmission. Applying the power saving option may depend on the estimated or predicted number of terminals in that coverage area, for example, not applying the power saving option at peak hours, but applying the power saving option at off-peak hours. .

Explicit Trigger for Transmitting Part of System Information According to one embodiment of the present invention, a terminal that finds itself a need for some specific system information is directed toward the cell An information part request may be issued. Such a requirement may be designed for a special purpose if it is not found in a conventional network. Such a request may be implemented, for example, to be similar to a RACH request. In a further embodiment, the request for the system information part will allow the terminal to conveniently specify which part of the system information, or in some cases, which part of the system information the terminal requests. Let's go. In response to receiving such an explicit request, which is received by the requesting terminal, possibly also by other terminals, and the additional terminal monitors the cell's system information channel, the cell receives the requested system information part. It may be configured to transmit.

  In an embodiment, the cell may also interpret the explicit request as an implicit further request and send additional system information portions not specified in the explicit request. This may be an example if the cell expects such additional system information parts that are normally and / or subsequently required, eg, based on experience. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous when the explicit system information part request does not allow more than one system information part to be requested.

  Note that in this case, there may be no benefit from applying the delay as described above, and there may be no benefit from applying the power saving option. The transmission of part or multiple parts of the requested system information of substantially full power without delay is then provided by the system information channel of the cell for single transmission and monitoring of multiple terminals. May be. Applying the power saving option, for example, the cell can be set to apply the power saving option during off-peak hours and not apply the power saving option during peak hours, and it is estimated or predicted for terminals in its service area. May depend on the number.

  FIG. 5 provides an exemplary diagram illustrating the concept of transmitting system information either implicitly or explicitly in response to a trigger. The cell may be configured to transmit, for example, a repetitive signal, for example, the signal 20 shown in FIG. 5, or a system including M, S1, and S2, similar to these blocks shown in FIG. The information block may follow t2 time when no system information is transmitted yet. FIG. 5 shows repeated transmission of the signal 20 with the signal 21. In addition, as described above, as an implicit or explicit trigger to transmit the system information block S3, the cell may receive a trigger and, depending on the trigger, (at least) The received block S3 may be transmitted by the requested terminal. This is due to the fact that two different triggers with signal 22 have occurred for system information S3 with "tr (S3) -1" as the first trigger and "tr (S3) -2" as the second trigger. This is schematically shown in FIG. The cell may also be configured to apply a predetermined delay time TD that is predetermined after receiving the trigger, before transmitting the requested information. This is applied after the first trigger occurs, and the signal 23 with the delay period TD is shown in FIG. 5 as “tr (S3) -1”. As shown in FIG. 5, thereafter, during the delay time TD, three other triggers of the system information block S3 are received by the cell, but the cell has already transmitted the system information block S3 when the delay period TD expires. As it is planned to do, the cell does not need to execute these triggers. FIG. 5 shows that S3 is transmitted when the delay period TD expires. Thereafter, another trigger for the system information block S3 may be received, as shown as the fifth trigger “tr (S3) -5”. Configured to apply a predetermined predetermined delay time TD before transmitting the cell again to the requested block S3 (second transmission of the requested block S3 not shown in FIG. 5) Also good.

3. The transmission power of signaling transmitted from a low-power system information transmission cell is usually determined from the viewpoint of path loss, so that the farthest terminal is the most reliable at the edge of the cell It is selected so that it can be received reliably. According to one embodiment of the present invention, in order to save energy, from a path loss point of view, the cell is designed so that the system information portion is intentionally less distant than at the farthest cell edge. In estimating the terminal (s), the cell may choose to transmit some system information, or system information portion (s), for example, at low power. The power used to transmit the system information part from a cell to a specific terminal is usually for the purpose of communicating with the terminal via a dedicated channel from the setting of the power used by the cell, usually for the dedicated channel. The channel type of the cell that controls the transmission power from sufficient reception by the terminal may be estimated. Increasing the transmission probability of the system information on the common channel of the cell to transmit part of the system information to the terminal via the common channel is a higher power setting for transmitting to the terminal via the dedicated channel You may choose to apply That is, in most cases, they can be received and obtained in a single transmission that does not require retransmission of those system information (s) or parts thereof.

  When a dedicated channel is not established between the cell and the terminal, the cell may estimate transmission power suitable for transmission of system information from the RACH request received from the terminal via the common channel. Such a RACH request may include a power instruction of the terminal that has transmitted the RACH request. The cell that measures the power that received the RACH request can then determine the path loss due to the RACH request obtained from the difference between the transmission power of the terminal and the received power of the cell. The cell takes this information and the fact that the path loss in the uplink and downlink directions is usually the same as estimating the appropriate transmit power to transmit system information to the terminal over the common channel. It may be configured to be used.

  Yet another method of estimating the appropriate transmit power for transmitting system information from the cell to the terminal may be based on the power at which the terminal received some signal from the cell. Such a measurement may be determined by the terminal, eg by cell reselection and / or handover in context. In the context of handover, such information is usually provided to the network, and the network is thus related to cells that are expected to send system information to the terminal, possibly via another cell. Some information may be provided. Otherwise, the terminal may provide measurement information directly to the cell.

  The application of power reduction is determined by the farthest distance in terms of terminal path loss between these multiple terminals when a cell simultaneously transmits system information or part thereof to those multiple terminals. May be.

4). System information or partial transmission of system information (for example, signals only)
When a terminal is handing over from one cell to a new cell, for example, the terminal needs to notify about the neighbor list of the new cell. Normally, each cell transmits its neighbor cell list. However, transmitting the full neighbor cell list to the terminal where the old cell and the new cell perform handover includes overlapping information, and may share several neighboring cells. According to one embodiment of the present invention, instead of sending a full neighbor cell list, the cell (either the new cell or the old cell) is the only difference between the two lists, or to send a signal. Might be enough. For example, the signal transmitted by the new cell has information indicating that it is necessary to delete the old cell ID 11, ID 12,..., Or add the new cell ID 21, ID 22,. May be included. The signal lists of multiple terminals may be combined in a single transmission. For example, this refers to a cell ID not included in the neighbor cell list of the terminal, the terminal ignores the delete command, and refers to a cell ID that already exists in the neighbor cell list of the terminal, If you hand over to a new cell by ignoring another old cell, you may do so.

  The new cell is targeted to the cell in order to monitor the old cell where these handovers have taken place, to select the system information transmission strategy that the cell considers or is estimated to be the most resource efficient. The handover speed may be monitored.

  This approach can also be applied quite often to many other parameters delivered through the system, such as handover parameter settings that have the same value in many cells in the network. For example, if a handover is configured from an old cell to a new cell and at least some specific parameters are both cells (eg, handover settings) have the same value, the new cell May be refrained from sending to the system information. In other words, the difference (signal) between the old and new cells in these specific parameters (parameter values) is zero. In other cases, for example, when a handover is made from another old cell to a new cell and some specific parameters in the new cell (eg, handover settings) are different from the old cell, the new cell Such cells at least obtain the parameters associated with these new cells (for example, replace old parameter values or add new parameters with new parameter values) and apply them to You may transmit within the system information.

5. Sending system information over a dedicated channel A fifth method for improving the energy efficiency of distributing system information is to use normal transmission channels to place system information, or parts of it, within the cell coverage area. Rather than sending system information to all existing terminals, it involves sending to specific terminals only via a dedicated channel.

  This solution does not apply or may not be practical for some system information parts or all system information elements. For example, it does not apply to some of the specific system information required to request or set up a dedicated channel. In addition, usually, it may not be practical for a part of system information used for cell search or a system information element. And just for the purpose of receiving part of the system information, the additional (energy) overhead of setting up a dedicated channel (both terminal and network), instead of using a communication or common channel, By using a dedicated channel, the burden may be greater than the load achieved

  However, communication or distribution of this system information via a common channel is not available to the terminal before transmission of the system information, and multiple terminals receive system information or part of the system information. If so, it may be efficient. For example, notifying 10 terminals simultaneously with the transmission of a single system information is more efficient than notifying a single terminal. However, for such transmissions, usually a high transmission power is used to ensure that the intended terminal can be reached in terms of path loss and farthest. If a small number of terminals are receiving and obtaining transmitted information, the energy efficiency of such transmission is questionable. When a single terminal is receiving and transmitting transmitted information, that information is provided in an energy inefficient manner. If there is no receiving terminal and such transmitted information is acquired, energy is wasted.

  Also, in the trend of small cell sizes such as macro cell to micro cell, pico cell, or femto cell, it is less likely that multiple terminals communicate or receive some benefit of the same system information transmitted on a common channel. It becomes easy to become.

Thus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the cell may be configured to transmit at least some system information portions from the cell to a specific terminal via a dedicated channel. Since dedicated channels are typically power controlled, a certain amount of data transmission to a single terminal over the dedicated channel appears to be more energy efficient. Also, dedicated channels are usually from cell to terminal such that some system information parts or erroneous reception of system information elements can be corrected quickly and efficiently by retransmission requested by the terminal. The mobile station operates in both the downlink direction to the cell and the uplink direction from the terminal to the cell. In addition, using a dedicated channel that is very well suited to the terminal that triggers the cell, for example, transmits their system information, or part thereof, with explicit triggers, as described above. Depending on the request from the terminal including the use of the “Differential Only” or “Signal” option, it is actually necessary to transmit only a part of the system information or only the system information element.

In various implementations, all of the combinations of the five power saving options described above can be applied equally appropriately and as others can be more easily combined. For example, using a dedicated channel for transmission of system information to a terminal (option # 5 above) may very well be combined with the transmission of only the signal (option # 4 above) and / or Or it may be combined with the transmission of an implicit and / or explicit trigger signal (option # 2 above). Also, those used for implicit and / or explicit triggers (option # 2 above) may be used very well in combination with intermittent transmissions (option # 1 above), and in particular It may be used in combination with a selected portion of system information at a very low repetition rate (ie, t2 much greater than t1). In contrast, the use of intermittent transmission (option # 1 above) and the use of a dedicated channel for transmission of system information to the terminal (option # 5 above) may be less applicable and power saving. In combination with (option # 3 above) may already be implied in the use of a dedicated channel.

System information change or reproduction (demonstration)
A special case of distribution of system information includes specific system information portions of cell updates (ie changes). The modified system information part should receive “previous old” system information and be delivered to at least those terminals remaining in the cell coverage area. This may be most efficiently performed in communication of the system information part that has been changed at least once.

  The modification of system information may be performed most efficiently, as with conventional systems, preferably via communication or a common channel, with power settings for the farthest terminals. Notification of system information may be provided via a paging channel, such as UMTS or MIB, which then needs to be continuously monitored in the neighborhood.

  The same mechanism of system information change may be applied instead of the current normal mechanism of system information valid time at each terminal. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cell may be configured to maintain a refresh timer instead of operating the terminal for a valid time. When the cell refresh timer expires, the cell is configured to announce a refresh, for example, as well as a change in system information, and can communicate at least once the full configuration of system information and within the current coverage area. All terminals may be updated, or a part of the existing system information may be confirmed and additionally supplemented, and a part of the system information may still be stored.

Example # 2-4: Description of general system
Example # 2-4 is described in the communication system 30 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the communication system 30 of the cellular radio access communication system preferably includes at least LA-32 cells, SA-33 cells and 34. The user terminal 35 is shown in FIG. For clarity, only the most relevant elements of the communication system are shown in FIG. Other elements not shown in FIG. 6 may be present and within the scope of the present invention. Such “other elements” include, for example, additional SA cells, additional LA-cells, additional terminals, further elements of the communication system, and relays connected to each cell and / or to each other in the communication system. Similar to the line, another network node such as a management unit may be included.

  In the following, a general description of each of LA-cell 32, SA cells-33, 34 and terminal 35 is provided. A functional detailed description of each of these elements is provided in the discussion of alternative solutions following the general description.

  The LA-cell 32 is configured to camp on the terminal 35 on the LA-cell 32 and to be able to call the terminal 35 by at least a conventional method known in the art. It is. According to some embodiments of the present invention, LA-cell 32, which is also configured to receive a service request message from terminal 35 indicating a data connection, is illustrated in FIG. Need to be established with one of the SA-cells to support no wireless communication data volume (ie wireless exchange of user data). The LA-cell 32 is not primarily intended to be used for wireless communication of user data from the terminal 35 to the terminal 35, but is full, or communicated via the paging or LA-cell 32. Does not interfere with other signal transmissions, such as some user data traffic, for data connections (calls) within some duration, for example, for low bit rate (such as voice calls) traffic .

  Compared to SA-cells 33 and 34, LA-cell 32 is typically configured to cover a large geographic area with a smaller bit rate. The geographical area where the terminal in standby state selects camp-on for the LA-cell is called the LA-cell coverage area. In an appropriately sized cell, terminals in that area can normally successfully receive system information and signaling messages (eg, paging messages) from the LA-cell. This is naturally assumed to apply in the reverse direction, ie, the terminal camps on the LA-cell and sends a signaling message (eg, a service request message) to the LA-cell it is camping on. When doing so, the LA-cell can normally receive the message normally. In the intended coverage area of the wireless communication network, (FIG. 6, LA-cell 32) may assume at least one full operation or “normally on” LA-cell, and the terminal and signaling message. It may be assumed that it is possible to support the exchange of In the simplest embodiment, this may mean that the LA-cell 32 is always fully functional (“on”). In other embodiments, it means that the LA-cell 32 is not always in the “on” state, and power saving options suitable for the LA-cell may be applied to the LA-cell 32.

  The terminal 35 is not only a terminal operated by a person who is actually a user, such as a mobile phone in which a user performs a voice call or browsing the Internet, but also a smartphone or a data-centric terminal (for example, a laptop or a tablet) It can operate without any intervention (e.g. sending / receiving e-mails) and can be, for example, an MTC (machine type communication) device such as a smart electric meter, car navigation device or surveillance camera device.

The terminal 35 may be in an execution mode or a standby mode. As used herein, terminal 35 is said to be in standby mode because it does not provide support for wireless exchange of user data or traffic between terminal 35 and SA-cell 33 or 34. ing. As used herein, a terminal 35 is said to be in an execution mode if it can exchange data with at least one of the SA-cells 33,34. It should be noted that while these concepts of standby mode and execution mode may coincide with those used herein in terms of the meaning of standardized traditional network terms, they are not necessarily such standardized. It should be noted that the definition does not exactly match.

  In addition, the terminal 35 supports several forms of power saving options (ie, in power save mode or in an operating mode that consumes less power in the power saving mode than the operating mode of the terminal). Also good. While the distinction between standby mode and execution mode is based on the presence of support for wireless data exchange of user data with SA-cell, the distinction between power saving mode and operating mode is consumed by the terminal For example, the terminal may be a terminal that is in an operation mode but is still in a standby state (or a terminal in an operation mode may be in an execution mode). Similarly, a terminal in power saving mode can be in either a running or standby state depending on whether the terminal supports wireless exchange of user data with at least one of the SA-cells. However, the most common thing is that after a terminal in standby state (ie exiting power saving mode and entering operation mode) in power saving mode becomes “executed” (and operating). It will then be a situation where certain actions are performed to facilitate the establishment of a data connection with at least one SA-cell. Since handling of the embodiment of the present invention relates to a terminal accompanied by distribution of system information, the following description mainly describes distribution performed between the standby mode and the execution mode of the terminal.

  The terminal 35 in standby mode may be assumed to “camp on” at least on the LA-cell 32, which can also be realized in a conventional manner. For example, the LA-cell uses the information contained in the received signal to select or reselect a pilot signal or a beacon signal that can be received by the terminal 35, and then LA-cell to camp on. May be. In FIG. 6, the signal transmitted by the LA-cell 32 and the signal received by the terminal 35 are shown as solid arrows from the LA-cell 32 to the terminal 35. In an embodiment, terminal 35 may be able to notify the network of location / routing area changes to facilitate a paging function not shown in FIG. 6 of LA-cell 32.

  The SA-cells 33 and 34 are primarily intended to carry user data traffic from terminal 35 to terminal 35 via dedicated channels, for example via a data connection established for that purpose. . However, it is also not excluded that some other information and / or some signals are made via one or more SA-cells.

  In contrast to the LA-cell 32, each of the SA-cells 33 and 34 is typically configured to cover a smaller area at a higher bit rate. In a normal scenario deployment, there may be considerable overlap displayed in the area that can possibly be covered by neighboring SA-cells. In the intended coverage area of the wireless communication network, it may be assumed that at least one of the SA-cells 33, 34 can provide coverage. An SA-cell is fully operational only when it is in a situation where it is needed, or in other words, in a “normally off” state. The SA-cell is assumed to support at least one form of power saving, for example, a power saving mode or a standby mode. To that end, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the SA-cell is in power save mode while the SA-cell 34 is in SA-cell execution mode (shown in FIG. 6 as a black triangle). Is shown as SA-cell 33 (shown in FIG. 6 as a white triangle). As shown in FIG. 6, the signal effectively transmitted by the SA-cell 33 in the power saving mode and the signal received by the terminal 35 are indicated by the dashed arrows while the SA-cell 34 in the execution mode. And the signal received by terminal 35 are shown as solid arrows.

Each of the terminal 35, the LA-cell 32, and the SA-cell 33, 34 may include a memory unit for at least one or more communication interfaces and stored data (possibly reception beyond the communication interface) for transmission / reception information. Alternatively, the processor, communication interface, processor, and memory unit that process data and program execution may be configured to perform the functions of these units as described herein as appropriate.

  Since the energy efficient network situation is different from the conventional cellular system, the terminal has to communicate with both LA-cell and SA-cell according to various embodiments of the present invention, at least In three different configurations, it is envisaged for terminal 35 to transmit a signal received from terminal 35 to any cell of such cell type.

  The first configuration for terminal 35 is the LA-cell radio interface for communicating with LA-cell 32 (possibly another LA-cell not shown in FIG. 6) and SA-cells 33, 34 (FIG. 6). Envisage a terminal in an execution mode to support two radio interfaces at the same time, such as an SA-cell radio interface to communicate with (possibly another SA-cell, not shown in FIG. Is referred to below. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, this configuration involves a slightly more complicated configuration than a terminal via only a single radio interface. In at least some solutions, such a terminal only needs an LA-cell radio receiver, and the terminal can receive information from the LA-cell via the LA-cell radio interface, Not only does it need to have a function, but there is no need to send information to the LA-cell. In other solutions (e.g. relating to the exchange of signaling information with the LA-cell), such a terminal also requires an LA-cell radio transmitter, so that the terminal transmits information to the LA-cell. Will be able to. Since the exchange of signal information with the LA-cell requires only a low bit rate, maintaining the LA-cell radio interface may keep additional complexity, cost and energy consumption low. Terminal 35 in configuration (i) may be in an execution mode and may receive signals and / or data exchanges from LA-cell 32 at any time.

A second configuration for terminal 35 is such as an LA-cell radio interface for LA-cell (s) and an SA-cell radio interface for SA-cell (s), ie It is referred to below as “Configuration (ii)”, which assumes a terminal in execution mode that supports two radio interfaces by quickly changing the operation mode to operate in time division mode. In other words, such a terminal will enable the LA-cell radio interface at some point and the SA-cell radio interface at another moment. The terminal (35) in the configuration (ii) is in the execution mode, and when actually exchanging data with the SA-cell 34, it is assumed that the SA-cell radio interface is valid for most of the time. The It is further preferable that the data exchange with the SA-cell 34 is assumed to be interrupted for a short period of time divided into 1 second or less, such as 100 ms, so that interruption to the terminal user does not deteriorate. . The terminal in configuration (ii) may be in running mode, reconfigure the radio interface from the SA-cell radio interface to the LA-cell radio interface and then at any time, but to the SA-cell radio interface A signal may be received and / or exchanged with the LA-cell for a relatively short time (e.g., 100 milliseconds) prior to restoring the configuration. In this way, a similar simultaneous mode of operation may be achieved. In an embodiment, the operation of the terminal reconfigures the radio interface in the LA-cell and SA-cell and transmits user data to the terminal (and / or transmits system information to the terminal and possibly other terminals as well). ) That the terminal configures the radio interface with the data received from the LA-cell, the SA-cell does not transmit user data to the specific terminal (and / or this specific terminal, and possibly other terminals) The system information may be synchronized with one of the other SA-cell ranges. Such an embodiment can avoid wasting the SA-cell transmitting user data to the terminal in vain as well as wasting SA-cell resources. In addition, the occurrence of a terminal constituting the LA-cell radio interface (in addition, the SA-cell radio interface cannot be used) does not have to be very frequent, and the LA-cell radio interface is effective. The total time of the terminals that are included may include only a relatively very small amount of time divided.

  A valid third configuration for terminal 35 is described in configuration (ii), although two radio interfaces (one for LA-cell and one for SA-cell) support alternately. Assuming a terminal of execution in such an operation mode without rapid replacement (continuous), it is referred to as “configuration (iii)” below. For example, similar concurrent mode operation described in configuration (ii) may not be necessary and / or, for example, reconfiguration of the radio interface considers more than 1 second “quick” If more time is required, that means is not used because it does not support rapid configuration. It is assumed that the terminal of configuration (iii) is configured for the SA-cell while its radio interface exchanges user data with the SA-cell. This allows user data exchange to take place at the maximum possible speed without the need for short interruptions for configuration (ii). As a result, according to the configuration (iii), even when the data connection of the execution terminal is established, it may not be possible to confirm whether the data is within the same LA-cell coverage area. Even when the terminal in the execution state remains in the coverage area of the same LA-cell, the change of the system information of the LA-cell may not be noted. Accordingly, the terminal may execute the cell search procedure after completing the data exchange via the SA-cell and reconfiguring the wireless interface to the LA-cell, or acquire the LA-cell system information. There may be. Various approaches known to those skilled in the art to repair a cell search procedure and acquisition of sufficient system information, for example, in order to not miss a call such as an incoming call or ring message, to repair or May be continued at least to alleviate this problem.

  According to configurations (i), (ii) and (iii), the LA-cell radio interface and the SA-cell radio interface are divided into radio frequencies before and after or physically identical radio interfaces (for example, LA- There may be two physically separate radio interfaces sharing the cell and SA-cell operating in the same frequency band but operating on different carriers). In the latter case, the “SA-cell radio interface” and the “LA-cell radio interface” are only physically different in the “software” configuration of the radio interface. A single physical radio interface for configurations (ii) and (iii) is enabled as an LA-cell radio interface (while the SA-cell radio interface is disabled) or (LA-cell radio) Anything that is enabled as an SA-cell radio interface (while the interface is disabled) is fully capable.

As used herein, with respect to cell type (SA-cell, LA-cell), the term “enabled” refers to a cell in the context of an enabled or disabled SA-cell or LA-cell radio interface. To describe the interface from which the signal can be received and to exchange data with the cell type (which may include any type of data such as user data, signaling data, network control messages) While used to support, the term “invalid” is used to describe that the interface cannot receive signals from the cell type and cannot support exchange with the cell type. Has been. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are various ways in which an interface may be “invalid”. For example, in one extreme embodiment, a disabled wireless interface can turn off the wireless interface completely with no power from the electrical components of the interface. However, in another extreme embodiment, a wireless interface may be considered “invalid” when the interface itself is physically fully operational, but is simply not in use. There is no time required to re-enable the interface, during which time it will be minimal, or when it needs to be re-enabled, it will take a minimum delay to prepare for operation of the disabled interface, The latter embodiment will be advantageous. Whether these extreme embodiments are known to those skilled in the art or within the scope of the present invention, it is considered what radio interfaces in various other embodiments are disabled. right.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the coverage area of LA-cells and multiple SA-cells in a communication network, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The LA-cell 42, which is the LA-cell 32 shown in FIG. 6, is indicated by a dashed circle 43, as shown in FIG. 7, and may have a relatively large cover area. In FIG. 6, each of the plurality of SA-cells, which are SA-cells 33 and 34, is shown as a triangle such as a triangle 44. The SA-cell 44 may have another relatively small cover area, indicated by a dark circle such as the circle 45. Further, FIG. 7 shows a terminal 46 in standby mode and a terminal 47 in execution mode (terminal in execution mode indicated by a thick frame line). Each of the terminals 46 and 47 may be the terminal indicated by 35 in FIG. 6 or may be in one or a plurality of cover areas 45. The terminal 46 in the coverage area 43 of the LA-cell 42 is said to be camped on the LA-cell 42. The SA-cell 44 having the cover area 45 is intended to illustrate the SA-cell in dark gray in the active mode, while attempting to illustrate the SA-cell in white in the power saving mode. The data connection with 47 may be in progress. Of course, in other embodiments, the cover areas 43 and 45 are not in a circle and need not cover an omnidirectional section around the base station (cell).

  A typical example of the operation of the terminal 35 in the energy efficient network according to the embodiment of the present invention shown again in FIG. 6 may be as follows. If the terminal 35 does not need to exchange user data using a network (that is, a standby terminal), the terminal 35 often camps on a cell in a conventional network. Camp-on to LA-cell 32 in a similar manner. If the terminal 35 needs to exchange user data with the network (i.e., needs to enter execution mode), the terminal 35 in the network, such as the SA-cell 34 illustrated in FIG. Establish a data connection with For maximum energy efficiency, a suitable SA-cell may be deprecated in advance (ie, switched off or entered into an energy saving state) or started to support a data connection (ie, May need to be activated). Once the data connection is established, the terminal 35 may exchange user data (possibly also with the SA-cell 34 via the SA-cell 34 via a dedicated channel, for example). If the SA-cell has no traffic (in the case after sending the remaining connections to the SA-cell) or has a little remaining traffic, the SA-cell is the most energy efficient. 34 may stop the subsequent use (that is, it may be switched off or may enter an energy saving state). The terminal 35 that camps on the LA-cell and resumes standby mode may be the same LA-cell that camped on before establishing the data connection (ie, LA-cell 32), or When the terminal moves into the coverage area of another LA-cell, another LA-cell may be used.

Example # 2: LA-cell delivering LA-cell system information, SA-cell delivering SA-cell system information in an energy efficient network, as described in FIGS. 6 and 7 and above 35 is an execution state configured by exchanging user data with the SA-cell 34 through a data connection established between the terminal 35 and the SA-cell 34 for the purpose of, for example, a dedicated channel. Is initially assumed to be a terminal. The problem with terminal 35 that has acquired SA-cell system information including system information about at least SA-cell 34 and SA-cell 32 is that another SA-cell in network 30 that may be associated with terminal 35 and another Probably similar to the system information about LA-cell, it is addressed in Example # 2.

  In the embodiment of this example, the LA-cell 32 transmits the system information of the LA-cell, the SA-cell 34 transmits the SA-cell system information, and the terminal 35 in the configuration (ii) It is schematically illustrated in FIG. 8 that the SA-cell radio interface and the LA-cell radio interface are based on the idea of enabling alternately in the division multiplexing mode. As schematically shown in FIG. 9, a dedicated channel 52, 53, shown with double-ended arrows, is shown with SA-cell 34 transmitting its system information via a communication channel 51, shown with a gray triangle. The LA-cell and SA-cell, along with the LA-cell 32, which transmits its system information to individual terminals 35 via a communication channel 54, which is illustrated by a dotted triangle, transmits their respective system information. You may send it. When the terminal 35 is in the standby mode, the terminal 35 transmits the LA-cell system information by the LA-cell 32 in which the terminal is camp-on via the enabled LA-cell radio interface such as the terminal in the standby state. Is configured to receive. Thereafter, the SA-cell radio interface may be disabled. The terminal 35 is in the execution mode, and for most of the time, it exchanges data with the SA-cell 34 via the actually established data connection, and the SA-cell radio interface of the terminal 35 is activated, The LA-cell radio interface is disabled. Just as other signals including system information from SA-cell 34 and terminal 35 can be received, at that time terminal 35 may exchange user data with SA-cell 34, A signal including system information may be received from another SA-cell in the network 30. When the LA-cell radio interface of the execution terminal 35 is activated in the remaining smaller portion of time, the SA-cell radio interface is deactivated. At that point, the terminal 35 probably includes system information from the LA-cell 32 and from other LA-cells in the network 30 as well as supporting signaling connections via the LA-cell 32. A signal may be received. In this way, the terminal that exchanges data with the SA-cell via the SA-cell radio interface in the execution mode is configured to temporarily interrupt the exchange of user data or temporarily stop with the SA-cell. Alternatively, if an LA-cell for transmitting system information is expected by the LA-cell or terminal, such terminal may transmit LA-cell system information transmitted by one or more LA-cells. You may receive it. Such a terminal is configured to receive SA-cell system information from one or more SA-cells when the SA-cell radio interface is enabled.

  According to configuration (i) described above, the operation of two simultaneous radio interfaces configured with a terminal 35, in other words “parallel” operation, can be performed in various approaches outlined in Example # 1 and below. Can be used. The embodiment of Example # 1 can be applied to the distribution of system information received by the terminal 35 via the corresponding wireless interface and another independent wireless interface by each of the LA-cell and the SA-cell. .

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of four method steps for obtaining system information regarding system information for one or more SA-cells and one or more LA-cells. Has been. The method steps described in connection with FIG. 6 will be understood by those skilled in the art in what order the system is configured to perform within the scope of the present invention. Let's go.

  The method begins at step 61 where the terminal 35 is in execution mode and the SA-cell radio interface of the terminal 35 is enabled. Next, the terminal 35 receives at least a part of the system information of the SA-cell 34 regarding the SA-cell 34 from the SA-cell 34 via the SA-cell radio interface of the terminal (of course, the terminal 35 Data may be exchanged with the SA-cell 34). Terminal 35 may receive SA-cell system information from other SA-cells associated with terminal 35. In step 62, LA-cell system information is received via the activated LA-cell radio interface for LA-cell 32 in one or more LA time zones for reception and in step 63 for LA-cell 32. Meanwhile, the terminal 35 activates its LA-cell radio interface. The terminal 35 according to the configuration (ii) and the wireless interface that quickly alternates (almost simultaneously), for example, in a fraction of the time, such as 100 milliseconds (or less), LA- Preferably, system information for cell 32 is transmitted. The LA-cell system information is repeatedly transmitted within a predetermined time, or at least at a predetermined moment when transmission of the system information starts, for example, at a predetermined period of 100 milliseconds. -The cell preferably transmits LA-cell system information. The pattern for transmitting the LA-cell system information may be the LA-cell 32 itself or any other network part such as, for example, a network management or OAM (operation, management and maintenance) part, and / or a tuning part. It may be set by either. When an instruction is given to the terminal 35 when the transmission of LA-cell system information occurs, the executing terminal, for example, immediately before the start of the transmission and reception of the LA-cell system information is expected, The radio interface to the cell can be reconfigured and, optionally, other LA-cells such as measuring their signal strength to assess whether they are still within the coverage area of LA-cell 32 Also perform related operations. When that is done, the terminal 35 may reconfigure the SA-cell radio interface back to its original state (and may continue to exchange user data via, for example, the SA-cell 34).

Terminal 35 at optional step 64 may be configured with one or more settings based at least in part on the received SA-cell system information and / or the received LA-cell system information. Terminal 35 in an embodiment may be configured to store at least a portion of the system information portion of both the (multiple) SA-cells and (multiple) LA-cells for future use. In this regard, the SA-cell system information transmitted by the SA-cell 34 is not limited to being considered exclusively as an SA-cell 34, but it can also be used in a plurality of networks, eg, as shown in FIG. It may be noted that one or more other active or standby SA-cells may be considered, such as the SA-cell 33 adjacent to the SA-cell. The terminal 35 that receives and stores SA-cell system information relating to another SA-cell more than just the serving SA-cell 34, for example, in the case of a handover to an adjacent SA-cell, There seems to be an advantage. Then, the system information or the part most relevant to the new SA-cell can already be obtained by the terminal before performing the handover instead of the terminal after the handover. Obtaining system information about another cell “like avant-garde” performs handover, most system information, rather than facilitating handover to complete more quickly compared to the normal approach Get only after. The ability to perform a quick handover is typically due to a small cell size, such as an SA-cell, and a specific cell with a relatively short residence time, such as a highly mobile terminal, eg, an SA-cell. In particular, it comes with a premier. The acquisition of system information about another SA-cell, such as “avant-garde”, rather than just a serving SA-cell, is particularly energy efficient and the target SA-cell for handover is still waiting. In a state (eg, SA-cell 33 shown in FIG. 6), it is advantageous in a network that needs to be put into a running state again before full operation. During SA-cell re-execution, the terminal 35 may conveniently use the stored system information of that particular SA-cell to configure itself for handover. The SA-cell system information may not be completely transmitted yet. Similarly, system information transmitted by LA-cell 32 is not limited to being considered exclusively as LA-cell 32, although the above advantages apply to a smaller range of LA-cells, for example May be considered as one or more other LA-cells in the network (not shown in FIG. 9), such as neighboring LA-cells. A similar advantage of storing system information applies to a running terminal that maintains LA-cell system information updates to the data and returns to standby mode when user data exchange is complete. It is in. For example, when the terminal 35 is again in the standby state, the terminal seems to apply the stored LA-cell system information to configure its settings. In all cases, it is preferred that the terminal be able to quickly check whether the stored system information about a particular cell (SA-cell or LA-cell) is still valid. This may be achieved in a conventional manner, for example by system information version numbering. Rather, the system information communicated by such version numbering is communicated frequently. That is, for system information provided via a dedicated channel, it proposes to the cell a terminal that sends an indication of the version number of its stored system information, and the cell is still valid or up to date. If the version number indicated by the terminal is changed, the latest (ie valid) part of these system information parts is provided. There are various ways in which the network 30 may be configured and the terminal may obtain SA-cell and LA-cell system information: “very simple configuration”, “more flexible configuration” and “ The “flexible configuration” is described in detail below.

Very Simple Configuration In a very simple configuration, an SA-cell, such as SA-cell 34, is configured to transmit user data to each of the running terminals 35, eg, an LA-cell LA-cell 32 configured to transmit system information, for example, LA-cell that transmits LA-cell system information for each 100 milliseconds and user data for another 900 milliseconds. Like cell 32, the SA-cell serves only during a period that does not overlap with a predetermined LA-cell period. In other words, the predetermined period for transmission of the LA-cell system information determined in advance is that the terminal receives the system information of the LA-cell, not for receiving user data via the SA-cell, Reserved for permitting acquisition, so that SA-cell throughput for user data is reduced by 90% in this example compared to the situation where SA-cell can transmit 100% of user data. Can be achieved. The period in which the SA-cell may transmit user data is now referred to as the “first period” in this example, while the LA-cell transmits its LA-cell system information. The predetermined period in the case of being configured is described as “second period”. The first and second periods are configured so that they do not overlap, but need not be adjacent periods (ie, there may be a gap between these periods).
They may be applied as any additional tolerance, for example, to allow the completion of the radio interface for terminal reconfiguration and to allow any inaccurate timing between both cell types.

  Since there may be more SA-cells than a single LA-cell that partially overlaps the SA-cell coverage area, the SA-cell of that first period is the first of each of the associated LA-cells. It would be required to consider two periods. In order to avoid further degradation of time division, the SA-cell can utilize the first period (and achieve a further reduction in throughput) and, as long as they can be overlapped, for example, so that they occur quite simultaneously. -The cells are preferably synchronized with each other in the second period. Using the above example, the second period of every 100 milliseconds would be used fairly simultaneously by all LA-cells associated with the SA-cell.

In this very simple configuration, there are two options for how the SA-cell can transmit its system information. In the first selection, the SA-cell is in the second period (ie, the period in which no user data is transmitted), possibly during the gap between the first and second periods, not included in the first period. It may be configured to transmit SA-cell system information. In this alternative, the SA-cell system information may be transmitted at a relatively high data rate, and during these periods, the SA-cell thus does not require any transmission resources for user data. Therefore, a large amount of SA-cell system information may be transmitted in a relatively short time. In a second option, the SA-cell transmits SA-cell system information at any time, including transmission of SA-cell system information during the first period, during the second period, and / or during the gap. It may be configured to. In a further embodiment of the second option, in the second period, and possibly during the gap, the SA-cell system information transmission rate is, for example, a rate comparable to that of the first option. A relatively high rate may be set. For both options, the SA-cell is not limited to a period of time during which user data can be received from the terminal. That is, the SA-cell may be configured to receive at any time when the terminal can select whether to transmit user data to the SA-cell. If the system is configured to operate in TDD (simultaneous transmission / reception) mode, the time slot allocated for downlink transmission from the cell to the terminal (possibly a predetermined time zone) and the terminal to cell Note that it is common for there to be another time zone assigned for upstream transmission. And of course, each of the above configurations must be adapted to the TDD time zone assigned for downlink and uplink transmissions, respectively.

  The LA-cell may be configured to transmit LA-cell system information to the active terminal only during the second period (ie, neither the first period nor the gap period). Alternatively, the LA-cell is transmitted outside of the second period, eg, in a standby terminal, and / or in another format (eg, lower bit rate, simpler coding, etc.) (partial). B) may be configured to transmit system information of any LA-cell in accordance with a standby terminal that is not intended to relate to the same system information. For example, to support the exchange of some user data via a dedicated signaling connection and / or LA-cell, the exchange of data via the LA-cell is always possible (as of course in the case of TDD, as described above). Taking into account allotted time zones).

  In one embodiment, in a network where multiple LA-cells may transmit their system information, different LA-cells occur substantially simultaneously, for example, at any time within a 100 millisecond period. You may be comprised so that transmission of those system information may be synchronized. The advantage of such means has to be indistinguishable between the terminal and / or the LA-cell that may be associated with the terminal, and for 100 milliseconds, the SA-cell Only a free transmission schedule is required. The disadvantage of such means is that the terminal can receive and obtain system information only from a single LA-cell, possibly for any period of 100 milliseconds. In another embodiment, the different LA-cells may be configured to synchronize the transmission of their system information that occurs substantially over a continuous period of, for example, 100 milliseconds. In such an embodiment, the terminal has the advantage that it can receive and acquire system information from multiple (eg, two) LA-cells in a continuous 100 ms response time zone. The disadvantage of such measures is that the SA-cell throughput of user data can be further reduced, possibly due to the need for scheduling of free transmission periods of SA-cells per terminal (or at least per pair of LA-cells). That is.

A running terminal that does not need any LA-cell system information may be configured to maintain a wireless interface to the SA-cell, may transmit user data at any time, and during the first period User data, and SA-cell system information may be received in a second period (and possibly a gap period). An active terminal that wants to receive LA-cell system information may be configured to continue to transmit and / or receive user data during the first time period. Then towards the end of the first period, the terminal will reconfigure the radio interface to the LA-cell (the time gap may facilitate this), receive the LA-cell system information, Towards the end of the second period, the radio interface to the SA-cell is reconfigured with less delay (the time gap may facilitate this again). Thereafter, the terminal may resume transmission and / or reception of user data via the SA-cell during the next first period.

  As indicated above, in this configuration, particularly in the first selection of SA-cell system information and LA-cell system information, transmission of system information by the SA-cell and LA-cell allows additional SAs. The cell system information transmission is coordinated to occur substantially simultaneously in a second period that may occur during a gap between the first and second periods;

More flexible configuration In this configuration, there is no predetermined repetition order of the first period and the second period.

  The SA-cell is predetermined, designated, indicated and / or predetermined to a particular terminal that may transmit user data either continuously or while interrupting or pausing user data transmission in the downlink. Or you may transmit the user data of the suspension of the user data transmission of SA-cell previously instruct | indicated to SA-cell by the specific terminal. Therefore, if the SA-cell needs to have a period during which user data can be freely transmitted, for example, the terminal receives system information from one or more LA-cells and receives one or more LA-cells. Full control is possible for purposes of making the above signal level measurements and / or contacting one or more LA-cells (eg, with exchange of signal information). This also allows correction of unique terminals and unique opportunities during the free period of transmission of SA-cell user data. For example, the terminal of the slow reconfiguration means of the wireless interface may be another terminal of the rapid reconfiguration means of the wireless interface or the full system information within a period of, for example, 100 milliseconds than the exemplary 100 milliseconds. By receiving and obtaining the information, the expected transmission time of a part of the specific system information may be assigned, and a shorter SA-cell transmission free period may be commanded. The transmission of longer SA-cells may be commanded in a free period than the terminal that needs it.

  In a more flexible configuration, when the SA-cell interrupts user data transmission to a specific terminal in the downlink, the SA-cell may continue to transmit user data to another terminal that is not designated for interruption. .

  For the transmission of SA-cell system information by the SA-cell, all options related to the configuration described above are open without strong preference. For example, an SA-cell may be configured to transmit its SA-cell system information at a moderate bit rate, substantially continuously, as is conventional. In another example, the SA-cell may be configured to transmit SA-cell system information in a short burst and at a higher bit rate.

  The SA-cell may be configured to receive user data at any time. That is, the terminal may select whether to transmit user data to the SA-cell (in the case of TDD, of course, taking into account the allocated time zone as in the above method). Good.

The LA-cell is known to, for example, by a monitoring terminal of the LA-cell, according to a predetermined schedule (eg, periodically), preferably in short bursts, to transmit the system information of the LA-cell. Or demodulated by the monitoring terminal of the LA-cell,
It may be configured by a predetermined LA-cell or network node, like some network managers or synchronizers. In order to support the above-mentioned LA-cell alternative for “very simple configuration”, the LA-cell transmits this system information of any LA-cell outside the second period. In the options in the configuration.

  For example, to support a dedicated signaling connection and / or to support the exchange of any user data via the LA-cell, the exchange of data via the LA-cell is (of course in the case of TDD, of course, It may be executed at any time (taking into account the allocated time zone as described above).

  A terminal in an active state that does not require any LA-cell system information may maintain its radio interface configured in the SA-cell, may transmit user data at any time, System information may be received at any time (at least if SA-cell system information is transmitted). A terminal in an active state that requires LA-cell system information is an SA with a data-connected terminal when the SA-cell needs to pause (interrupt) its downlink transmission of user data to a specific terminal. -It may be configured to provide an instruction to the cell first. Finally, the terminal may, for example, follow a periodic schedule with a single break at a specified start time and end time, a single break at a specified start time and a break in duration, or multiple breaks , Etc. may be provided. Transmission of user data in the downlink of the SA-cell, where the period when suspended (suspended) does not occur at all, may occur once, or may occur repeatedly (possibly in a different period) May be compared with the second period described in “Very simple configuration” in this more flexible configuration with a difference between the defined terminal and the duration of the specific terminal. The terminal may continue to transmit and / or receive user data after providing instructions to the SA-cell until the start of the interruption. At the start or after, the terminal may reconfigure the radio interface to the LA-cell. Assuming that the time to do so is known to the terminal, it shall be considered when designating the start of interruption of user data in the downlink to the SA-cell. A terminal that has enabled the LA-cell radio interface reconfigures the radio interface back to the SA-cell rather than receiving LA-cell system information or at least the relevant part of the information towards the end of the interruption at the latest. May be. Similar to the time for reconfiguring the radio interface of the terminal in the LA-cell, the time for reconfiguring the radio interface of the terminal in the SA-cell is assumed to be known to the terminal and the SA-cell in the downlink It shall be taken into account when designating the end of user data interruption. The terminal may resume transmission and / or reception of user data from the end of the interruption.

As indicated above, this configuration does not require coordination of transmission of system information by the SA-cell and LA-cell. However, the terminal needs to monitor the LA-cell system information and cannot monitor the SA-cell system information during those times ("second period"). Missed SA-cell system information. This can occur when the SA-cell system information transmitted in a short burst matches the transmission of LA-cell system information. A terminal may also miss some of the system information of a particular SA-cell, even if repeatedly and stably transmitting SA-cell system information substantially continuously. In order to avoid this situation, SA-cells and LA-cells preferably have their respective so that the repetition rate of SA-cell system information transmission is different from the repetition rate of LA-cell system information. Will synchronize the transmission of system information. In such synchronization, a part of the SA-cell system information may be stably overlooked by the terminal repeatedly repeating the same part of the SA-cell system information, but is shifted along the SA-cell system information. Will do. This is, for example, shorter than the repetition time of the LA-cell system information, which corresponds to the transmission duration of the (possibly short) LA-cell system information for the running terminal (ie the second duration), It will be realized by selecting the repetition time of the system information of SA-cell, which is either long. An alternative solution is configured in the SA-cell to skip such second period and receive and obtain the SA-cell system information or explicitly requesting terminal, and its radio interface In order to provide the SA-cell with some designated SA-cell system information, for example via a dedicated channel used for exchanging user data, for example, again the exchange of user data It may be particularly advantageous when applying options # 2 and # 5 of example # 1 via the dedicated channel used in

  Since SA-cells may overlap at least partially with the coverage area of multiple LA-cells, in this configuration, adjacent LA-cells occur at substantially the same time. It is not necessary to synchronize their LA-cell system information transmissions. The terminal indicates the suspension of SA-cell user data transmission in the downlink corresponding to the period for transmitting the LA-cell system information of the LA-cell (that is, a specific LA-cell to monitor the terminal) and / or Or you may give an order. However, in this embodiment, transmission of synchronized LA-cell system information may still be performed. Such means may be advantageous for the terminal, since it is not necessary to specify a separate interruption period for another LA-cell.

The most flexible configuration
This configuration is a larger configuration according to the “more flexible” configuration described above, and is interrupted at the beginning and end of SA-cell user data in the downlink (ie, suspension of user data transmission in the downlink and Resume) is specified by the terminal in the execution state every moment.

  In one embodiment, the terminal may transmit a command to temporarily stop transmission of SA-cell user data in the downlink without specifying a time or with application of a command specifying a specific time in the future. Good. An SA-cell that receives a command that is relevant to the current moment, ie applied immediately or as soon as reasonably possible, may be configured to interpret the command without time designation. For example, after receiving an instruction to suspend immediately, the SA-cell may, for example, complete the current transmission block or user data frame and stop further transmission to the terminal. It may be configured. After receiving the command to resume immediately, the SA-cell may be configured to resume transmission to the terminal immediately.

  In another embodiment, the terminal may send a command to suspend transmission of SA-cell user data in the downlink at any specified time. An SA-cell that receives a pause command at a specified time may be configured to interpret the SA-cell transmission to the terminal as a command that must be stopped at a specified time at the latest. The command to resume the designated time indicates that transmission to the terminal can be resumed from the designated time even if the SA-cell is early.

  Based on the provision to the terminal with further flexibility to specify a pause and resume SA-cell transmission, the transmission time of the SA-cell at the moment, every moment downlink can be resumed immediately. The terminal executes the LA-cell operation and does not wait for the end of the transmission period of the LA-cell system information. Those skilled in the art will immediately understand how to apply the above description of the more flexible configuration to allow the start and end of SA-cell user data transmission in the downlink, and from moment to moment, Since the results are concise because they are specified on the basis, the description will not be repeated here.

Example # 3: Distribution of LA-cell system information and SA-cell system information for LA-cells in an energy efficient network In connection with the above, as illustrated in FIGS. Initially, a terminal in a standby state is assumed in which the user data is not exchanged via the SA-cells 33 and 34 and is camping on the LA-cell 32. For the purpose of exchanging user data using the SA-cell 34 via a data connection established between the terminal 35 and the SA-cell 34, the terminal 35 can execute, for example, using a dedicated channel. It may be. According to the embodiment of Example # 3, at least SA-cell system information about SA-cell 34 and LA-cells similar to system information about other SA-cells and other LA-cells in network 30. The problem of the address of the terminal 35 that obtains the SA-cell system information composed of the system information including the LA-cell system information related to 32 may be related to the terminal 35.

  In this example embodiment, the LA-cell, e.g., LA-cell 32, is similar to the SA-cell system information of any portion of at least a plurality of SA-cells, possibly for terminals within the coverage area of the LA-cell. -Based on the idea that it may be used to transmit cell system information. Example # 3 may be divided into two main embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, respectively. In the first embodiment, the LA-cell 32 uses a communication / common channel to transmit all system information of the terminal. In the second embodiment, the LA-cell 32 uses one or more dedicated signaling channels to transmit at least any system information to individual terminals. These embodiments are described in more detail below.

Communication / Common Channel Usage FIG. 11 schematically illustrates an LA-cell that provides both LA-cell system information and SA-cell system information to a terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention. . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, LA-cell 32 indicates that it transmits its system information as well as the system information of one or more SA-cells associated with terminal 35 via communication channel 71. . The standby terminal then only needs to activate the LA-cell radio interface for at least as long as the LA-cell system information communication channel continues to monitor. This enables the terminal in standby to obtain all system information about the LA-cell and possibly all related SA-cells within the coverage area of the LA-cell. The terminal in the standby state may store the acquired system information or may continue to update data. When establishing a data connection with a particular SA-cell, the standby terminal may further use the stored system information regarding the particular SA-cell. Such operation of the terminal is supported by any of the terminal configurations (i), (ii) and (iii) described above.

  As shown in FIG. 11, each active terminal exchanging user data using SA-cell 34 via dedicated data channels 72, 73, and 74 further communicates by LA-cell 32. The system information may be monitored. Terminal 35 may be configured to monitor LA-cell and SA-cell system information communicated by LA-cell 32 either periodically or in the event of receiving a trigger update. .

  The configuration of Example # 3 shown in FIG. 11 assumes a configuration of two terminals.

The use of the terminal of the above configuration (i) allows the terminal in the running state to exchange user data via the SA-cell 34, possibly to the extent necessary for continuous and / or user data exchange. -It is configured to use a cell radio interface. The terminal monitors the LA-cell system information communication by the LA-cell 32 using the communication channel 71 including the LA-cell and SA-cell system information, for example, periodically or as a trigger to do so. Is preliminarily configured to activate the LA-cell radio interface in a relatively short time. One advantage of such a configuration is that user data exchange via the SA-cell may continue without interruption. However, the terminal needs to support two radio interfaces at the same time for at least a short period of time, which brings a higher degree of complexity to the hardware.

  Use of the terminal of configuration (ii) may be configured such that the running terminal alternates between the two radio interfaces. For the longer part, the terminal has enabled the SA-cell radio interface to support user data exchange via the SA-cell 34. Next, the LA-cell radio interface is disabled. For the smaller part of the time, the terminal has only an LA-cell radio interface enabled to monitor the LA-cell system information communication channel 71, which contains LA-cell and SA-cell system information. Yes. The SA-cell radio interface is then disabled.

  In the communication channel 71 transmitted by the LA-cell 32, the SA-cell system information may be grouped for each SA-cell or group of SA-cells. For higher energy efficiency of system information delivery, LA-cells 32 are in the required range, for example, whether these SA-cells are in a running state or will be activated soon. Only may be configured to transmit SA-cell system information. However, in order to speed up the establishment of a data connection through an SA-cell that is not yet running, the LA-cell 32 can, for example, display system information for all SA-cells, including an indication regarding the running status of the SA-cell. It may be configured to transmit. In this way, both the standby mode terminal and the execution mode terminal can acquire, store, and update the system information regarding each of the LA-cell and the SA-cell only by monitoring the communication channel of the LA-cell. Can be updated. Since the system information can be made available to the terminal even before this information is needed, this approach will be performed as a procedure to establish a data connection through the running SA-cell. The procedure for establishing a data connection through a SA-cell to speed up the procedure of being handed over from one SA-cell to another.

  Furthermore, in order to extend the system information available to the terminal, the cell setting for distributing the system information related to the LA-cell 32 is, for example, outside the cell, but in the coverage area of the LA-cell 32. System information related to neighboring LA-cells and / or SA-cells in the vicinity may be further expanded.

  In order to enable a running terminal that puts the greatest attention to the exchange of user data via the SA-cell 34, a further improvement of the embodiment shown in FIG. In some cases, providing a trigger signal or trigger message to a running terminal. Such a trigger signal or signal message may be transmitted by the network via a dedicated connection to the terminal, for example, or may be communicated by one or more SA-cells in the network. The trigger may optionally be indicated in the cell or cells as related to the change. A terminal that receives such a trigger signal or message may thus be notified of any system information about the change, and it may be associated with the terminal to obtain the changed system information.

  In an embodiment, a running terminal obtains, updates, or collates system information, eg, for mobility, for handover from an old SA-cell to a new SA-cell, and from the new SA-cell. If necessary, any event may be interpreted as a trigger when the terminal executes. Providing a trigger to a running terminal may be a periodic, such as periodically monitoring the LA-cell communication channel for changes that may be particularly beneficial in a terminal of configuration (ii). There is a change from execution to a terminal in the execution state.

Although not the most energy efficient compared to the other examples, the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 allows the terminal to obtain system information for all SA-cells within the coverage area of the LA-cell, and to post this information. Provides the advantage of being able to be stored for use in. Thus, in the case of a running terminal that establishes a data connection or performs a handover from one SA-cell to another SA-cell, when the connection establishment or handover to the SA-cell is complete, The terminal can usually apply the settings related to the SA-cell more quickly compared to the situation where only the most system information about the SA-cell is obtained. That is, in this embodiment, before a terminal establishes a data connection, even if there is no neighboring execution SA-cell in the standby terminal, the SA-cell system information is transmitted to the standby terminal in advance. It also enables the delivery of

The use of a dedicated channel, or alternatively, the above-described embodiments may use a dedicated signaling approach to avoid consuming communication resources in the LA-cell 32 to communicate system information about the SA-cell. SA-cell system information and / or LA-cell system information, providing the change to the running terminal 35b via the dedicated signaling channel 82, while this is a standby terminal via the communication channel 81 Similar to the system information for one or more SA-cells for 35a, LA-cell 32 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 12 to transmit its system information.

  In this embodiment option, the data connection settings including the dedicated signal connection via LA-cell 32 in the data connection settings of LA-cell 32 may be configured to be provided via dedicated signal connection 82. When good, all relevant system information regarding the SA-cell is selected to support the connection.

  When triggered by an event, eg due to mobility, for the handover of an old SA-cell to a new SA-cell, or when the system parameter of eg SA-cell and / or LA-cell When a network, such as reconfiguration, makes changes to some system information, the dedicated signaling channel 82 via LA-cell 32 sends the changed system information to the running terminal 35b. May be used as well.

  For such an execution terminal, a configuration of two terminals is assumed.

  Using the terminal with the configuration (i) described above, the running terminal is likely to exchange user data via the SA-cell 34, possibly to the extent necessary for continuous and / or user data exchange. In addition, the SA-cell radio interface may be used. Terminal 35b, for example, periodically or when receiving a trigger to do so, supports LA-cell system information for LA-cell 32 or SA-cell 34 to support dedicated signaling connection 82 via LA-cell. In order to receive any changes (updates) that may be arbitrary SA-cell system information, it is sometimes configured to enable its LA-cell radio interface in a relatively short time. The advantage of such means is that the exchange of user data via the SA-cell 34 can continue without interruption. However, terminal 35b needs to support two wireless interfaces at the same time, at least in a short time resulting in higher hardware complexity.

When the terminal is used in the configuration (ii), the terminal in the execution state may be alternately configured between the two wireless interfaces. In order to receive any changes (updates) that may be LA-cell system information for LA-cell 32 or SA-cell system information for any SA-cell 34 for a smaller portion of time, While you may only have an activated LA-cell radio interface, for a larger part of the time, the terminal will only be able to support user data exchange via the SA-cell 34. You can have it.

  Because the dedicated signal connection is used, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12 is expected to be more energy efficient than that of FIG. Moreover, in this embodiment, you may have advantages other than the thing relevant to the energy efficiency of system information delivery. For example, consider that a mobile terminal may be handed over frequently to another SA-cell, possibly failing their handover procedure, possibly losing all contact between the network and the terminal. Yes. In handover scenarios that are prone to frequent errors, it is very attractive to have a stable and consistent signal connection through the LA-cell 32, and through a failed handover signal connection, It may be repaired quickly. And as mentioned above, it may make sense to provide the necessary SA-cell system information part to the terminal via the LA-cell signal connection. All additional savings associated with dedicated connections apply as a power control application to provide dedicated terminal connections and possibly system information related only to the relevant SA-cells. Typically, but not necessarily, the lower energy efficiency is always greater in terms of path loss between the terminal and the LA-cell than between the terminal and the SA-cell, and subsequent LA-cell signal connections. You may win by the stability and reliability.

Example # 4: SA-cell distribution of LA-cell system information and SA-cell system information in an energy efficient network
Similar to Example # 3 in this solution described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, within this specification, terminal 35 first exchanges user data via SA-cell 33, 34. In this case, a standby terminal that is camping on the LA-cell 32 is assumed. The terminal 35 may also execute, for example, because it uses a dedicated channel to achieve the purpose of exchanging user data with the SA-cell 34 via a data connection established between the terminal 35 and the SA-cell 34. It may be. In example # 4, the problem of the address of the terminal 35 that obtains system information of the SA-cell including the implementation LA-cell 32 and at least the system information about the SA-cell 34 and LA-cell 32 is probably the network 30. It may be relevant for terminal 35 as well as system information about other SA-cells and other LA-cells within.

  In this example embodiment, the SA-cell, e.g. SA-cell 34, is the system information of LA-cells associated with several LA-cells, at least for terminals in the SA-cell coverage area. As well as the idea that it may be used to transmit SA-cell system information. Example # 4 may be separated into two main embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively. In the first embodiment, the SA-cell 34 uses a communication / common channel to transmit all system information to the terminal. In the second embodiment, the SA-cell 34 uses a dedicated channel with the running terminal to transmit at least part of the system information to the individual terminals. These embodiments will now be described in more detail.

Communication / Common Channel Usage According to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an SA-cell that provides both SA-cell system information and LA-cell system information to a terminal. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the SA-cell 34 is for one or more LA-cells associated with the running terminal 35b via the communication channel 91 (shown in FIG. 13 as a gray triangle). System information is transmitted in the same manner as system information. Optionally, the SA-cell 34 may include system information regarding neighboring SA-cells in the communication channel 91. Also, as shown in FIG. 13, the SA-cell 34 includes a terminal 35b in an active state and data connections 92, 9
3 and 94 (eg, via a dedicated channel).

  If there is a change in the LA-cell system information of the LA-cell, as shown by arrow 95 in FIG. 13, the LA-cell will have all SA-cells that may be associated with the coverage area of the LA-cell. It is configured to notify the cell of changes. Such notification may be provided via a similar access network interface, for example, an X2 interface in LTE. The SA-cell 34 that has received such notification then communicates the changed system information and the notification of the changed LA-cell system information via the communication channel 91. In the case of an SA-cell 34 that also communicates system information of another (eg, adjacent) SA-cell, it is similarly applied to the modified system information of the adjacent SA-cell, ie, another SA-cell. The cells are related (adjacent) SA-cells (not shown in FIG. 13) and SA-cell 34 are then changed with respect to another SA-cell via communication system 91 with the changed system information. It is configured to notify communication of SA-cell system information.

  The terminal 35b in the active state that receives the notification of the changed system information obtains the changed system information for another SA-cell via the communication channel 91 of the LA-cell and / or the serving SA-cell 34. To do.

  The embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is very attractive from an energy efficiency point of view because the distance between the SA-cell and the terminal is usually very short compared to the distance between the LA-cell and the terminal. It is. However, at least some LA-cell system information, eg, LA-cell network, LA-cell ID, various parameters related to LA-cell communication channel, LA-cell, to support the standby terminal 35a. As shown in the communication channel 96, the LA-cell 32 itself needs to be transmitted. This gain in energy efficiency is mainly applied to some of the LA-cell system information that is relevant only for the running terminal, eg, handover parameters.

  In an embodiment, part of the LA-cell system information associated with the terminal in standby state is also used for the terminal 35b in the active state for cell reselection after completing a very quick cell search and / or data connection. May be transmitted by the SA-cell 34, which provides the advantage of this information that it can be used. However, in this embodiment, a slight decrease in energy efficiency gain may result in duplicate transmission of this LA-cell system information.

  An SA-cell that communicates at least any LA-cell system information of one or more LA-cells that share some coverage area, without requiring a terminal to use that LA-cell radio interface, It may have the additional advantage of providing information about the associated LA-cells to the running terminal. For example, when the SA-cell 34 will communicate any system information regarding a single LA-cell, the running terminal receiving this system information will complete the data connection. You can conclude that you will almost certainly find where to recamp on a particular LA-cell.

In another example, for example, any system for an SA-cell that has been handed over to a running terminal and two LA-cells (ie, the LA-cell is already associated with a “new” LA-cell) The SA-cell 34, which communicates the information, when the next terminal will complete the data connection, to select where to recamp on between two single major candidates, You can conclude for sure that you will find yourself. In a terminal of configuration (i) or (ii) above, transmission of LA-cell system information for two LA-cells may trigger the terminal to perform measurements on these particular LA-cells. The SA-34 cell provides more detailed information about the most relevant neighboring LA-cells, so even if there is information in the neighboring cell list of the terminal LA-cell, it can be ignored. it can. The LA-cells (probably multiple) that provide all those system information may not be the most energy efficient from the narrow point of view of delivering LA-cell system information, but nevertheless to do so The terminal of configuration (ii) may be beneficial to the terminal, since it can usually significantly reduce the time for the low data rate, LA-cell radio interface that needs to be enabled. In the terminal having the above-described configuration (iii), the terminal only needs to acquire the system information of the LA-cell distributed by the SA-cell whose data connection has been terminated. The number of LA-cells delivered by an SA-cell given system information is, for example, one, two or three LA-cells and thus cell search and / or cell reselection for the terminal It speeds up the procedure and is likely to be more limited because it has already acquired system information related to these LA-cells.

Using dedicated channels
As an alternative to the above-described embodiment, a dedicated signaling approach can be used to avoid consuming communication resources in the SA-cell 34 of communication system information for LA-cells. This allows the SA-cell 34 to send LA-cell system information or changes to that information, and optionally to send those changes via system information and / or dedicated signaling channels 102-104. 13, the system information of another (eg, adjacent) SA-cell and the SA-cell regarding the change thereof is transmitted to the terminal 35b in the running state, similarly to the channels 92 to 94 indicated by the dashed arrows. For the transmission of user data via a dedicated channel, it is schematically illustrated in FIG. 14 with solid arrows through dedicated signal channels 102-104 established using these terminals. The rest of the procedure is similar to that described for the embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the communication channel 101 (shown as a gray triangle in FIG. 14), like the communication channel 91 described above, communicates SA-cell system information about the active terminal 35b to the SA-cell 34. Used by. If there is a change in the LA-cell system information of the LA-cell, the LA-cell may be related within the coverage area of the LA-cell, as indicated by the arrow 105 in FIG. It is configured to notify a change to all SA-cells. For example, the LA-cell 32 that transmits at least any LA-cell system information such as LA-cell network, LA cell ID, various parameters related to the LA-cell communication channel, LA-cell neighbor cell list, etc. The communication channel 106 is similar to the communication channel 96 described above to support the terminal 35a in the standby state.

  In the case of a running terminal that does not require LA-cell system information before the connection is terminated and resumed in standby mode, for example, an LA-cell handover is expected for the running terminal. If not, the SA− may refrain from sending LA-cell system information changes and / or refrain from providing instructions for movement within the coverage area of another LA-cell until the end of the connection. More efficient for the cell. Then, for example, as part of the data connection release procedure, it is only necessary for the SA-cell to provide the latest LA-cell system information to the terminal via communication on the dedicated signaling channel 102-104. Good. While the terminal is still running and does not actually require such LA-cell system information, this method will probably change many LA-cell system information and / or changed LA-cell coverage area. May be avoided sending instructions. Since dedicated signaling channels 102-104 are assumed to support high bit rates, this transfer of LA-cell system information is sufficiently delayed compared to the status of each change immediately sent to terminal 35b. Can be completed without having to.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 14 considers the use of a dedicated channel that is more energy efficient than the communication channel, and considers that the SA-cell has only a small size and is most energy efficient. As a result of the expected improvement, a single terminal receiving a communication or common channel is unlikely to benefit from the transmitted system information. As shown in FIG. 13, the additional advantages as described above for the communication / common channel use embodiment also apply to this embodiment.

  The embodiments of Examples # 3 and 4 described above may also be combined. For example, the embodiment of Example # 4 can be used to distribute the appropriate SA-cell and LA-cell system information for the terminal in the running state, while the embodiment of Example # 3 is used for the terminal in the waiting state. Can be used to distribute appropriate SA-cell and LA-cell system information for That is, the LA-cell may be configured to transmit appropriate SA-cell and LA-cell system information for the terminal in standby mode, and the SA-cell is for the terminal in execution mode. May be configured to transmit appropriate SA-cell and LA-cell system information.

  Furthermore, as already mentioned above, the embodiment described in connection with Example # 1 is similar to Example # 2-4 in that the SA-cell and / or LA-cell system information delivering SA-cell system information and It may be advantageously applied to LA-cells.

  Various embodiments of the invention may be implemented as a program product for use with a computer system. The program product program (s) define the functionality of the embodiments (including the methods described herein), and preferably are stored in various storage media suitable for non-transitory, direct computer input. Can do. Illustrates storage media suitable for direct computer input; (i) non-writable storage media (eg, read by a computer by a CD-ROM drive, CD-ROM chip, or any type of non-volatile semiconductor memory) (Ii) a writable storage medium (eg flexible disk or disk drive or hard disk drive or any type of random access semiconductor) It is not limited to information in which changeable information is stored on a memory, a flash memory, or the like. The computer program may be executed by a processor described herein.

Claims (15)

A method for a terminal to obtain at least LA cell system information and SA cell system information in a radio access network, wherein the radio access network has an established data connection for a terminal in an execution mode Comprising at least a SA cell configured as follows, and a LA cell configured to camp on a terminal in standby mode,
In the method, when the terminal is in a standby mode and the LA cell radio interface of the terminal is enabled, the terminal transmits at least a first portion of the LA cell system information and the SA cell system information. Receiving at least a first portion from the LA cell via the LA cell radio interface. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
Receiving the at least a second portion of the SA cell system information when the terminal is in an execution mode and the SA cell radio interface of the terminal is enabled. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
When the terminal is in execution mode and the SA cell radio interface of the terminal is enabled, the terminal transmits at least a second part of the LA cell system information via the SA cell radio interface to the SA cell radio interface. Receiving from a cell. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
When the terminal is in an execution mode and the SA cell radio interface is enabled, the terminal enables the LA cell radio interface for one or more time periods, and at least the LA cell system information Receiving a second portion from the LA cell via the LA cell radio interface.   5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the one or more time periods occurs in response to the terminal in an execution mode receiving a trigger to activate the LA cell radio interface. .   6. The method of claim 5, wherein the trigger is provided to the terminal via the SA cell by the LA cell or by a network control entity in the radio access network; A method comprising performing at least one of performing a handover of one SA cell in a radio access network to another SA cell and expiration of the timer of the terminal. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:
When the terminal is in standby mode and the LA cell radio interface of the terminal is enabled, the terminal is associated with an SA for at least one of one or more other SA cells in the radio access network. Receiving at least a portion of cell system information from the LA cell via the LA cell radio interface.   8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the one or more other SA cells includes one or more other SA cells that are running and / or in a process that is deemed to be running. Method. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the terminal further transmits an execution status of at least one SA cell in which the SA cell system information is received via the LA cell radio interface. Receiving from the LA cell.   10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising disabling the SA cell radio interface when the LA cell radio interface is enabled and enabling the SA cell radio interface. Sometimes disabling the LA cell radio interface.   A terminal comprising means for performing the steps according to claim 1.   A computer program comprising a software code portion configured to execute the steps of any one of claims 1 to 10 when executed by a processor. An LA cell configured to be used in a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and / or with a terminal according to claim 11, comprising at least
Obtaining the at least first portion of the SA cell system information from the SA cell and / or from a network management entity in the radio access communication network;
An LA cell configured to transmit the at least a first portion of the SA cell system information and the at least a first portion of the LA cell system information.   14. An LA cell according to claim 13, wherein the at least first portion of the LA cell system information is transmitted in a predetermined pattern, preferably periodically. SA cell configured for use with the terminal according to claim 11 and / or with the LA cell according to any one of claims 13 to 14 in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10. And at least,
An SA cell configured to provide the at least a first portion of the SA cell system information to the LA cell for transmission to the terminal.