CN101189907A - Supporting handover of mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to supporting a handover of a mobile terminal. Preferably, the present invention performs a scan of a neighboring network different from a current network of the mobile terminal to determine the presence of an accessible link of the neighboring network for performing a handover, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a heterogeneous network handover module that is configured to provide convergence of information from at least one network interface module associated with one of a homogeneous and heterogeneous network into a unified presentation. An information message is then received from the neighboring network, wherein the information message comprises an information element associated with whether the neighboring network is capable of communicating with the heterogeneous network handover module of the mobile terminal.

Description

Support the switching of portable terminal

Technical field

The present invention relates to be used for the exchange message of media independent handovers (MIH), especially, relate to the switching of supporting portable terminal.

Background technology

BWA according to prior art will be explained as follows usually.Different with the 2G or the 3G mobile communication system of routine, IEEE 802.16e system, it is carried out the International standardization of BWA, do not possessing the hierarchical structure that is used for Home Location Register (HLR), Visited Location Registor (VLR), mobile switching centre (MSC), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC) or the like.But IEEE 802.16e system comprises the mobile subscriber station (MSS) as portable terminal, base station (BS) and as the service for checking credentials authority (ASA) of verification management server.In addition, public physical layer (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layer are defined between base station and the mobile subscriber station.

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram that is used for the frame structure of OFDM (OFDMA) physical layer in BWA.With reference to figure 1, downlink subframe begins from be used for synchronous and balanced preamble physical layer.Then, preamble is downlink map (DL-MAP) message of the broadcasting formatization of definition position and the burst purposes of distributing to down link and up link and frame control head portion (FCH).Uplink map (UL-MAP) message is followed DL-MAP and the FCH structure with the definition entire frame.

The example of DL-MAP and UL-MAP message is respectively shown in table 1 and the table 2.

[table 1]

Grammer	Size	Note
			DL-MAP_Message_Format(){
Management message type=2	8
			The PHY synchronization field	Variable	Referring to suitable substance P HY standard
The DCD counting	8
			Base station IDs	48
Beginning PHY specific part		Referring to PHY part applicatory
			For (i=1; I＜=n; I++)		For each DL-MAP unit 1 to n
DL-MAP-IE()	Variable	Referring to corresponding PHY standard
			}
}
			If! (byte boundary) {
Fill nibble	4	Filling is to reach byte boundary
			}
}

[table 2]

Grammer	Size	Note
			UL-MAP_Message_Format(){
Management message type=3	8
			Uplink channel ID	8
The UCD counting	8
			Distribute the time started	32
The specific part of beginning PHY		Referring to PHY part applicatory
			For (i=1; I＜=n; I++)		For each UL-MAP unit 1 to n
UL-MAP-IE()	Variable	Referring to corresponding PHY standard
			}
}
			If! (byte boundary) {
Fill nibble	4	Filling is to reach byte boundary
			}
}

The DL-MAP message definition is distributed to the purposes of the burst of downlink interval in the burst mode physical layer, and the UL-MAP message definition is distributed to the purposes of the burst of uplink interval.Information element for configuration DL-MAP message, as shown in table 3, downlink traffic is to use code (DIUC), connection identifier (CID (CID) and burst position information (for example, subchannel offset, symbol offset, subchannel numbering and symbol number) identification by downlink interval on user side at interval.For the information element of configuration UL-MAP message, as shown in table 4, purposes by uplink interval use code (UIUC), (CID) is definite for each connection identifier (CID.The position of corresponding interval was regulated by the duration.In this case, each purposes is at interval determined according to the UIUC value of using in UL-MAP.Each originates in the point that has from certain distance of previous information element (IE) starting point of being regulated by UL-MAPIE at interval.

[table 3]

Grammer	Size	Note
			DL-MAP_IE ()
DIUC	4
			If (UIUC=15)
The IE of the DIUC subordinate of expansion	Variable
			Otherwise
If (INC_CID=1)		DL-MAP is from INC_CID=0.INC_CID is by CID-SWITCH_IE () conversion back and forth between 0 and 1.
			N_CID	8	Distribute to the number of the CID of this IE
For (n=0; N＜_ CID; N++)
			CID	16
}
			}
The OFDMA symbol offset	8
			Subchannel offset	6
Strengthen	3	000: normal (not strengthening); 001:+6dB; 010:-6dB; 011:+9dB; 100:+3dB; 101:-3dB; 110:-9dB; 111:-12dB
			The No.OFDMA symbol	7
No. subchannel	6
			The received code indication	2	0b00-is repeated encoding not, and 0b01-uses 2 repeated encodings, and 0b10-uses 4 repeated encodings, and 0b11-uses 6 repeated encodings
}
			}

[table 4]

Grammer	Size	Note
			UL-MAP_IE ()
CID	16
			UIUC	4
If (UIUC=12)
			The OFDMA symbol offset	8
Subchannel offset	7
			The No.OFDMA symbol	7
No. subchannel	7
			Distance-finding method	2	0b00-at the initial ranging 0b01-on two symbols at the initial ranging 0b10-on four symbols at the BW request/Perodic ranging of BW request/Perodic ranging 0b11-on three symbols on the symbol
Reserve
		1	To be set to zero
(UIUC=14) else if
	CDMA_Allocation_IE ()	32
(UIUC=15) else if {
	The IE of the UIUC subordinate of expansion	Variable
Otherwise
	Duration	10	With the OFDMA time slot
The received code indication				2	0b00-is repeated encoding not, and 0b01-uses 2 repeated encodings, and 0b10-uses 4 repeated encodings, and 0b11-uses 6 repeated encodings
	}
If desired, fill nibble				4	End at hithermost byte, will be set to 0.
	}

Frame control head portion (FCH) before the DL-MAP is the head of presentation code information and DL-MAP length.Table 5 illustrates the frame structure of FCH.

[table 5]

Grammer	Size	Note
			DL_Frame_Prefix_Format(){
The subchannel bit mapping of using	6	Position #0: subchannel 0-11 is used a #1: subchannel 12-19 is used a #2: subchannel 20-31 is used a #3: subchannel 32-39 is used a #4: subchannel 40-51 is used a #5: subchannel 52-59 is used
			Ranging_Change_Indication	1
Repetition_Coding_Indication	2	00-on the DL-MAP not repeated encoding 01-using 2 repeated encoding 10-using 4 repeated encoding 11-on DL-MAP, to use repeated encoding 6 times on the DL-MAP on the DL-MAP
			Coding_Indication
	3	0b000-is using CC coding 0b001-using BCC coding 0b010-using CTC coding 0b011-to use ZT coding 0b100 to 0b111-to reserve on DL-MAP on the DL-MAP on the DL-MAP on the DL-MAP
			DL_MAP_Length
	8
			Reserve	4	To be set to zero
}

Table 6 illustrates the example as contiguous announcement (MOB_NBR-ADV) message of the broadcast of neighbor base station.The base station is via the information of the broadcast related neighbor base station in MOB_NBR-ADV message cycle ground.Mobile subscriber station receives this message, and quotes it and be used for scanning and switch.

[table 6]

Grammer	Size	Note
			MOB_NBR-ADV_Message_For mat ()
Management message type=53	8
			Skip selectable field bit mapping	8	Position [0]: if be set to 1, save carrier ID field bit [1]: if be set to 1, save NBR BS id field position [2]:, save HO process optimization field bit [3]:, save the relevant field bit [4] to [7] of QoS: reservation if be set to 1 if be set to 1
(if skipping selectable field [0]=0) {
			Carrier ID	24	Distribute to unique ID of operator
}
			Configuration change count	8	When having changed, the information of the contiguous BS that is used to be associated adds 1
Segmentation marker	4	This field is represented current segmentation marker.
			Total segmentation	4	This field is represented the sum of segmentation.
N_NEIGHBORS	8
			For (j=0; J＜N_NEIGHBORS; J++)
Length	8	The byte length of information in the iteration of N_NEIGHBOR
			PHY describes ID	8	The operator scheme of the sub-channelizing of common position (co-located) FA designator, FA configuration indicator, FFT size, frequency bandwidth, start frame and the polymerization ID of channel number.
(if FA indicates designator=1) {
			The FA sign	8	This field, the Frequency Distribution sign only exists when PHY describes FA sign designator among the ID being provided with.Otherwise this vicinity BS has identical FA sign, and perhaps this centre frequency is to use the TLV coded message to represent.
}
			(if BS EIRP designator=1) {
BS EIRP	8	From-128 to 127 is the signed integer of unit with dBm.Only be set at and have this field when PHY describes among the ID at BS EIRP designator.Otherwise this BS has the EIRP identical with serving BS broadcasts.
			}
(if skipping selectable field [1]=0) {
			Contiguous BSID	24	This is the field selected that is used for OFDMA PHY, and if skip selectable field mark=1, it is omitted or skips.
}

Preamble sign/SubChId	8	Be used for the sign that PHY describes specific preamble.The preamble sign is the specific PHY of SCa and OFDMA.The value of preamble sign will be left in the basket, and the value of 0X00 will be used for OFDM PHY.For SCa and OFDMA PHY, the specific preamble of this parameter-definition PHY.For OFDM PHY, 5 LSB comprise effective DL SubChId.3 MSB will be reserved and be set to 0b000.
			(if skipping selectable field [2]=0) {
The HO process optimization	8	Only when the part indication of this message, provide HO process optimization.When the HO of reality, HO process demand can change.For each bit position, the reentry administrative messag that 0 value representation is associated needs, 1 value representation can omit the reentry administrative messag.Be provided with irrelevantly with HO process optimization TLV, target BS can send uncalled SBC-RSP and/or REG RSP administrative messag.Position #0: omit SBC-REQ/RSP administrative messag position #1 during current reentry is handled: omit PKM-REQ/RSP administrative messag position #2 during current reentry processing: omit REG-REQ/RSP administrative messag position #3 during current reentry is handled: the omission network address obtains administrative messag position #4 during current reentry is handled: the omission time is obtained administrative messag position #5 during current reentry is handled: omit TFTP administrative messag position #6 during current reentry is handled: full service between serving BS broadcasts and target BS and mode of operation shift or shared (ARQ, timer, counter, MAC state machine or the like).Position #7: reservation
			}
(if skipping selectable field [3]=0) {
			The dispatch service of supporting	4	Represent the bit mapping whether BS supports specific dispatch service, 1 expresses support for, and 0 expression is not supported.Position 0: uncalled allowance service (UGS) position 1: real time polling service (rtPS) position 2: non real-time poll services (nrtPS) position 3: the value of doing one's best? 000? expression does not have the information of relevant available service.

Available radio resource	4	The average available subchannel of each frame of report and the percentage 0000:0% 0001:20% 0010:40% 0011:60% 0100:80% 0101:100% 0110-1110 of symbol: the 0110-1110 of reservation: reserved value 1111 expressions do not have the information of relevant available service.
			Reserve	8	To be set to zero
}
			The DCD configuration change count	4	4 LS positions of the DCD configuration change count that the contiguous BS of this expression is current
The UCD configuration change count	4	4 LS positions of the UCD configuration change count that the contiguous BS of this expression is current
			The neighbor information of TLV coding	Variable	TLV is specific
}

Table 7 and table 8 are the embodiment of basic capacity request (SBC-REQ) message and basic capacity response (SBC-RSP) message respectively.Have the DL-MAP of reception and the mobile subscriber station of UL-MAP and carry out the range finding that is used for the network insertion process, and send SBC-REQ message to this base station is used for basic capacity with startup negotiation.Respond this negotiation, this base station sends the SBC-RSP message about the part consistent with its performance.

[table 7]

Grammer	Size	Note
			SBC-REQ_Message_Format(){
Management message type=26	8
			The TLV information encoded	Variable	TLV is specific
}

[table 8]

Grammer	Size	Note
			SBC-RSP_Message_Format(){
Management message type=27	8
			The attribute of TLV coding	Variable	TLV is specific
}

Finish in case be used for the negotiation of basic capacity, this mobile subscriber station is carried out registration process via register requirement (MOB-REG-REQ) message and registration response (MOB-REG-RSP) message.Table 9 and table 10 illustrate the example of MOB-REG-REQ and MOB-REG-RSP message respectively.

[table 9]

Grammer	Size	Note
			REG-REQ_Message_Format(){
Management message type=4	8
			Downlink channel ID	8
The TLV information encoded	Variable	TLV is specific
			}

[table 10]

Grammer	Size	Note
			REG-RSP_Message_Format(){
Management message type=5	8
			Uplink channel ID	8
The TLV information encoded	Variable	TLV is specific
			}

To explain media independent handovers (MIH) technology now.Purpose for the IEEE 802.21 of the International standardization well afoot of media independent handovers between heterogeneous network is to strengthen the facility that the user is used for mobile terminal device by seamless switching and service continuity are provided between heterogeneous network.MIH function, Event triggered, command service and information service (IS) are defined as the primary demand of IEEE 802.21 systems.

Mobile subscriber station is a multinode of supporting at least one interface type, and wherein interface can be realized with various types.Admissible interface type comprises wired style interface, such as Ethernet based on IEEE 802.3, wireless interface type based on IEEE 802.XX, comprise IEEE802.11, IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.16 or the like, with by cellular standards mechanism, such as the interface of for example 3GPP and 3GPP2 definition.

Fig. 2 is the schematic diagram of demonstration multi-mode mobile subscriber station.With reference to figure 2, the multi-mode mobile subscriber station comprises each pattern physical layer (PHY) and each pattern medium access control (MAC) layer.In addition, the MIH layer is positioned at below the IP layer.

Media independent handovers (MIH) can be defined between IEEE 802 series interfaces, perhaps between IEEE 802 series interfaces and non-IEEE 802 series interfaces, such as 3GPP or 3GPP2 interface.In addition, support the mobility supported protocol on upper strata, such as mobile IP and session initiation protocol (SIP), to support the seamless switching service.

Network registration process in the process of initialization BWA is explained as follows.Fig. 3 is the flow chart of mobile station initialization process in the BWA.With reference to figure 3, in case the power supply of mobile subscriber station is switched on, then this mobile subscriber station is via DL-MAP and UL-MAP (1) searching downlink link channel and acquisition and base station uplink/downlink synchronization.This mobile subscriber station is adjusted uplink transport parameter by finding range with the base station via RNG-REQ and RNG-RSP message, and mobile subscriber station (2) is distributed to basic management connection identifier (CID (CID) and main management CID in this base station.This mobile subscriber station is then via SBC-REQ and SBC-RSP message and base station negotiate basic capacity (3).Then, on mobile subscriber station, carry out mandate (4).This mobile subscriber station is carried out registration process to the base station via REG-REQ and REG-RSP message then, and wherein mobile subscriber station (5) by Internet protocol (IP) management is distributed to inferior management CID in the base station.Connect (6) in case generate IP, current date and time is set up (7).The configuration file of this mobile subscriber station is downloaded from TFTP (TFTP) server (8) then, and generates the connection (9) of the service that is used to prepare.

In the process of media independent handovers (MIH), the MIH function is placed on below the IP layer, and uses trigger event and input value from the second layer (layer 2), and the information or the like of network such as other promotes handoff process.This MIH function can comprise based on the subscriber policy of input value and can influence handoff procedure with the configuration.Conventional interface is defined between MIH function and the 3rd layer of (layer 3) entity, such as mobile Internet Protocol (mobile IP) and session initiation protocol (SIP).These interfaces provide relevant ground floor (physical layer), the second layer (layer 2) (MAC layer) and mobility information of managing.MIH obtains the information of relevant lower floor and network by means of incident and information service.Therefore, this MIH function should be placed in the high level, to monitor and to be controlled at the state of other link in the mobile subscriber station.Fig. 4 is terminal and the functional entity of network and the schematic diagram of host-host protocol that comprises the MIH function, and wherein dotted line is represented primitive, Event triggered or the like.

The Event triggered that is used for switching between heterogeneous network is explained as follows.For quick switching, network layer need be used from the information of link layer and go to rebuild as quickly as possible connection.Link layer event helps the motion of estimating user, and can help mobile subscriber station and network to prepare switching in advance.The triggering that is used to switch can be from physical layer (PHY) and media access control layer (MAC).The source of this triggering can be local stack or remote stack.The block diagram of the trigger model that Fig. 5 is.

Event triggered provides the state of current demand signal, the state variation of another network and the variation of estimation.Event triggered also provides the information about the attribute change of variation between physical layer and media access control layer and particular network.Event type can be divided into following: (1) PHY layer incident; (2) MAC layer incident; (3) Admin Events; (4) L3 incident; And (5) application affairs.

To explain basic trigger event now.When layer 2 (L2) connection is based upon on the particular link interface, and when layer 3 (L3) packet can transmit from the upper strata, " Link_Up " trigger event takes place.In this case, all L2 configurations of judging this link of configuration are finished.Event origin is local mac and remote mac.These parameters are shown in the table 11.

[table 11]

Title	Type	Explanation
			Event source	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	The source of incident from wherein producing
The incident destination	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	Incident is with the destination that sends to
			The Mac portable terminal	MAC Address	The MAC Address of MSS
The couple in router that Mac is old	MAC Address	The MAC Address of old couple in router
			The couple in router that Mac is new	MAC Address	The MAC Address of new couple in router
Network identifier	Medium are specific	Spendable network identifier when detecting the variation of subnet
			IP_Renewal_Indicator		Expression changes the necessity of temporary ip address.0: unnecessary change 1: necessary change

Be released when L2 on special purpose interface connects, and when it no longer can transmit the L3 packet, " link-down " trigger event take place.Event origin is a local mac.These parameters are shown in the table 12.

[table 12]

Title	Type	Explanation
			Event source	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	From wherein producing the source of incident
The incident destination	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	Incident is with the destination that sends to
			The Mac portable terminal	MAC Address	The MAC Address of MSS
The couple in router that Mac is old	MAC Address	The MAC Address of old couple in router
			Reason code		Link is d/d reason why

When estimating that L2 connects will in the specific time in the link-down " link will disconnect " trigger event take place." link will disconnect " trigger event can be the signal that is used for the initialization handoff procedure.Event origin is local mac and remote mac.These parameters are shown in the table 13.

[table 13]

Title	Type	Explanation
			Event source	EVENT_LAYER_TYPEPE	From wherein producing the source of incident
The incident destination	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	Incident is with the destination that sends to
			The Mac portable terminal	MAC Address	The MAC Address of MSS
The couple in router that Mac is old	MAC Address	The MAC Address of old couple in router
			The couple in router that Mac is new	MAC Address	The MAC Address of new couple in router
The time interval	The millisecond time	Be used for the time that Link_Up estimates
			Confidence level	％	The level that in the specific time, is used for the Link_Down estimation of link
Unique event ID		Under the situation that the incident counter-rotating takes place, use

When estimating that the L2 connection will be set up in the specific time when, " link will be set up " trigger event takes place.Under the situation that is used for the duration that the initialization network need grow, use " link will be set up " trigger event.Event origin is local mac and remote mac.These parameters are shown in the table 14.

[table 14]

Title	Type	Explanation
			Event source	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	From wherein producing the source of incident
The incident destination	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	Incident is with the destination of transmitting
			The Mac portable terminal	MAC Address	The MAC Address of MSS
The couple in router that Mac is old	MAC Address	The MAC Address of old couple in router
			The couple in router that Mac is new	MAC Address	The MAC Address of new couple in router
The time interval	The millisecond time	Be used for the time that Link_Up estimates
			Confidence level	％	The level that in the specific time, is used for the Link_Up estimation of link
Unique event ID		Under the situation that the incident counter-rotating takes place, use

" Link_Available " trigger event represents that new specific link is spendable or available.In addition, base station that " Link_Available " representations of events is new or access point (AP) or point of contact (POA) can provide and have the possibility of the link of good quality more than the base station of the current access of mobile subscriber station or AP or POA.Event origin is local mac and remote mac.These parameters are shown in the table 15.

[table 15]

Title	Type	Explanation
			Event source	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	From wherein producing the source of incident
The incident destination	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	Incident is with the destination of transmitting
			The Mac portable terminal	MAC Address	The MAC Address of MSS
The couple in router that Mac is old	MAC Address	The MAC Address of old couple in router
			The couple in router that Mac is new	MAC Address	The MAC Address of new couple in router
IP_Renewal_Indicator		Expression changes the necessity of temporary ip address.0: unnecessary change 1: necessary change

The information service that explanation is used for switching between heterogeneous network now.Medium independent information service (MIIS) provides similar frame network on the heterogeneous network of layering, with the search and the selection of the current network of impelling various kinds.Just, medium independent information service (MIIS) provides the relevant details that need removal search and selection network of network, and should be from the access to netwoks of any kind.Independently information service of these medium (MIIS) will comprise following information element, such as, cost of link access parameter, security mechanism, neighbours' mapping, location, service provider and other access information, link or the like.

Fig. 6 is the flow chart that is used for the acquired information service process according to prior art.With reference to figure 6, the MIH of mobile subscriber station (MS) sends MIH_info.request message to its MAC with ask for information services (S610).The MAC of this mobile subscriber station sends the information request frame to base station (BS) (S620) then.The MAC of this base station is sent to its MIH (S630) with information request from mobile subscriber station via MIH_Info.indication message.The MIH of this base station sends the medium independent information service that keeps to MAC layer (S640) via MIH_Info.response message then.This allows the MAC of base station to remove to send information response's frame, to respond this mobile subscriber station (S650).The MAC of this mobile subscriber station receives this information response's frame, and sends the content of the information service that receives to its MIH (S660) via MIH_Info.confirm message.

But, be used for the prior art of BWA, trial from another interface network (for example, 802.11,3GPP or 3GPP2) switch to the multi-mode mobile subscriber station of BWA, trial switches to the mobile subscriber station of another base station in the same wideband wireless access system, and the mobile subscriber station of perhaps carrying out the initial network access procedure in the base station of BWA can not know whether whether the MIH ability of base station can be utilized.Therefore, needed is the invention that solves the prior art problem.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to support the switching of portable terminal.

Feature of the present invention and advantage will be set forth in description subsequently, and will be apparent to a certain extent from this description, perhaps can learn by putting into practice the present invention.The structure to particularly point out in the appended accompanying drawing by printed instructions and claims thereof can realize and obtain purpose of the present invention and other advantage.

In order to realize the advantage of these and other, and according to purpose of the present invention, as implementing herein and describing widely, the method enforcement that the present invention is switched to support portable terminal, this method comprises: carry out the scanning of the adjacent network of the current network that is different from portable terminal, but to determine to exist the access link of the adjacent network that is used to carry out switching, wherein portable terminal comprises heterogeneous network handover module, it is configured to provide the information from least one Network Interface Module is converted into unified expression, this at least one Network Interface Module is related with one of isomorphism and heterogeneous network, and receive informational message from adjacent network, wherein informational message comprises and the adjacent network relevant information element of whether can communicating by letter with the heterogeneous network handover module of portable terminal.

In one aspect of the invention, if adjacent network has the heterogeneous network switching capability, so, portable terminal uses medium access control administrative messag to communicate by letter with adjacent network.In another aspect of the present invention, this method further comprises: before carrying out scanning, scan request is offered the BRAN interface from heterogeneous network handover module.

Preferably, this informational message receives via the medium access control of BRAN interface, and sends heterogeneous network handover module to.Preferably, comprise further that from the informational message of adjacent network information service supports designator, Event Service to support designator and command service to support at least one of designator.Preferably, informational message is one that broadcast message, frame are checked head message, registration reply message, subscriber station basic capacity response message and neighbor base station broadcast.

Preferably, the information element that is received by the medium access control of portable terminal is transmitted to heterogeneous network handover module.Preferably, the medium access control sends heterogeneous network handover module to via available message of link and ability Indication message one.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a kind of method of supporting that portable terminal switches, comprise: with current network service, receive broadcast from current network, this current network is included in the interior heterogeneous network of serving BS and at least one of the heterogeneous network in neighbor base station, and the heterogeneous network handover module that the information relevant with the heterogeneous network in neighbor base station with the heterogeneous network in serving BS is offered portable terminal, wherein heterogeneous network handover module is configured to be provided as unified expression with assembling from the information of at least one Network Interface Module, and at least one Network Interface Module and isomorphism and heterogeneous network one is related.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a kind of method of supporting that portable terminal switches, comprise: the request message that will comprise information element sends current network to, whether information element supports that with portable terminal heterogeneous network handover module is relevant, heterogeneous network handover module is configured to be provided as unified expression with assembling from the information of at least one Network Interface Module, at least one Network Interface Module and isomorphism and heterogeneous network one is related, with receive response message from current network, response message comprises and the current network related information element of whether can communicating by letter with the heterogeneous network handover module of portable terminal.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a kind of method of supporting that portable terminal switches, comprise: receive request message from portable terminal, request message comprises with portable terminal whether supporting the information element that heterogeneous network handover module is related, heterogeneous network handover module is configured to be provided as unified expression with assembling from the information of at least one Network Interface Module, at least one Network Interface Module and isomorphism and heterogeneous network one is related, with send response message to portable terminal, response message comprises and the current network related information element of whether can communicating by letter with the heterogeneous network handover module of portable terminal.

In one aspect of the invention, if current network has the heterogeneous network switching capability, so, portable terminal uses medium access control administrative messag and current network service.In another aspect of the present invention, this method further is included in and receives before the request message, via the heterogeneous network handover module reception scan request of BRAN interface from portable terminal.

Preferably, response message sends via the medium access control of BRAN interface.Preferably, response message further comprises at least one of information service support designator, Event Service support designator and command service support designator.Preferably, response message is that broadcast message, frame are checked in head message, registration reply message, subscriber station basic capacity response message and the neighbor base station broadcast.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a kind of method of supporting that portable terminal switches, comprise: with communication of mobile terminal, and send broadcast to portable terminal from current network, broadcast is included in the interior heterogeneous network of serving BS and at least one in the heterogeneous network in neighbor base station, wherein portable terminal will the information related with heterogeneous network in serving BS and the heterogeneous network in neighbor base station offers the heterogeneous network handover module of portable terminal, wherein heterogeneous network handover module is configured to be provided as unified expression with assembling from the information of at least one Network Interface Module, and at least one Network Interface Module and isomorphism and heterogeneous network one is related.

Should be understood that above general introduction and following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and illustrative, and be intended to the invention provides further instruction as claim.

Description of drawings

This accompanying drawing of following is included to provide further to be understood the present invention, and is incorporated into and constitutes the part of this specification, and it illustrates embodiments of the invention, and can explain the principle of the invention with this specification.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of the frame structure of OFDM in the BWA (OFDMA) physical layer.

Fig. 2 is the schematic diagram of the protocol stack structure of multi-mode mobile subscriber station.

Fig. 3 is the flow chart of network registration process in BWA.

Fig. 4 comprises the functional entity of portable terminal of MIH function and network and the schematic diagram of host-host protocol.

The block diagram of the trigger model that Fig. 5 is.

Fig. 6 is the flow chart that is used for the acquired information service process according to prior art.

Fig. 7 is the flow chart that is used for transmitting from the base station method of the DL-MAP message that comprises the MIH ability according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is the flow chart that is used for obtaining via basic capability negotiating request and response message the MIH ability information process of base station according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 is the flow chart that is used for obtaining via register requirement and response message the MIH ability information process of base station according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 is the flow chart that is used for obtaining via the broadcast of base station MIH ability information process according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 is used for obtaining the MIH ability information and representing the flow chart of the information process of whether support information service via contiguous announcement (MOB_NBR-ADV) message according to one embodiment of the invention.

Embodiment

The present invention relates to support the switching of portable terminal.Now will be at length with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, its example illustrates in the accompanying drawings.As possible, use identical reference number to quote identical or similar part in the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to the method for acquisition, in this system, operate at least one in BRAN, cable LAN (LAN), WLAN and the cellular network about the MIH ability information between multi-mode mobile subscriber station (MSS) and base station (BS) in system.Be not limited to the type of LAN or cellular network.For example, the wired lan network can adopt the system based on IEEE 802.X system, and wireless lan network can adopt the system based on IEEE 802.XX system, and cellular network can adopt by standardization body, such as the system of 3GPP and 3GPP2 definition.

The base station of current access sends the MIH ability information to the multi-mode mobile subscriber station, makes the multi-mode mobile subscriber station can obtain the MIH ability information of target BS, and this target BS belongs to the heterogeneous network that the multi-mode mobile subscriber station is attempted to insert.The method that has the various kinds be used to transmit the MIH ability information.Therefore, according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will explain the diverse ways that transmits the MIH ability information in the following description.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the neighbor base station notice message (MOB-NBR-ADV) that comprises the MIH ability information is transmitted in the base station.

According to second embodiment of the present invention, the base station comprises the MIH ability information in the frame check head (FCH) that is sent out.According to the 3rd embodiment of the present invention, the base station comprises the MIH ability information in the information element of the DL-MAP that is sent out.

According to the 4th embodiment of the present invention, the MIH ability information is included in the basic capacity request that the multi-mode mobile subscriber station transmits for basic capacity information and base station negotiate time the/basic capacity response (SBC-REQ/SBC-RSP) message.In one aspect of the invention, consult mutually for common MIH ability multi-mode mobile subscriber station and base station.

According to the 5th embodiment of the present invention, the MIH ability information is included in register requirement/registration response (MOB-REG-REQ/MOB-REG-RSP) message that transmits when the multi-mode mobile subscriber station is carried out the base station login process.In one aspect of the invention, consult mutually for common MIH ability multi-mode mobile subscriber station and base station.

According to the 6th embodiment of the present invention, mobile subscriber station obtains the MIH ability information via beacon message from the base station.

The base station can be not only offer the mobile subscriber station of current access with the MIH ability information of relevant contiguous BWA base station, and the relevant Wireless LAN access point (AP) that can signal receives or the MIH ability information of point of contact (POA) and cellular basestation can also be provided.This can announce (MOB-NBR-ADV) broadcast via neighbor base station and accomplish.Preferably, this message can comprise whether expression relevant base station and AP or POA can offer the information service that obtains from information service (IS) server information service (IS) the support field of mobile subscriber station.Table 16 illustrates the example of a form, and this form is applied to MOB-NBR-ADV message, to represent the MIH ability information of relevant neighbor base station and WLAN POA or cellular system base station.

The MIH INFO bit map that newly appends to previous MOB_NBR-ADV message is shown with closes available WLAN POA, the MIH ability of the cellular system base station of the BRAN base station that perhaps relevant contiguous mobile subscriber station is inserting and IS support.MIH INFO bit mapping 2 is represented to exist or do not exist to be used to be positioned at contiguous broadband wireless access base station, that is, near the MIH ability of the isomery point of contact WLAN POA or the cellular system base station and IS support.Preferably, MIH INFO bit mapping 2 can be represented to be used to be positioned near the MIH ability of the isomery point of contact of isomorphism neighbor base station and the information that IS supports about existing or not existing, and the contiguous isomery junction information of current base station.

Increased by one to comprise the MIH ability information of current base station, can obtain to represent by its mobile subscriber station that newly enters the current base station zone whether the MIH of current or neighbor base station and the information of IS function can provide in the mode of receiving downlink channel descriptor (DCD) message.This mobile subscriber station uses this information burst file of broadcast that goes to obtain to be used to decode, and obtains the original position of MOB_NBR-ADV message from DL-MAP, and be broadcast from the reception of corresponding position with the MOB_NBR-ADV source codec.The MIH unknown bits is increased to MIH INFO bit mapping 1 or 2, is used for representing the existence that MIH comes into force or MIH lost efficacy or not depositing which the unknown to the base station,, represents that to the base station which ability is not identified that is.For example, if find can be used for the WLAN POA of MIH INFO bit mapping 1, and bit map is received, such as [1] available WLAN POA, [0] available POA MIH comes into force, and [1] available WLAN POA MIH the unknown, though the switching that wireless POA comes into force be present in current base station near, state the unknown of MIH ability.Therefore, do not relate to MIH come into force the position implication.

[table 16]

Grammer	Size	Note
			MOB_NBR-ADV_Message_Format ()
Management message type=53	8
			Skip selectable field bit mapping	8	Position [0]: if be set to 1, save carrier ID field bit [1]: if be set to 1, save MIH INFO bit mapped bits [2]: if be set to 1, save NBR BS id field position [3]: if be set to 1, save HO process optimization field bit [4]: if be set to 1, save the relevant field bit [5] of QoS: if be set to 1, save current BS INFO position [6]:, save MIH INFO bit mapping 2 [7]-[8]: reservation if be set to 1
(if skipping selectable field [0]=0) {
			Carrier ID	24	Distribute to unique ID of operator
}
			Configuration change count	8	When having changed, the information that is used for related contiguous BS adds 1
Segmentation marker	4	This field is represented current segmentation marker.
			Total segmentation	4	This field is represented the sum of segmentation.
(if skipping selectable field [1]=0) {

MIH INFO bit mapping 1	16	[0] the available WLAN POA of available WLAN POA [1] MIH unknown [3] the available WLAN POA IS of [2] available WLAN POA MIH that comes into force supports the available 3GPP BS of [4] available 3GPP BS [5] MIH unknown [7] the available 3GPP BS IS of [6] available 3GPP BS MIH that comes into force to support the available 3GPP2 BS of [8] available 3GPP2 BS [9] MIH unknown [11] the available 3GPP2 BS IS of [10] available 3GPP2 BS MIH that comes into force to support what [12]-[15] were reserved
			}
(if skipping selectable field [5]=0) {
			Current BS MIH INFO	1	[0]: do not support MIH [1]: support MIH
Support Event Service	1	0: do not support ES 1: support ES
			Support command service	1	0: do not support CS 1: support CS
Support IS	1	0: do not support IS 1: support IS
			}
N_NEIGHBORS	8
			For (j=0; J＜N_NEIGHBORS; J++)
(if skipping selectable field [5]=0) {
			MIH INFO bit mapping 2	16	[0] available WLAN POA
		[1] available WLAN POA MIH unknown [3] the available WLAN POA IS of [2] available WLAN POA MIH that comes into force supports the available 3GPP BS of [4] available 3GPP BS [5] MIH unknown [7] the available 3GPP BS IS of [6] available 3GPP BS MIH that comes into force to support the available 3GPP2 BS of [8] available 3GPP2 BS [9] MIH unknown [11] the available 3GPP2 BS IS of [10] available 3GPP2 BS MIH that comes into force to support what [12]-[15] were reserved
			}
Length	8	The byte length of information in the iteration of N_NEIGHBOR

PHY describes ID	8	The operator scheme of the sub-channelizing of a common position FA designator, FA configuration indicator, FFT size, frequency bandwidth, start frame and the polymerization ID of channel number
			(if FA indicates designator=1) {
The FA sign	8	This Frequency Distribution attribute field only occurs when PHY describes FA sign designator among the ID being provided with.Otherwise this vicinity BS has identical FA sign, and perhaps this centre frequency uses the TLV coded message to represent.
			}
(if BS EIRP designator==1) {
			BS EIRP	8	From-128 to 127 is the signed integer of unit with dBm.Only describe and just occur this field when being provided with BS EIRP designator among the ID at PHY.Otherwise this BS has the EIRP identical with serving BS broadcasts.
}
			(if skipping selectable field [2]=0) {
Contiguous BSID	24	This is the field selected that is used for OFDMA PHY, and if skip selectable field mark=1, then it is omitted or skips.
			}
The MIH ability	1	This is the indication that is used for the MIH ability.0: do not support MIH 1: support MIH
			Support Event Service	1	0: do not support Event Service 1: support Event Service
Support command service	1	0: do not support command service 1: support command service
			Support IS		This is to be used for the indication that information service is supported.0: the service of support media independent information 1: the service of support media independent information
Preamble sign/SubChId	8	Be used for the sign that PHY describes specific preamble.The preamble sign is the PHY that is exclusively used in SCa and OFDMA.Will the value of preamble sign be left in the basket, and 0x00? value will be used for OFDM PHY.For SCa and OFDMA PHY, the preamble that this parameter-definition PHY is specific.For OFDM PHY, 5 LSB comprise effective DL SubChId.3 MSB will be reserved and be set to 0b000.
			(if skipping selectable field [3]=0) {

The HO process optimization	8	Only when the part indication of this message, provide HO process optimization.When the HO of reality, HO process demand can change.For each bit position, 0 value representation will need related reentry administrative messag, and 1 value representation can omit the reentry administrative messag.Be provided with irrelevantly with HO process optimization TLV, target BS can send uncalled SBC-RSP and/or REG_RSP administrative messag.Position #0: omit SBC-REQ/RSP administrative messag position #1 during current reentry is handled: omit PKM-REQ/RSP administrative messag position #2 during current reentry processing: omit REG-REQ/RSP administrative messag position #3 during current reentry is handled: the omission network address obtains administrative messag position #4 during current reentry is handled: the omission time is obtained administrative messag position #5 during current reentry is handled: omit TFTP administrative messag position #6 during current reentry is handled: full service between serving BS broadcasts and target BS and mode of operation shift or shared (ARQ, timer, counter, mac state machine or the like).Position #7: reservation
			}
(if skipping selectable field [4]=0) {
			Support dispatch service	4	Whether expression BS supports the bit mapping of specific dispatch service, and 1 expresses support for, and 0 expression is not supported.Position 0: uncalled allowance service (UGS) position 1: real time polling service (rtPS) position 2: non real-time poll services (nrtPS) position 3: the value of doing one's best 0000 expression does not have the information of relevant available service.

Available radio resource	4	The average available subchannel of each frame of report and the percentage 0000:0% 0001:20% 0010:40% 0011:60% 0100:80% 0101:100% 0110-1110 of symbol: the 0110-1110 of reservation: reserved value 1111 expressions do not have the information of relevant available service.
			Reserve	8	To be set to zero
}
			The DCD configuration change count	4	4 LS positions of the DCD configuration change count that the contiguous BS of this expression is current
The UCD configuration change count	4	4 LS positions of the UCD configuration change count that the contiguous BS of this expression is current
			The neighbor information of TLV coding	Variable	TLV is specific
}
			}

The utilizability of its MIH ability of mobile subscriber station can be notified by comprise this information in frame check head (FCH) in the base station.Therefore, after receiving FCH, mobile subscriber station can obtain the descending chain circuit frame of the MIH ability information of relevant relevant base station with the decoding base station from the MIH capability information element.In addition, this mobile subscriber station can obtain whether the information service that obtains from information service (IS) server can be offered the relevant information of mobile subscriber station with the base station from the information element that IS supports.Table 17 illustrates the example of an available form, and wherein " MIH ability " and " IS support " information element is attached to FCH message.Via this form, whether the base station can notify mobile subscriber station MIH function and the information service can be to the mobile subscriber station support.

[table 17]

Grammer	Size	Note
			DL_Frame_Prefix_Format(){
The subchannel bit mapping of using	6	Position #0: subchannel 0-11 is used a #1: subchannel 12-19 is used a #2: subchannel 20-31 is used a #3: subchannel 32-39 is used a #4: subchannel 40-51 is used a #5: subchannel 52-59 is used
			Ranging_Change_Indication	1
Repetition_Coding_Indication	2	00-on the DL-MAP not repeated encoding 01-using 2 repeated encoding 10-using 4 repeated encoding 11-on DL-MAP, to use repeated encoding 6 times on the DL-MAP on the DL-MAP
			Coding_Indication	3	0b000-is using CC coding 0b001-using BCC coding 0b010-using CTC coding 0b011-to use ZT CC 0b100 to 0b111-to reserve on DL-MAP on the DL-MAP on the DL-MAP on the DL-MAP
DL_MAP_Length	8
			The MIH ability	1	0: do not support MIH 1: support MIH
Support Event Service	1	0: the service of support media independent event 1: the service of support media independent event
			Support command service	1	0: the service of support media sepaerate order 1: the service of support media sepaerate order
Support IS	1	0: do not support IS 1: support IS
Reserve	2	To be set to zero
			}

The base station can comprise the utilizability of its MIH ability in DL-MAP message, and this utilizability of notice mobile subscriber station.Received the MIH ability information that is used for to obtain relevant respective base station with the mobile subscriber station of the DL-MAP message of base station synchronization.Preferably, this base station is served from IS server acquired information, and can comprise information service support field in DL-MAP message, and whether its expression information service can be provided for mobile subscriber station.Table 18 illustrates the example of form, and it can represent to increase the MIH ability information to being included in the information element (IE) in the DL-MAP message.MIH_Capability_IE notifies this network MIH ability.This MIH ability represents that the MIH feature message can be by using MAC administrative messag and BS exchange, so that MS visits the service of the MIH function of this network.In addition, MIH_Capability_IE is via the type of current BS notice by the MIH service of the MIH function support of this network.Ability to MIH function that network is provided refers to the service that BS can directly use the MIH function, and BS can insert the MIH functional entity via NCMS.

[table 18]

Grammer	Size	Note
			MIH_Capability_IE ()
The DIUC of expansion	4	MIH_Capability_IE=XX
			Length
	4	Length=0 * 01
			The MIH ability	1	0: do not support MIH 1: support MIH
Support Event Service	1	0: the service of support media independent event 1: the service of support media independent event
			Support command service	1	0: the service of support media sepaerate order 1: the service of support media sepaerate order
Information service is supported	1	This field represents whether relevant base station can provide information service from the IS server.0: do not support IS 1: support IS
			Information service ID	8

Parameter is used to notify whether current BS can visit the service of MIH function via NCMS.This is applicable to that current BS has the situation of MIH Functional Capability.If this parameter is set to " 1 ", then this MS can be via current BS visit MIH function, and can use the MAC administrative messag related (for example, MOB_MSMIH-REQ, MOB_MSMIH-RSP, MOB_BS MIH-REQ, MOB_BS MIH-RSP) to communicate by letter with the MIH function with MIH.The parameter of Event Service support is to be used to notify the MIH function of using BS to visit whether to support the parameter of Event Service (ES).The parameter of command service support is to be used to notify the MIH function of using BS to visit whether to support the parameter of command service (CS).The parameter of information service support is to be used to notify use the whether parameter of support information service (IS) of MIH function that BS can visit.

TLV (type, length and value) is used for the function related with base station negotiate and media independent handovers.Carry out at the mobile subscriber station that comprises the MIH layer under the situation of MIH function, this mobile subscriber station is provided with corresponding position to send the base station to.Can support this function if comprise the base station of MIH layer, then this base station is provided with this position in the response message that sends.

As for information service, when attempting via base station reception information service, mobile subscriber station is provided with corresponding position and goes to ask.If the base station can be by communicating by letter with information services server or providing information service to mobile subscriber station by serving as information services server, then consult between mobile subscriber station and base station with permission by this response is set this base station.

Table 19 illustrates according to embodiment of the invention MIH ability information with the TLV form in SBC-RSP message or REG-RSP message.As in table 19 illustrated, if being provided with corresponding position, MS is " 1 ", and the request of transmission is set that this represents that corresponding ability is the MIH support by MS based on this.Be " 1 " if BS is provided with corresponding position, and send response in view of the above, this represents the MIH function support of corresponding ability by the network that has this BS.Alternatively, the position is established reset and is represented not support this ability.

Preferably, position #0 represents whether MIH is supported by MS or BS.In addition, position #1 represents whether support ES, and position #2 represents whether support CS, and position #3 represents whether support IS.Particularly, whether position #3 inquiry BS has the ability that receives IS from the IS server, and perhaps whether BS can carry out the ability of IS server.

In addition, the different indication of position #0 is, if this designator is provided with by BS and transmits, then this BS can visit the MIH function via NCMS, and perhaps the service of MIH function can be provided by BS.In addition, if the value of designator is set up and sends to MS, this expression can be used the MAC administrative messag related with MIH (for example, MOB_MSMIH-REQ, MOB_MSMIH-RSP, MOB_BS MIH-REQ, MOB_BS MIH-RSP).

[table 19]

Type	Length	Value	Scope
				The MIH ability	1	Position #0: media independent handovers support (MIH ability) position #1: support Event Service position #2: support command service position #3: support information service bit #4-7: reservation	?REG-REQ ?REG-RSP ?SBC-REQ ?SBC-RSP

Table 20 and table 21 illustrate other the form that can comprise the MIH ability respectively.When switching by trial, perhaps after finishing and carry out the target BS ranging process that initial network enters process, when carrying out the target BS reentrant procedure, mobile subscriber station can comprise its MIH ability information when with the base station negotiate basic capacity and when sending this message to base station thereupon in SBC-REQ message.Table 21 illustrates the example of MIH capable field, and it can be included in the SBC-REQ message with the TLV form.If the MIH ability is available, target BS is set to 1 by the MIH capabilities bits and transmits SBC-RSP message.In this case, the MIH capabilities bits is to be included among the TLV of SBC-RSP message at the form shown in the table 20.

Mobile subscriber station can comprise its MIH ability information in the MOB-REG-REQ message that transmits, to carry out registration process, send this message to base station then.Table 20 illustrates the example of MIH capable field, and it can be included in the REG-REQ message with the TLV form.If the MIH ability is available, then target BS is set to 1 by the MIH capabilities bits and transmits REG-RSP message.In this case, the MIH capabilities bits is to be included among the TLV of REG-RSP message at the form shown in the table 20.

[table 20]

Grammer	Size	Note
			The MIH ability	1	0: do not support MIH 1: support MIH
Information service is supported	1	This field represents whether relevant base station can provide information service from the IS server.0: do not support IS 1: support IS

[table 21]

Grammer	Size	Note
			The MIH performance	1	0: do not support MIH 1: support MIH

When carrying out scanning, the MAC layer of mobile subscriber station receives the beacon message that comprises the MIH ability information from the base station.Therefore, the MAC layer of this mobile subscriber station comprises this information in the Link_Available triggering signal, and this information of notice MIH.

Table 22 illustrates an embodiment who is used for comprising in the Link_Available triggering signal MIH ability information.

[table 22]

Title	Type	Explanation
			Event source	EVENT_LAYER TYPE	From wherein producing the source of incident
The incident destination	EVENT_LAYER_TYPE	Incident is with the destination of transmitting
			The Mac portable terminal	MAC Address	The MAC Address of MSS
The couple in router that Mac is old	MAC Address	The MAC Address of old couple in router
			The couple in router that Mac is new	MAC Address	The MAC Address of new couple in router
IP_Renewal_Indicator		Expression changes the necessity of temporary ip address.0: unnecessary change 1: necessary change
			The MIH ability		0: do not support MIH 1: support MIH
Support Event Service	1	0: the service of support media independent event 1: the service of support media independent event
			Support command service	1	0: the service of support media sepaerate order 1: the service of support media sepaerate order
IS supports		This field represents whether relevant base station can provide information service from the IS server.0: do not support IS 1: support IS

After receiving the DL-MAP that comprises the MIH ability information from the base station, the MAC layer of mobile subscriber station sends the MIH ability information of base station to its MIH via " MH_Capability.indication " primitive.To explain an embodiment of " MIH_Capability.indication " primitive now.

At first will explain the function of " MIH_Capability.indication " primitive.The MAC layer of mobile subscriber station sends the MIH ability information of target BS to its MIH via this primitive.This primitive is sent to upper management entity from MIH then, sends upper management entity to the MIH_Capability information with neighbor base station.This upper management entity can be used for judging whether execution is switched to the network of supporting MIH.In addition, this primitive can directly send upper management entity to by the MAC layer.This upper management entity can use this information to carry out switching with reference to the possibility of the network of supporting MIH when judging.

The semantic expressiveness of " MIH_Capability.indication " primitive is as follows.

MIH_Capability.indication{

Information source;

The destination;

Link identifier;

BS MIH ability;

Support the BS Event Service;

Support the BS command service;

BS IS supports

}

[table 23]

Title	Type	Explanation
			Information source	Event_Source
The destination	Event_Destination
			Link identifier	Network identifier can be of different 802 and cellular network.
BS MIH ability	Mark	0: do not support MIH ability 1: support the MIH ability
			Support the BS Event Service	Mark	0: the service of support media independent event 1: the service of support media independent event
Support the BS command service	Mark	0: the service of support media sepaerate order 1: the service of support media sepaerate order
			Support BS IS	Mark	0: do not support IS 1: support IS

Under the situation of BWA, " BS MIH ability " and " BS IS support " parameter is represented the MIH ability of new base station and the possibility that IS supports respectively.According to each dissimilar medium, the possibility that the MIH ability of the base station (BTS) of the POA of " BS MIH ability " and " BS IS support " parametric representation WLAN (IEEE 802.11) system, the Node B of 3GPP system or 3GPP2 system and IS support.

The time that is used for producing " MIH_Capability.indication " primitive is explained as follows.If the MAC layer of mobile subscriber station receives beacon, DL-MAP or comprises the contiguous notice message of the MIH ability information of point of contact, then generate " MIH_Capability.indication " primitive to send this information to MIH or upper management entity.If MIH (for example finds new network, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.11,3GPP or 3GPP2) have a MIH function, perhaps new network support information service (IS) then generates " MIH_Capability.indication " primitive to notify the information of this discovery to upper management entity.

The effect that receives " MIH_Capability.indication " primitive is explained as follows.After receiving this primitive, MIH or upper management entity obtain the MIH ability information of target BS.

To explain the method that is used for the MIH ability of base station being offered the multi-mode mobile subscriber station now in BWA according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.In following embodiment, describe and switch to IEEE 802.16 systems from IEEE 802.11 systems.But as what mention in the description formerly, the present invention is applicable at least one the system that is operated in BRAN, WLAN and the cellular network.Therefore, allow to switch to different types of WLAN, cellular network or other BRAN.

Method according to one embodiment of the present of invention is explained as follows.At first, the base station primitively comprises MIH ability and IS (information service) support information in the information element (IE) of DL-MAP, transmit this DL-MAP then.In method, explain switching from WLAN according to this embodiment of the present invention.Preferably, this WLAN is operated in IEEE 802.11 systems.

Fig. 7 illustrates when the multi-mode mobile subscriber station of work at present in IEEE 802.11 systems and attempts switching to IEEE 802.16 systems, and receive when being used for the synchronous DL-MAP of MAC, transmit the example of the base station of DL-MAP by in DL-MAP, comprising MIH ability information and IS support information.

With reference to figure 7, IEEE 802.11 MAC of multi-mode mobile subscriber station (MSS) measure the quality of the link of current connection by periodicity or request scanning.If the deterioration of the link of current connection, " Lint_Going_Down " triggering signal are transmitted to the MIH (S710) of MSS.After searching new link, IEEE 802.16 MAC of MSS send " Link_available " triggering signal to the MIH (S720) of MSS.Then, IEEE 802.16 MAC of this MSS receive the decode the DL-MAP that each frame all transmits.802.16 MAC of this MSS obtain the MIH ability information and the IS support information (S730) of target BS from DL-MAP.Subsequently, 802.16 MAC of this MSS MIH (S740) that sends the MIH ability and the IS support information of target BS to MSS via " MIH_Capability.indication " primitive.

Attempt switching to another IEEE802.16 base station at the multi-mode mobile subscriber station from IEEE 802.16 base stations, perhaps the initial network process of entering is that MIH ability and IS support information can obtain via DL-MAP according to the example of Fig. 7 by under the situation about carrying out that the multi-mode mobile subscriber station in IEEE 802.16 base stations is powered.

Method according to an alternative embodiment of the invention is explained as follows.Preferably, in the time of mobile subscriber station and base station negotiate basic capacity, MIH ability information and IS support information obtain via SBC-REQ and SBC-RSP message.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the WLAN that switches among cellular network, BRAN and WLAN s is described.Preferably, WLAN is IEEE 802.11 systems.

Fig. 8 illustrates the example of the multi-mode mobile subscriber station of a work at present in IEEE 802.11 systems, when attempting switching to IEEE 802.16 systems and with the base station negotiate basic capacity time, it obtains MIH ability information and IS support information via SBC-REQ and SBC-RSP message.

With reference to figure 8, if the deterioration of the link that mobile subscriber station (MSS) is currently connected to, then IEEE 802.11 MAC of MSS send " Link_Going_Down " triggering signal to the MIH (S810) of MSS.After the new link of search, IEEE 802.16 MAC of MSS send " Link_Available " triggering signal to the MIH (S820) of MSS.This MSS receives DL-MAP then from the base station, and carries out MAC (S830) synchronously.Then, this MSS receives UL-MAP (S840) from the base station.After this, this MSS sends RNG-REQ message to base station (S850), and this base station sends RNG-RSP message (S860) in response.

After receiving RNG_RSP message, this MSS comprises that in the SBC-REQ message that is sent out its MIH ability information is used for negotiate for basic capability, and sends this message to base station (S870).In response, this base station comprises its MIH ability and IS support information in SBC-RSP message, and corresponding message is sent to MSS (S880).This MSS comprises the MIH ability information of base station in " M_Basic_Capability_Nego.confirmation " primitive, and sends it MIH (S890) of MSS to.Therefore, the MIH of multi-mode mobile subscriber station can discern the base station and whether support MIH function and function serving information.It should be noted that in step S830 to S880, the primitive that between the MIH of IEEE 802.16 MAC and mobile subscriber station, transmits, and another primitive that transmits between the MIH of IEEE 802.16 MAC and base station is omitted.

Attempt switching to another IEEE802.16 base station at the multi-mode mobile subscriber station from IEEE 802.16 base stations, perhaps the initial network process of entering is by under the situation about carrying out that the multi-mode mobile subscriber station in IEEE 802.16 base stations is powered, and MIH ability and IS support information can obtain via SBC-REQ and SBC-RSP message according to embodiment shown in Figure 8.

Method according to an alternative embodiment of the invention is explained as follows.Preferably, when mobile subscriber station was carried out the base station login process, MIH ability information and IS support information obtained via REG-REQ and REG-RSP message.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the WLAN that switches among cellular network, BRAN and WLAN is described.Preferably, wireless lan network is the IEEE802.11 system.

Fig. 9 illustrates the example of the multi-mode mobile subscriber station of work at present in IEEE 802.11 systems, when attempting switching to IEEE 802.16 systems and carrying out the base station login process, it obtains MIH ability information and IS support information via REG-REQ and REG-RSP message.

With reference to figure 9, IEEE 802.11 MAC of multi-mode mobile subscriber station (MSS) by periodically or request scanning measure the quality of the link that MSS is currently connected to.If the deterioration of the link of current connection, then the IEEE 802.11MAC of MSS sends " Lint_Going_Down " triggering signal to the MIH (S901) of MSS.After the new link of search, IEEE 802.16MAC sends " Link_Available " triggering signal to the MIH (S902) of MSS.(BS) receives DL-MAP to this MSS from the base station then, and carries out MAC (S903) synchronously.Then, this MSS receives UL-MAP (S904) from the base station.After this, this MSS sends RNG-REQ message to base station (S905), and this base station sends RNG-RSP message (S906) in response.

This MSS sends SBC-REQ message then to the base station, and with negotiate for basic capability (S907), and this base station sends SBC-RSP message (S908) in response.After receiving SBC-RSP message from the base station, the mobile subscriber stands in and comprises its MIH ability information in the REG-REQ message that is sent out, and carrying out registration process, and sends this message to base station (S909).Therefore, this base station comprises its MIH ability and IS support information in REG-RSP message, and this message is sent to MSS (S910) in response.

After receiving REG-RSP message from the base station, " M_Registration.confirmation " primitive that mobile subscriber station will comprise the MIH ability information of base station sends its MIH (S911) to.Thus, the MIH of multi-mode mobile subscriber station can discern the base station and whether support MIH and function serving information.In step S903 to S910, the primitive that between the MIH of IEEE 802.16 MAC and mobile subscriber station, transmits, and another primitive that transmits between the MIH of IEEE 802.16 MAC and base station is omitted.

Attempt switching to another IEEE802.16 base station at the multi-mode mobile subscriber station from IEEE 802.16 base stations, perhaps the initial network process of entering is by under the situation about carrying out that the multi-mode mobile subscriber station in IEEE 802.16 base stations is powered, and MIH ability and IS support information can obtain via REG-REQ and REG-RSP message according to embodiment shown in Figure 9.

Method according to an alternative embodiment of the invention is explained as follows.In this embodiment of the present invention, the WLAN that switches among cellular network, BRAN and WLAN is described.Preferably, wireless lan network is IEEE 802.11 systems.Preferably, mobile subscriber station receives the broadcast that comprises the MIH ability from the base station.

Figure 10 illustrates the example of the multi-mode mobile subscriber station (MSS) of work at present in IEEE 802.11 systems, and it obtains the MIH ability information via broadcast from IEEE 802.16 base stations (BS).This MSS comprises this information in the MIH that sends MSS to " Link_Available " triggering signal, and transmits this triggering signal when the signal degradation owing to current link scans another interface network.

With reference to Figure 10, the IEEE 802.11MAC of multi-mode mobile subscriber station by periodically or request scanning measure the quality of the link that MSS is currently connected to.If the deterioration of the link of current connection, " Lint_Going_Down " triggering signal are transmitted to the MIH (S1010) of MSS.The MIH of top management entity or MSS guides the IEEE802.16 MAC of MSS to go to carry out scanning to search for available or available base station (S1020) then.IEEE 802.16 MAC that carry out scanning process receive broadcast (S1030) from IEEE 802.16 base stations.After this, IEEE 802.16 MAC will be included in the MIH (S1040) that MIH ability information in the broadcast sends MSS to via " Link_Available " triggering signal.

Attempt switching to another IEEE802.16 base station at the multi-mode mobile subscriber station from IEEE 802.16 base stations, perhaps the initial network process of entering is by under the situation about carrying out that the multi-mode mobile subscriber station in IEEE 802.16 base stations is powered, and MIH ability and IS support information can obtain via SBC-REQ and SBC-RSP message according to embodiment shown in Figure 8.

Method according to an alternative embodiment of the invention is explained as follows.At first, the base station comprises its MIH ability and information service (IS) support information in contiguous announcement (MOB_NBR-ADV) message, and transmits this message.Mobile subscriber station obtains this information, and uses it to go to judge whether to carry out switching.

With reference to Figure 11, because the signal quality deteriorates of current link, the multi-mode mobile subscriber station (MSS) of work at present in the IEEE802.11 system carried out the scanning process for other interface networks.In doing so, the multi-mode mobile subscriber station obtains the MIH ability information by receiving contiguous announcement (MOB_NBR-ADV) message that transmits from IEEE 802.16 base stations (BS).This MSS sends the MIH ability information and the IS support information of target BS to its MIH via MIH_CapabiHty.indication primitive then.Preferably, this primitive can be transmitted to upper management entity.Obtaining from scanning process under the situation of MIH ability information, can send the MIH of MSS from the MIH ability information of MOB_NBR-ADV message acquisition to via the Link_Available triggering signal.

IEEE 802.11 MAC of multi-mode mobile subscriber station measure the quality of the link of current access by periodicity or request scanning.If the deterioration of the link of current access, then " Lint_Going_Down " triggering signal is transmitted to the MIH (S1101) of MSS.After the new link of search, IEEE 802.16 MAC send the Link_Available triggering signal to the MIH (S1102) of MSS.

After this, IEEE 802.16 MAC of this MSS receive the decode the DL-MAP (S1103) that each frame all transmits from the base station.In addition, IEEE 802.16 MAC inspection intervals are to know when downlink channel descriptor (DCD) is transmitted (S1105).Mobile subscriber station with DCD of reception can distribute by the burst that current base station obtains to use in encoded broadcast message.Therefore, mobile subscriber station can use the broadcast that burst distributes and decodes and receive.By receiving DL-MAP (S1106), this MSS can check that when being close to announcement (MOB_NBR-ADV) message is transmitted, so that receive this message.Vicinity announcement (MOB_NBR-ADV) acquisition (S1107) that the downlink burst distribution decoding that the MIH ability information of current base station and IS support information obtain via DCD by use receives.This mobile subscriber station sends the MIH ability information and the IS support information of current base station to its MIH (S1108) via MM_capability.indication primitive then, and wherein this primitive can send upper management entity (S1108) to.

Attempting switching under the situation of another IEEE 802.16 base stations from IEEE 802.16 base stations, perhaps carrying out by the multi-mode mobile subscriber station in IEEE 802.16 base stations is powered under the situation that initial network enters process, the multi-mode mobile subscriber station can obtain MIH ability and IS support information via MOB_NBR-ADV message according to embodiment shown in Figure 11.

Therefore, the invention provides following advantage. At first, trial from another interface network (for example, IEEE 802.11,3GPP, 3GPP2) switch to the multi-mode mobile subscriber station of BWA, trial switches to the mobile subscriber station of another base station in the same wideband wireless access system, perhaps in the base station of BWA, carry out initial network and enter the mobile subscriber station of process, be connected to MIH ability and the IS support information that this base station obtains target BS by trial, thereby identify easily the ability of the target BS related with media independent handovers.

Industrial applicibility

Current instruction can easily be applied to comprise all types of devices of portable terminal and base station. Description of the invention is intended that illustrative, rather than limits the scope of this claim. Replacement, modifications and variations many for those skilled in the art will be apparent. In the claims, device adds the function clause and is intended that when carrying out the function enumerate and covers structure described herein and be not only structural equivalence, and is the structure of equivalence.

Claims (17)

1. method of supporting the switching of portable terminal, this method comprises:

Execution is different from the scanning of adjacent network of the current network of described portable terminal, but to determine to exist the access link of the described adjacent network that is used to carry out switching, wherein said portable terminal comprises heterogeneous network handover module, it is configured to be provided as unified expression with assembling from the information of at least one Network Interface Module, and described at least one Network Interface Module is related with one of isomorphism and heterogeneous network; And

Receive informational message from described adjacent network, wherein said informational message comprises and the described adjacent network related information element of whether can communicating by letter with the described heterogeneous network handover module of described portable terminal.

2. method according to claim 1, if wherein described adjacent network has the heterogeneous network switching capability, so described portable terminal uses medium access control administrative messag to communicate by letter with described adjacent network.

3. method according to claim 1 further comprises:

Before carrying out described scanning, scan request is offered the BRAN interface from described heterogeneous network handover module.

4. according to the method for claim described 1, wherein said informational message receives via the medium access control of described BRAN interface, and sends described heterogeneous network handover module to.

5. method according to claim 1 wherein comprises further that from the described informational message of described adjacent network information service supports designator, Event Service to support designator and command service to support at least one in the designator.

6. method according to claim 1, wherein said informational message are that broadcast message, frame are checked in head message, registration reply message, subscriber station basic capacity response message and the neighbor base station broadcast.

7. method according to claim 1, wherein the described information element that is received by the medium access control of described portable terminal is transmitted to described heterogeneous network handover module.

8. method according to claim 7, wherein said medium access control can utilize one of message and ability Indication message to send described heterogeneous network handover module to via link.

9. method of supporting the switching of portable terminal, this method comprises:

Communicate by letter with current network;

Receive broadcast from described current network, described current network is included in the interior heterogeneous network of serving BS and at least one in the heterogeneous network in neighbor base station; And

The heterogeneous network handover module that will the information related offers described portable terminal with described heterogeneous network in the serving BS and the described heterogeneous network in the neighbor base station, wherein said heterogeneous network handover module is configured to be provided as unified expression with assembling from the information of at least one Network Interface Module, and described at least one Network Interface Module is related with one of described isomorphism and described heterogeneous network.

10. method of supporting the switching of portable terminal, this method comprises:

The request message that will comprise information element sends current network to, whether described information element supports that with described portable terminal heterogeneous network handover module is related, described heterogeneous network handover module is configured to be provided as unified expression with assembling from the information of at least one Network Interface Module, and described at least one Network Interface Module is related with one of isomorphism and heterogeneous network; And

Receive response message from described current network, described response message comprises and the described current network related information element of whether can communicating by letter with the heterogeneous network handover module of described portable terminal.

11. a method of supporting the switching of portable terminal, this method comprises:

Receive request message from described portable terminal, this request message comprises with described portable terminal whether supporting the information element that heterogeneous network handover module is related, described heterogeneous network handover module is configured to be provided as unified expression with assembling from the information of at least one Network Interface Module, and described at least one Network Interface Module is related with one of isomorphism and heterogeneous network; And

Transmit response message to described portable terminal, this response message comprises and the current network related information element of whether can communicating by letter with the described heterogeneous network handover module of described portable terminal.

12. method according to claim 11, if wherein described current network has the heterogeneous network switching capability, so described portable terminal uses medium access control administrative messag to communicate by letter with described current network.

13. method according to claim 11 further comprises:

Before receiving described request message, via the described heterogeneous network handover module reception scan request of BRAN interface from described portable terminal.

14. method according to claim 11, wherein said response message sends via the medium access control of described BRAN interface.

15. method according to claim 11, wherein said response message further comprise in information service support designator, Event Service support designator and the command service support designator at least one.

16. according to the method for claim 11, wherein said response message is that broadcast message, frame are checked in head message, registration reply message, subscriber station basic capacity response message and the neighbor base station broadcast.

17. a method of supporting the switching of portable terminal, this method comprises:

With described communication of mobile terminal; And

Send broadcast to described portable terminal from current network, described broadcast is included in the interior heterogeneous network of serving BS and at least one in the heterogeneous network in neighbor base station,

Wherein said portable terminal will the information related with described heterogeneous network in the serving BS and the described heterogeneous network in the neighbor base station offers the heterogeneous network handover module of described portable terminal, wherein said heterogeneous network handover module is configured to be provided as unified expression with assembling from the information of at least one Network Interface Module, and described at least one Network Interface Module is related with one of isomorphism and heterogeneous network.

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