JP2009171239A - Radio channel control apparatus, radio communication system, control method thereof, and, program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication system capable of selecting a communication line between radio channel control apparatuses in accordance with a network to which user equipment belongs. <P>SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a radio channel control apparatus for a radio access network shared by a plurality of networks, comprising a discrimination unit 111 and a selection unit 112. The discrimination unit 111 discriminates a network to which user equipment belongs. In accordance with a result of the discrimination in the discrimination unit 111, the selection unit 112 selects a communication line between the present apparatus and another radio channel control apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio network controller and a radio communication system, and more particularly to a radio communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network, and a radio network controller used in such a radio communication system. The present invention also relates to a control method and program for the wireless communication system.

  Network Sharing is known in which a RAN (Radio Access Network) that is a radio access network is shared by a plurality of PLMNs (Public Land Mobile Networks) that are networks connected to the RAN (Non-Patent Document 1). In this specification, this function is called RAN Sharing. In RAN Sharing, multiple PLMNs can use one RAN. The RAN includes a plurality of radio network controllers (RNC (Radio Network Controller)). When AAL2 switching (ATM Adaptation Layer 2 switching) is used, an Iur line that connects RNCs can be configured via an MGW (Media Gateway) that is a core network node of PLMN, for example.

  RAN Sharing will be described. FIG. 6 shows RAN Sharing. CN # A221 is a core network (CN) owned by PLMN # A. CN # B 222 is a core network owned by PLMN # B. RAN # 1 (210) has RNC # 1 (211). The RNC # 1 (211) can be connected to both the CN #A 221 and the CN #B 222 through the logical interface Iu. If RAN Sharing is not used, in a broader sense, one RAN is used by one PLMN, unless Network Sharing is used. When RAN Sharing is used, a plurality of PLMNs (PLMN # A, PLMN # B) can share and use one RAN # 1 (210).

3GPP TR 22.951 V6.1.0 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects Service aspects and requirements for network sharing (Release 6))

  In RAN, a maximum of one Iur line is configured for each neighboring RNC. When communicating between RNCs, the same Iur line is used regardless of the network to which the user apparatus belongs. For example, in FIG. 6, when RNC # 1 (211) communicates with another nearby RNC (not shown) using an Iur line, even if the PLMN to which the user apparatus belongs is PLMN #A. , PLMN # B uses the same Iur line. The Iur line between RNCs may be appropriate for PLMN # A but not for PLMN # B. That is, when an Iur line is configured using AAL2 switching, the Iur line may pass through the MGW. In general, the MGW is a node in the core network and not part of the RAN. For this reason, in RAN Sharing, the problem that MGW which should not be originally shared will also be shared. This will be described below.

  FIG. 7 shows the RAN. RNC # 1 (211) places cell # 1 (241) and cell # 2 (242) under control, and RNC # 2 (212) places cell # 3 (243) and cell # 4 (244) under control. Put. The Iur line between the RNC # 1 (211) and the RNC # 2 (212) is configured by an AAL2 path (hereinafter also simply referred to as a path) #A. MGW # A231 is a media gateway owned by PLMN # A, and is a node in CN # A221 of PLMN # A. MGW # B is a media gateway owned by PLMN # B and is a node in CN # B 222 of PLMN # B.

  The path #A between the RNC # 1 (211) and the RNC # 2 (212) reaches the RNC # 2 (212) from the RNC # 1 (211) via the MGW #A 231. By RAN Sharing, RNC # 1 (211), RNC # 2 (212), and cell # 1 to cell # 4 (241 to 244) are shared by PLMN #A and PLMN #B. Actually, NodeB exists under RNC, and cells exist under NodeB, but NodeB is omitted in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, UE (User Equipment) # B252 belonging to PLMN #B is handed over from cell # 2 (242) under RNC # 1 (211) to cell # 3 (243) under RNC # 2 (212). Consider the case. In this case, Control-plane data and User-plane data (hereinafter, also referred to simply as data without distinguishing them) are transmitted from RNC # 1 (211) to RNC using path #A. # 2 (212). This is because the Iur line between RNC # 1 (211) and RNC # 2 (212) is configured with path #A regardless of the PLMN to which the UE belongs. Since the path #A is configured to pass through the MGW #A (231), an MGW that should not be originally shared is shared in the RAN Sharing, which is a problem.

  As described above, the system described in Non-Patent Document 1 has a problem that a communication line according to a network to which a user apparatus belongs cannot be selected for communication between wireless line control apparatuses. The cause of this problem is that the same Iur line is used for communication between the radio network controllers regardless of the network to which the user apparatus belongs. As a result, in a wireless communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network, there is also a problem that the plurality of networks share not only the radio access network but also the core network node.

  The present invention provides a radio network controller, a radio communication system, a control method, and a program capable of solving the above-described problems and selecting a communication channel between radio network controllers according to a network to which a user apparatus belongs. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, a radio network controller of the present invention is a radio network controller used in a radio communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network, and determines a network to which a user apparatus belongs. And a selection unit configured to select a communication line between the own apparatus and another radio network controller according to the determination result.

  The wireless communication system of the present invention is a wireless communication system in which a plurality of networks share a wireless access network, and includes a first wireless line control device that controls a first wireless communication area, and a second wireless communication area A second wireless channel control device that controls the first wireless channel control device, when the user device moves from the first wireless communication area to the second wireless communication area, A network to which the user apparatus belongs is determined, and a communication line with the second radio network controller is selected according to the determination result.

  A control method for a radio network controller of the present invention is a radio network controller control method in a radio communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network, the step of determining a network to which a user apparatus belongs, Selecting a communication line between the radio network controller and another radio network controller according to the determination result.

  A method for controlling a wireless communication system according to the present invention includes a first wireless channel control device that controls a first wireless communication area, and a second wireless channel control device that controls a second wireless communication area. A control method of a radio communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network, and when the user apparatus moves from the first radio communication area to the second radio communication area, the user apparatus A network to which the mobile station belongs is determined, and a communication line between the first wireless line control device and the second wireless line control device is selected according to the determination result.

  The program of the present invention is a program for controlling a radio network controller in a radio communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network, and a process for discriminating a network to which a user apparatus belongs, according to the discrimination result, A process of selecting a communication line between the wireless line control device and another wireless line control device is executed.

  The program of the present invention includes a first radio network controller that controls a first radio communication area and a second radio network controller that controls a second radio communication area, and a plurality of networks A program for controlling a wireless communication system sharing a wireless access network, wherein a network to which the user apparatus belongs when the user apparatus moves from the first wireless communication area to the second wireless communication area And determining a communication line between the first wireless line control device and the second wireless line control device according to the determination result.

  In the radio network controller, radio communication system, control method, and program of the present invention, a communication channel between radio network controllers can be selected according to the network to which the user apparatus belongs.

  Prior to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, an outline of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the radio network controller of the present invention. The radio network controller 110 includes a determination unit 111 and a selection unit 112. The radio network controller 110 is used in a radio communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network. The determination unit 111 determines the network to which the user device belongs. The selection unit 112 selects a communication line between the own device and another radio network controller according to the determination result in the determination unit 111. The selection unit 112 can select a communication line between the wireless line control apparatuses according to the network to which the user apparatus belongs by selecting a communication line between the own apparatus and another wireless line control apparatus according to the determination result. . In particular, in a wireless communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network by selecting a communication line that does not pass through a core network node owned by a network other than the network to which the user apparatus belongs by the selection unit 112, the core network Communication between radio network controllers can be performed without sharing nodes.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 2 shows a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The radio communication system includes RNC (Radio Network Control Device) # 1 (11), RNC # 2 (12), cells # 1 to # 4 (41 to 44), MGW # A31, which constitutes a RAN (Radio Access Network). It has MGW # B32. This wireless communication system is shared by a plurality of PLMN networks (CN # A21, CN # B22). RNC # 1 (11) places cell # 1 (41) and cell # 2 (42) under control, and RNC # 2 (12) places cell # 3 (43) and cell # 4 (44) under control. Put. MGW # A31 is a media gateway owned by PLMN # A and is a node in CN # A21. MGW # B32 is a media gateway owned by PLMN # B and is a node in CN # B22.

  In the present embodiment, the Iur line registered between RNC # 1 (11) and RNC # 2 (12) has a path # that passes through MGW # B32 in addition to path #A that passes through MGW # A31. 7 is different from the configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, media gateways (MGW # A31, MGW # B32) are described as examples of nodes used for AAL2 switching. However, if a node has a transfer function, it is not an MGW. May be. For example, a mobile switching center (MSC) can be used.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the RNC. The RNC # 1 (11) includes a belonging PLMN determination unit 101, a path selection unit 102, a database 103, and a belonging PLMN storage unit 104. RNC # 2 (12) may have the same elements. The affiliated PLMN storage unit 104 stores a correspondence relationship between the UE and the registered PLMN (affiliated network) of the UE. Here, “Registered PLMN” refers to a PLMN in which a UE owns a CN node whose location is registered with respect to CS Domain or PS Domain. The RNC # 1 (11), which is an SRNC (Serving RNC), can know the registered PLMN of the UE in the location registration procedure. After the location registration procedure, the SNRC stores the registered PLMN of the UE in the affiliated PLMN storage unit 104 in association with the UE. Since the location registration procedure is well known to those skilled in the art and is not directly related to the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The RNC # 1 (11) has a plurality of Iur lines with the RNC # 2 (12) which is a DRNC (Drift RNC). The plurality of Iur lines correspond to each of the plurality of PLMNs. That is, the RNC # 1 (11) and the RNC # 2 (12) have an Iur line (path #A) corresponding to PLMN #A and an Iur line (path #B) corresponding to PLMN #B. Have The database 103 stores the correspondence relationship between the PLMN and the Iur line.

  The belonging PLMN determination unit 101 refers to the belonging PLMN storage unit 104 to determine the registered PLMN of the UE. The path selection unit 102 refers to the database 103 to check an Iur line (path) corresponding to the PLMN determined by the belonging PLMN determination unit 101 and selects the path as an Iur line between the SRNC and the DRNC.

  With reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3, operation | movement in case UE # A51 hands over from cell # 2 (42) to cell # 3 (43) is demonstrated. The Registered PLMN of UE # A51 is PLMN # A. This information is stored in the affiliated PLMN storage unit 104. At the time of handover, the belonging PLMN determining unit 101 refers to the belonging PLMN storage unit 104 and determines that the Registered PLMN of the UE #A 51 is PLMN #A. The path selection unit 102 refers to the database 103 to check the Iur line corresponding to the PLMN #A, and determines the path #A between the SRNC (RNC # 1 (11)) and the DRNC (RNC # 2 (12)). Select as Iur line between. Thereafter, the SRNC performs data transmission using the selected path #A.

  Next, a case will be described in which UE #B 52 performs handover from cell # 2 (42) to cell # 3 (43). The Registered PLMN of UE # B52 is PLMN # B. At the time of handover, the belonging PLMN determining unit 101 refers to the belonging PLMN storage unit 104 and determines that the Registered PLMN of the UE #B is PLMN #B. The path selection unit 102 refers to the database 103 to check the Iur line corresponding to the PLMN #B, and determines the path #B between the SRNC (RNC # 1 (11)) and the DRNC (RNC # 2 (12)). Select as Iur line between. Thereafter, the SRNC performs data transmission using the selected path #B.

  In addition, when a certain UE is handed over from the cell # 2 (42) to the cell # 3 (43), the SRNC uses an AAL2 Endpoint Address that uses the Iur line prepared for the registered PLMN of the UE. , Notify DRNC. For example, when UE #A 51 is handed over from cell # 2 (42) to cell # 3 (43), the SRNC notifies the DRNC of AAL2 Endpoint Address that uses path #A. In addition, when UE #B 52 is handed over from cell # 2 (42) to cell # 3 (43), the SRNC notifies the DRNC of AAL2 Endpoint Address using path #B. When the DRNC transmits data for the UE, the Iur line may be selected in accordance with the AAL2 Endpoint Address notified from the SRNC.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of Iur lines are prepared between the RNCs, and the Iur line to be used is selected according to the registered PLMN of the UE. By doing in this way, the path | pass used for data transmission is switchable according to Registered PLMN of UE. Specifically, for UE # A51 with Registered PLMN PLMN # A, an Iur line (path #A) via MGW # A31 is used, and for UE # B52 with Registered PLMN PLMN # B, MGW # An Iur line (path #B) via B32 can be used. Therefore, in this embodiment, in RAN Sharing, an Iur line using AAL2 switching can be realized without sharing a CN node held by each PLMN.

  In the above embodiment, an Iur line using AAL2 switching is prepared between RNC # 1 (11) and RNC # 2 (12). However, an AAL2 switching is used for the Iur line between two RNCs. It is also possible to use a line other than the Iur line using. FIG. 4 shows a modified radio communication system. In this example, a direct connection Iur using PVC (Permanent Virtual Circuit) is configured between RNC # 1 (11) and RNC # 2 (12). This directly connected Iur is registered in the database 103 in association with PLMN # B. The operation when the UE #A 51 is handed over from the cell # 2 (42) to the cell # 3 (43) is the same as in the above embodiment. On the other hand, when the UE #B 52 is handed over, the database 103 is referred to, and the path #B configured with the direct connection Iur is selected. Since the path #B does not pass through the node held by the PLMN #A, it is possible to avoid the problem that the node held by the PLMN, which is a problem in the RAN Sharing, is shared among a plurality of PLMNs.

  FIG. 5 shows another modification. In this example, neither Iur using AAL2 switching nor direct connection Iur using PVC is configured between RNC # 1 (11) and RNC # 2 (12) other than path #A. That is, the path #B is not set. No path setting can be set by leaving an entry corresponding to PLMN # B in the database 103 blank. The operation when the UE #A 51 is handed over from the cell # 2 (42) to the cell # 3 (43) is the same as in the above embodiment. On the other hand, when UE #B 52 tries to move from cell # 2 (42) to cell # 3 (43), since there is no Iur line and soft handover is not possible, SRNS Relocation without Iur is activated and RNC # 2 (12) is rearranged as SRNC. The SRNS Relocation without Iur is well known to those skilled in the art and is not directly related to the present invention, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. By doing in this way, it is possible to provide a difference in operation at the time of cell movement between UE #A 51 and UE #B 52 existing in cells under the same RNC # 1 (11).

  Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiments, the radio network controller, the radio communication system, the control method, and the program of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments, and What changed and changed variously from the structure of embodiment is also contained in the scope of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radio network controller of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a radio network controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the radio | wireless communications system of a modification. The block diagram which shows the radio | wireless communications system of another modification. The block diagram which shows RAN which performs RAN Sharing. The block diagram which shows the Iur line which connects between a radio network controller and a radio network controller.

Explanation of symbols

11, 12: Radio network controller (RNC)
21 and 22: Core network (CN)
31, 32: Media gateway (MGW)
41-44: cells 51, 52: user equipment (UE)
101: Affiliation PLMN discrimination unit 102: Path selection unit 103: Database 104: Affiliation PLMN storage unit 110: Radio network controller 111: Discrimination unit 112: Selection unit

Claims (15)

A radio network controller used in a radio communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network,
A discriminator for discriminating the network to which the user device belongs;
A radio network controller having a selection unit that selects a communication channel between the device itself and another radio network controller according to the determination result.   The selection unit refers to a database that stores the network and a communication line between wireless communication control devices in association with each other, and selects a communication line between the own device and the other wireless line control device. The radio network controller according to 1.   The radio network controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the selection unit selects a communication channel that does not pass through a core network node owned by a network other than the network to which the user device belongs.   4. The radio network controller according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit transmits an address corresponding to the selected communication channel to the other radio network controller. 5.   The radio network controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication network includes an Iur channel using AAL2 switching (ATM Adaptation Layer 2 switching).   The radio network controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication line between the radio network controllers includes a directly connected Iur circuit using PVC (Permanent Virtual Circuit). A wireless communication system in which a plurality of networks share a wireless access network,
A first radio network controller that controls a first radio communication area; and a second radio network controller that controls a second radio communication area;
The first radio network controller determines a network to which the user apparatus belongs when the user apparatus moves from the first radio communication area to the second radio communication area, and according to the determination result, A wireless communication system for selecting a communication line with the second wireless line control device.   The first radio network controller is a communication network that does not pass through a network node owned by a network other than the network to which the determined user apparatus belongs, among the communication networks with the second radio network controller. The wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein   The first wireless channel control device provides various functions to subordinate user devices, and a network to which the determined user device belongs to a communication line with the second wireless channel control device. 9. The processing according to claim 8, wherein when there is no communication line that can be used, a process of rearranging a radio network controller that provides various functions to the user apparatus to the second radio network controller is performed. Wireless communication system. A control method of a radio network controller in a radio communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network,
Determining the network to which the user device belongs;
And a step of selecting a communication line between the radio network controller and another radio network controller according to the determination result.   In the selecting step, a communication line between the wireless line control device and another wireless line control device is selected by referring to a database that stores the network and a communication line between the wireless communication control devices in association with each other. The control method according to claim 10.   The control method according to claim 11, wherein in the selecting step, a communication line that does not pass through a network node owned by a network other than the network to which the user apparatus belongs is selected. A plurality of networks share a radio access network, including a first radio network controller that controls a first radio communication area and a second radio network controller that controls a second radio communication area A control method for a wireless communication system, comprising:
When the user apparatus moves from the first wireless communication area to the second wireless communication area, the network to which the user apparatus belongs is determined, and according to the determination result, the first wireless channel control apparatus and A control method for selecting a communication line with the second radio network controller. A program for controlling a radio network controller in a radio communication system in which a plurality of networks share a radio access network,
Processing to determine the network to which the user device belongs;
A program for executing a process of selecting a communication line between the radio network controller and another radio network controller according to the determination result. A plurality of networks share a radio access network, including a first radio network controller that controls a first radio communication area and a second radio network controller that controls a second radio communication area A program for controlling a wireless communication system,
When the user apparatus moves from the first wireless communication area to the second wireless communication area, the network to which the user apparatus belongs is determined, and according to the determination result, the first wireless channel control apparatus and A program for executing processing for selecting a communication line with the second radio network controller.

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