JP2011004125A - Communication system, femtocell base station apparatus, communication processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system that continues communication services to a mobile terminal to be connected with a femtocell base station apparatus, even if congestion and a communication quality problem occur in a relay point of an IP (Internet Protocol) network.SOLUTION: The communication system has: a signal processor which is connected with a first IP network and a second IP network via a mobile communication network, converts a radio packet to be received from the mobile communication network into an IP packet to transmit the IP packet to the second IP network; and the femtocell base station apparatus which is connected with the mobile terminal and the first IP network, periodically examines whether a gateway device which connects the first IP network and the second IP network is normal, and when the gateway device is normal, when receiving the radio packet addressed to an information terminal connected with the second IP network from the mobile terminal, converts the radio packet into the IP packet to transmit the IP packet to the second IP network via the first IP network, and when the gateway device is not normal, transmits the radio packet addressed to the information terminal to be received from the mobile terminal to the signal processor via the first IP network and the mobile communication network.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, a femtocell base station apparatus, a communication processing method, and a program for causing a femtocell base station apparatus to execute the method.

  The number of wireless base stations for mobile terminals such as mobile phones to connect to a network by wireless communication has increased, and the area in which mobile terminals can communicate has expanded. A radio base station that has a large radio wave output and is mainly installed outdoors is called a macro cell base station apparatus. However, in high-rise buildings, residential buildings, underground malls, etc., there is a problem that the communication state between the mobile terminal and the radio base station is poor even if the radio wave output of the macro cell base station is further increased.

  In recent years, femtocell base station devices (hereinafter referred to as femtocells) having a very small radio wave output and a communication range of several tens of meters have been installed in the above-mentioned poor communication conditions (patents). Reference 1).

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system including femtocells. As shown in FIG. 12, the femtocell 200 is connected to the IP network 30 via an IP (Internet Protocol) network 3. The IP network 3 corresponds to a narrow area network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) managed by a provider that provides a communication service or a corporate LAN. The IP network 30 corresponds to a wide area network that is deployed over a wider area than the IP network 3. The IP network 30 is, for example, the Internet.

  In the following, in order to simplify the description, a case where there is one IP network 3 will be described, but a plurality of IP networks 3 connected to the IP network 30 may be provided. A packet transmitted in each of the IP network 3 and the IP network 30 is attached with a header including information on the transmission destination and the transmission source. Packet communication in the IP network 3 and the IP network 30 conforms to the Internet protocol, and a detailed description of the rules is omitted here.

  The IP network 3 and the IP network 30 are connected to network communication equipment including a router that performs packet transfer processing, but the configuration thereof is not shown in the figure. A gateway device 100 is connected to a communication line 150 that connects the IP network 3 and the IP network 30. The gateway device 100 transmits a packet received from the IP network 3 to the IP network 30 and transmits a packet received from the IP network 30 to the IP network 3. The mobile terminal 1 is connected to the femtocell 200 by wireless communication. The information terminal 9 connected to the IP network 30 may be a server, a desktop personal computer, or a mobile terminal.

  A data communication processing method will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  The mobile terminal 1 transmits data addressed to the information terminal 9 connected to the IP network 30 to the femtocell 200 in a wireless packet. When the femtocell 200 receives data addressed to the information terminal 9 from the mobile terminal 1 as a wireless packet, the femtocell 200 performs a packet conversion process for converting the wireless packet into an IP packet so that the wireless packet can be transmitted through the IP network 30. The femtocell 200 transmits the IP packet generated by the packet conversion process to the IP network 30 via the IP network 3 and the gateway device 100. The IP packet is delivered from the femtocell 200 to the information terminal 9 connected to the IP network 30 via the path 32 shown in FIG.

JP 2009-94559 A

  In the communication system described above, when congestion or a communication quality problem occurs in the communication line 150 connecting the IP network 3 and the IP network 30, the gateway device 100 normally transmits and receives packets between the IP network 3 and the IP network 30. You can't. Even if there is no problem with the communication line 150, the same applies when a problem occurs in the gateway device 100. When the gateway device 100 does not operate normally, the femtocell 200 can communicate with the mobile terminal 1, but communication with the IP network 30 becomes difficult. In the worst case, packet communication may not be possible between the mobile terminal 1 and the information terminal 9, or a call may not be possible between the user of the mobile terminal 1 and the user of the information terminal 9.

  As a countermeasure for the problem, it is considered that the mobile terminal 1 communicates with the information terminal 9 of the IP network 30 via the macrocell base station apparatus while the gateway apparatus 100 is not operating normally.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of a related communication system. The radio base station 8 shown in FIG. 13 corresponds to a macro cell base station apparatus. The mobile communication network 5 to which the radio base station 8 is connected is connected to the IP network 30. A radio network controller (RNC: Radio Network Controller) 70 that performs signal processing is connected to the mobile communication network 5.

  While the gateway device 100 is not operating normally, the function of the femtocell 2 is turned off so that the mobile terminal 1 cannot be connected to the femtocell 200. Since the mobile terminal 1 cannot be connected to the femtocell 200, the mobile terminal 1 is connected to the radio base station 8 by radio communication. As a result, the mobile terminal 1 can communicate with the information terminal 9 of the IP network 30 through the path 34 that passes through the mobile communication network 5.

  However, in many cases, femtocells are introduced as a measure for dead areas of the radio base station 8. In such a case, the countermeasure as shown in FIG. 13 cannot be performed. Therefore, when a problem occurs in the communication line 150 or the gateway device 100, the mobile terminal 1 in the blind area of the radio base station 8 can receive a communication service even in an area where it can communicate with the femtocell 2. It becomes the same as being “out of service area”, and communication with the IP network 30 becomes impossible.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the technology, and a mobile terminal connected to a femtocell base station apparatus even when congestion or communication quality problems occur at a relay point of an IP network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system, a femtocell base station apparatus, a communication processing method, and a program for causing a femtocell base station apparatus to execute the communication service.

To achieve the above object, the communication system of the present invention comprises:
A communication unit for connecting to the first IP network and the second IP network via the mobile communication network, and a radio packet received from the mobile communication network is converted into an IP packet and transmitted to the second IP network A signal processing device including a signal processing unit to perform,
The communication unit for connecting to the mobile terminal and the first IP network and the gateway device connecting the first IP network and the second IP network are periodically checked to determine whether they are normal, When the gateway device is normal, when a wireless packet addressed to an information terminal connected to the second IP network is received from the mobile terminal, the wireless packet is converted into an IP packet and passed through the first IP network. If the gateway device is not normal and the wireless packet addressed to the information terminal is received from the mobile terminal, the wireless packet is transmitted to the first IP network and the mobile communication network. A femtocell base station apparatus including a control unit that transmits to the signal processing apparatus via
Have

Moreover, the femtocell base station apparatus of the present invention is
A communication unit for connecting to the mobile terminal and the first IP network;
It is periodically checked whether the gateway device connecting the first IP network and the second IP network is normal, and when the gateway device is normal, information connected to the second IP network When a wireless packet addressed to a terminal is received from the mobile terminal, the wireless packet is converted into an IP packet and transmitted to the second IP network via the first IP network. When a wireless packet addressed to the information terminal is received from the mobile terminal, the wireless communication device is provided in a mobile communication network connected to the first and second IP networks and transmits the wireless packet to an IP packet. A control unit for transmitting packets via the first IP network and the mobile communication network;
Have

The communication processing method of the present invention is a communication processing method by a femtocell base station apparatus connected to the first IP network,
Regularly check whether the gateway device connecting the first IP network and the second IP network is normal,
When it is determined that the gateway device is normal, when a wireless packet addressed to an information terminal connected to a second IP network is received from a mobile terminal, the wireless packet is converted into an IP packet and the first IP network And when the wireless device addressed to the information terminal is received from the mobile terminal when the gateway device determines that the gateway device is not normal, the first and second IP networks and The wireless packet is transmitted through the first IP network and the mobile communication network to a signal processing device that is provided in the connected mobile communication network and converts the wireless packet into an IP packet.

Furthermore, the program of the present invention is a program for causing a femtocell base station apparatus connected to the first IP network to execute the program,
Regularly check whether the gateway device connecting the first IP network and the second IP network is normal,
When it is determined that the gateway device is normal, when a wireless packet addressed to an information terminal connected to a second IP network is received from a mobile terminal, the wireless packet is converted into an IP packet and the first IP network And when the wireless device addressed to the information terminal is received from the mobile terminal when the gateway device determines that the gateway device is not normal, the first and second IP networks and The femtocell base station apparatus performs a process of transmitting the wireless packet via the first IP network and the mobile communication network to a signal processing apparatus that is provided in the connected mobile communication network and converts the wireless packet into an IP packet. To be executed.

  According to the present invention, when a trouble occurs at a relay point connecting two IP networks, the data transmission path is switched to a path via the mobile communication network, so that the mobile terminal connected to the femtocell can be connected via the mobile communication network. Data can be transmitted, and services for users of mobile terminals can be maintained.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating an example of the communication system of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows one structural example of the femtocell shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a specific configuration of the femtocell illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the gateway shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of RNC shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the gateway apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement procedure of the femtocell of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed procedure in the determination process of step 101 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows another procedure in the determination process of step 101 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows another procedure in the determination process of step 101 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the communication system of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of a related communication system. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of a related communication system.

  A communication system having the femtocell of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a communication system according to the present embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to the structure demonstrated by background art, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The communication system of this embodiment includes a femtocell 2 connected to the IP network 3 and an RNC 7 connected to the mobile communication network 5. The gateway 4 is connected to each of the IP network 3 and the mobile communication network 5. The IP network 30 is connected to the mobile communication network 5. The IP network 3 is connected to the IP network 30 via the gateway device 10 and the communication line 150.

  Next, the configuration of the femtocell 2 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the femtocell illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the femtocell 2 includes a communication unit 22 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the mobile terminal 1 and the IP network 3, and a control unit 21 that performs communication control by determining whether the gateway device 10 is normal. Have

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of the femtocell shown in FIG.

  The communication unit 22 of the femtocell 2 includes a wireless communication unit 221 that performs wireless communication with the mobile terminal 1 and a network connection unit 222 that connects to the IP network 3. The control unit 21 responds to the determination result of the timer 213 that measures the waiting time of the response signal from the gateway device 10, the gateway device monitoring unit 212 that determines whether the gateway device 10 is normal, and the barrier device monitoring unit 212. A communication path selection unit 211 that determines how to process the wireless packet, and a packet conversion processing unit 214 that converts the wireless packet into an IP packet.

  In this embodiment, the communication path selection unit 211, the gateway device monitoring unit 212, the timer 213, and the packet conversion processing unit 214 are configured with dedicated circuits for executing the respective functions. Note that a memory (not shown) in which a program is stored and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) are provided in the control unit 21, and the CPU executes processing according to the program, whereby the communication path selection unit 211, At least one or all of the gateway device monitoring unit 212 and the packet conversion processing unit 214 may be virtually configured in the femtocell 2.

  The gateway device monitoring unit 212 transmits a health check signal to the gateway device 10 via the network connection unit 222 at regular intervals for the purpose of confirming the states of the gateway device 10 and the communication line 150. At that time, the gateway device monitoring unit 212 operates the timer 213. The health check signal includes a message that prompts the barrier device 10 to send a reply to the femtocell 2. For example, an ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) packet is used as the health check signal. The gateway device 10 transmits a health check response signal, which is a response signal, to the femtocell 2.

  In addition, the health check signal may include a communication quality item that is an item of information regarding the communication quality of the communication line 150. In this case, the health check response signal includes information on the communication quality item, and the femtocell 2 can periodically acquire the information on the communication quality item. When determining whether the communication quality of the communication line 150 is good or not in the communication quality item, the gateway device monitoring unit 212 stores in advance a reference value that is a criterion for determining whether or not the communication quality is good. Here, it is assumed that there is a problem in the communication quality when the numerical value of the communication quality item exceeds the reference value. As an example of the communication quality item, there is a transfer processing time from when the gateway device 10 receives a packet to when the packet is transmitted.

  When the gateway device monitoring unit 212 receives a health check response signal from the gateway device 10 via the network connection unit 222 within a predetermined period from the start of the operation of the timer 213, the gateway device monitoring unit 212 clears the time of the timer 213 in operation. The communication path selection unit 211 is notified of information indicating that the gateway device 10 is normal. On the other hand, if the gateway device monitoring unit 212 does not receive the health check response signal within a predetermined period, the gateway device monitoring unit 212 determines that the gateway device 10 is not normal and notifies the communication path selection unit 211 of the information.

  Note that the number of times the health check response signal cannot be received within a predetermined period is counted, and when the counted value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it may be determined that the gateway device 10 is not normal. Furthermore, if the health check response signal contains numerical information related to the communication quality item, the health check response signal is monitored every predetermined period and the received numerical value exceeds the predetermined reference value. May be determined that the communication line 150 is not normal when it is received intermittently or continuously within a certain period. The threshold value and the reference value are registered in advance in a memory (not shown) provided in the gateway device monitoring unit 212, and the count value is recorded in the memory.

  As described above, by providing a plurality of types of criteria for determining whether or not the communication line 150 or the gateway device 10 is normal, if it is considered that the communication line 150 is congested, the cause of the congestion is due to an increase in data load. It can be determined whether it is due to a malfunction such as a communication quality degradation.

  In this embodiment, the gateway device monitoring unit 212 determines whether or not the gateway device 10 is normal. However, if an abnormality occurs in the communication line 150, the gateway device 10 does not operate normally. Therefore, the communication line 150 is also monitored by the health check response signal returned from the gateway device 10.

  The communication path selection unit 211 switches the data communication path as follows in accordance with an instruction from the gateway device monitoring unit 212. When the communication path selection unit 211 receives information indicating that the gateway device 10 is normal from the gateway device monitoring unit 212, the communication path selection unit 211 passes the wireless packet received from the wireless communication unit 221 to the packet conversion processing unit 214. In addition, when the communication path selection unit 211 receives information indicating that the gateway device 10 is not normal from the gateway device monitoring unit 212, the communication path selection unit 211 sends a wireless packet received from the wireless communication unit 221 to the IP network 30 via the mobile communication network 5. The wireless packet is transmitted to the gateway 4 via the network connection unit 222 without passing through the packet conversion processing unit 214.

  Next, the configuration of the gateway 4 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the gateway shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the gateway 4 corresponds to a communication unit 42 for communicating with each of the mobile communication network 5 and the IP network 3, and radio packets received from the IP network 3 correspond to the communication standard of the mobile communication network 5. And a control unit 41 that converts the signal into a signal and transmits the signal to the RNC 7. The communication standard of the mobile communication network 5 is a radio base station-RNC interface (Iub interface). Note that, similarly to the case of tunneling, the control unit 41 may encapsulate the radio packet with the Iub interface.

  Next, the configuration of the RNC 7 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the RNC shown in FIG. Here, as functions of the RNC, portions related to the present invention will be described in detail, and detailed descriptions of normal functions will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the RNC 7 includes a communication unit 72 for communication connection with the mobile communication network 5, and a signal processing unit 71 that converts a radio packet received via the mobile communication network 5 into an IP packet.

  In the present embodiment, the RNC is an apparatus that converts radio packets into IP packets in the mobile communication network 5, but the signal processing apparatus that converts radio packets into IP packets is not limited to the RNC.

  Next, the configuration of the gateway device 10 will be described. The gateway device 10 is an information processing device such as a gateway router and a server. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the gateway device shown in FIG. Here, as functions of the gateway device, portions related to the present invention will be described in detail, and detailed descriptions of normal functions will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the gateway device 10 includes a communication unit 112 for communication connection with the IP network 3 and the IP network 30, and a control unit 111 that transmits and receives packets between the IP network 3 and the IP network 30.

  When receiving the health check signal from the femtocell 2, the control unit 111 transmits a health check response signal to the femtocell 2. At this time, if information on the communication quality item is included in the health check signal, the control unit 111 measures the communication quality item and inserts the measured numerical value into the health check response signal. By doing so, the longer the packet transfer processing load is applied to the control unit 111, the longer the time from when the control unit 111 receives the health check signal to when the health check response signal is transmitted. If a problem occurs in the barrier device 10 confidence, the control unit 111 cannot return a health check response signal to the femtocell 2 depending on the type of the problem.

  In the present embodiment, the case where there is one barrier device 10 is described, but there may be a plurality of combinations of the communication line 150 and the barrier device 10. Also, although the case where the gateway device 10 is provided on the IP network 3 side is described, the gateway device 10 may be provided in the middle of the communication line 150 or provided on the IP network 30 side. Also good.

  Next, the operation procedure of the femtocell of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation procedure of the femtocell of this embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the information terminal 9 shown in FIG. 12 is connected to the IP network 30 and the mobile terminal 1 transmits data to the information terminal 9.

  The femtocell 2 periodically checks whether the barrier device 10 is normal (step 101). When the femtocell 2 determines in step 101 that the gateway device 10 is normal, when receiving data addressed to the information terminal 9 from the mobile terminal 1 as a wireless packet (step 102), the femtocell 2 converts the wireless packet into an IP packet, The IP packet is transmitted to the information terminal 9 to the IP network 30 via the IP network 3 (step 103).

  On the other hand, if the femtocell 2 determines in step 101 that the gateway device 10 is not normal, the femtocell 2 receives data addressed to the information terminal 9 from the mobile terminal 1 as a radio packet (step 104) and sends the radio packet to the RNC 7 in the IP network. 3 and the gateway 4 (step 105).

  When the gateway 4 receives the radio packet from the femtocell 2 via the IP network 3, the gateway 4 converts the radio packet into an Iub interface signal and transmits the signal to the RNC 7 via the mobile communication network 5. When receiving the Iub interface signal from the gateway 4, the RNC 7 converts the Iub interface signal into an IP packet, and transmits the IP packet to the information terminal 9 via the mobile communication network 5 and the IP network 30.

  If the femtocell 2 does not receive a radio packet from the mobile terminal 1 in step 102 or step 104, the process returns to step 101.

  Next, the determination process in step 101 shown in FIG. 7 will be described in detail. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure in the process of step 101 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the femtocell 2 transmits a health check signal to the gateway device 10 at regular time intervals, and operates the timer 213 when transmitting the health check signal (step 201). Then, the femtocell 2 determines whether or not the health check response signal is received within a predetermined period after transmitting the health check signal (step 202). If the health check response signal is not received within the predetermined period, the femtocell 2 determines that the gateway device 10 is not normal, and proceeds to the process of step 104. On the other hand, if the health check signal is received within a predetermined period, the femtocell 2 determines that the barrier device 10 is normal, clears the time of the timer 213 (step 203), and proceeds to the processing of step 102.

  Next, another method for the determination processing in step 101 shown in FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure in the process of step 101 shown in FIG. Steps 201 to 203 are the same as those described with reference to FIG.

  In step 202, if the health check response signal is not received within a predetermined period, the femtocell 2 increases the count value by 1 (step 301). Then, the femtocell 2 determines whether or not the count value exceeds the threshold value (step 302). If the count value exceeds the threshold value, the femtocell 2 determines that the gateway device 10 is not normal, and proceeds to the process of step 104. On the other hand, if the count value is equal to or smaller than the threshold value in step 302, the femtocell 2 determines that the barrier device 10 is normal, and proceeds to the processing in step 102.

  The method described with reference to FIG. 9 is effective when the number of radio packets transmitted to the mobile communication network 5 is increased and the signal processing load on the RNC 7 is increased as compared with the method described with reference to FIG.

  Next, a method different from any of the procedures described in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 will be described for the determination processing in step 101 shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the health check response signal includes a numerical value related to the communication quality item.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure in the process of step 101 shown in FIG. Steps 201 and 203 are the same as those described with reference to FIG.

  When the femtocell 2 transmits a health check signal and then receives a plurality of health check response signals for a certain period (step 401), the femtocell 2 reads the numerical value of the communication quality item included in the health check response signal. Then, the femtocell 2 compares the read numerical value with the reference value, and determines whether the health check response signal whose numerical value exceeds the reference value is received intermittently or continuously (step 402). ). As a result of the determination, if the health check response signal whose numerical value exceeds the reference value is received intermittently or continuously, the femtocell 2 determines that the communication line 150 is not normal, and the process of step 104 is performed. move on. On the other hand, if the health check response signal whose numerical value exceeds the reference value is not received intermittently or continuously at step 402, the femtocell 2 determines that the communication line 150 is normal, and step 102. Proceed to the process.

  The case where the received numerical value exceeds the reference value intermittently means that a health check response signal whose received numerical value exceeds the reference value is received at least twice within a certain period. The case where the received numerical value continuously exceeds the reference value means that the health check response signal whose received numerical value exceeds the reference value is continuously received at least twice within a certain period.

  The data transmission path is changed when the received numerical value exceeds the reference value intermittently or continuously without changing the data transmission path only when the received numerical value exceeds the reference value once. For a good reason. The communication quality of the communication line 150 changes every moment depending on the amount of packets exchanged between the IP network 3 and the IP network 30. In some cases, the communication quality is deteriorated only when the gateway device 10 receives the health check signal. This is also because if the data transmission path is changed from the communication line 150 to the mobile communication network 5 in such a case, the load on the mobile communication network 5 side increases.

  The method described with reference to FIG. 10 sets whether or not to change the communication path by setting a reference value for a communication quality item of interest among a plurality of communication quality items, depending on the type of failure occurring in the communication line 150. It becomes possible to decide. The method described in FIG. 10 may be combined with the method described in FIG. 8 or FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the femtocell 2 monitors the state of the gateway device 10, and when trouble occurs in the gateway device 10 or the communication line 150, the femtocell 2 serves as a data transmission path for mobile communication. A route via the network 5 is selected. Therefore, even if a trouble occurs at a relay point connecting the two IP networks 3 and 30, data can be transmitted from the mobile terminal 1 to the IP network 30, and the service for the user of the mobile terminal 1 is maintained. it can.

  In addition, since the femtocell 2 monitors the gateway device 10 using a packet such as a normal ARP packet, it is not necessary to add a special function to the gateway device 10, and the processing load generated in the gateway device 10 is suppressed. it can.

  Furthermore, when it is considered that the communication line 150 is congested by acquiring information related to the communication quality of the communication line 150 from the gateway device 10, whether the cause of the congestion is due to an increase in data load or a decrease in communication quality. You can isolate whether it is due to a defect.

  Although FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the gateway 4 is provided between the IP network 3 and the mobile communication network 5, the wireless packet transmitted from the femtocell 2 to the gateway 4 is the communication standard of the mobile communication network 5. If it corresponds, the gateway 4 may not be provided. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the communication system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the femtocell 2 transmits a radio packet to the RNC 7 via the IP network 3 and the mobile communication network 5. In this case, processing at the gateway 4 and the gateway 4 can be omitted.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where data is transmitted from the femtocell 2 to the information terminal 9 of the IP network 30 has been described, but the case where data is transmitted from the information terminal 9 to the femtocell 2 is also connected to the IP network 30. Similarly to the femtocell 2 of the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus (not shown) may monitor the state of the barrier device 10 and perform communication control. Further, the route information may be stored in data transmitted from the femtocell 2 to the information terminal 9. The information terminal 9 reads the route information from the data received from the mobile terminal 1 and sends the data to the mobile terminal 1 so as to follow the read route in reverse. In any of these methods, when the information terminal 9 transmits data to the mobile terminal 1, even if a trouble occurs in the gateway device 10 or the communication line 150, the data passes through the mobile communication network 5. It can be sent to the mobile terminal 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal 2 Femtocell 21 Control part 22 Communication part 3, 30 IP network 4 Gateway 5 Mobile communication network 7 Radio network controller (RNC)
10 gateway equipment

Claims (14)

A communication unit for connecting to the first IP network and the second IP network via the mobile communication network, and a radio packet received from the mobile communication network is converted into an IP packet and transmitted to the second IP network A signal processing device including a signal processing unit to perform,
The communication unit for connecting to the mobile terminal and the first IP network and the gateway device connecting the first IP network and the second IP network are periodically checked to determine whether they are normal, When the gateway device is normal, when a wireless packet addressed to an information terminal connected to the second IP network is received from the mobile terminal, the wireless packet is converted into an IP packet and passed through the first IP network. If the gateway device is not normal and the wireless packet addressed to the information terminal is received from the mobile terminal, the wireless packet is transmitted to the first IP network and the mobile communication network. A femtocell base station apparatus including a control unit that transmits to the signal processing apparatus via
A communication system.   A gateway connected to the mobile communication network and the first IP network, for converting a radio packet received from the first IP network into a signal corresponding to a communication standard of the mobile communication network and transmitting the signal to the signal processing device The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising: A communication unit for connecting to the mobile terminal and the first IP network;
It is periodically checked whether the gateway device connecting the first IP network and the second IP network is normal, and when the gateway device is normal, information connected to the second IP network When a wireless packet addressed to a terminal is received from the mobile terminal, the wireless packet is converted into an IP packet and transmitted to the second IP network via the first IP network. When a wireless packet addressed to the information terminal is received from the mobile terminal, the wireless communication device is provided in a mobile communication network connected to the first and second IP networks and transmits the wireless packet to an IP packet. A control unit for transmitting packets via the first IP network and the mobile communication network;
A femtocell base station apparatus. The controller is
A health check signal for checking whether or not the barrier device is normal is periodically transmitted to the barrier device, and if a health check response signal that is a response signal of the health check signal is not received within a predetermined time, The femtocell base station apparatus according to claim 3, wherein it is determined that the gateway device is not normal, and the gateway device is determined to be normal when the health check response signal is received within the predetermined time. The controller is
A health check signal for checking whether or not the barrier device is normal is periodically transmitted to the barrier device, and if a health check response signal that is a response signal of the health check signal is not received within a predetermined time, When the count value is increased by 1 and the count value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the gateway device is not normal, and when the count value is equal to or less than the threshold value, the gateway device is determined to be normal. The femtocell base station apparatus according to claim 3. The controller is
A health check signal including information on a communication quality item that is an item related to communication quality for a communication line connecting the first and second IP networks is periodically transmitted to the gateway device, and a numerical value of the communication quality item When a plurality of health check response signals that are response signals of the health check signal are received within a predetermined period, the numerical value included in the health check response signal is compared with a predetermined reference value, and communication is performed. The health check response signal indicating that the quality is poor is intermittently or continuously received, and it is determined that the communication line is not normal. 6. Femtocell base station device. A communication processing method by a femtocell base station apparatus connected to a first IP network,
Regularly check whether the gateway device connecting the first IP network and the second IP network is normal,
When it is determined that the gateway device is normal, when a wireless packet addressed to an information terminal connected to a second IP network is received from a mobile terminal, the wireless packet is converted into an IP packet and the first IP network And when the wireless device addressed to the information terminal is received from the mobile terminal when the gateway device determines that the gateway device is not normal, the first and second IP networks and A communication processing method, wherein the wireless packet is transmitted via the first IP network and the mobile communication network to a signal processing device that is provided in a connected mobile communication network and converts the wireless packet into an IP packet. A health check signal for checking whether or not the barrier device is normal is periodically transmitted to the barrier device,
If the health check response signal that is a response signal of the health check signal is not received within a predetermined time, it is determined that the barrier device is not normal, and when the health check response signal is received within the predetermined time, The communication processing method according to claim 7, wherein the gateway device is determined to be normal. A health check signal for checking whether or not the barrier device is normal is periodically transmitted to the barrier device,
If the health check response signal, which is a response signal of the health check signal, is not received within a predetermined time, the count value is incremented by 1, and when the count value exceeds a predetermined threshold, the gateway device is not normal. The communication processing method according to claim 7, wherein determination is made and it is determined that the gateway device is normal when the count value is equal to or less than a threshold value. A health check signal including information on a communication quality item, which is an item related to communication quality for a communication line connecting the first and second IP networks, is periodically transmitted to the gateway device;
When a plurality of health check response signals that are response signals of the health check signal are received within a predetermined period, including numerical information of the communication quality item, the numerical value included in the health check response signal and a predetermined reference value The health check response signal of the comparison result indicating that the communication quality is bad is intermittently or continuously received, and it is determined that the communication line is not normal. The communication processing method according to claim 1. A program for causing a femtocell base station apparatus connected to a first IP network to execute,
Regularly check whether the gateway device connecting the first IP network and the second IP network is normal,
When it is determined that the gateway device is normal, when a wireless packet addressed to an information terminal connected to a second IP network is received from a mobile terminal, the wireless packet is converted into an IP packet and the first IP network And when the wireless device addressed to the information terminal is received from the mobile terminal when the gateway device determines that the gateway device is not normal, the first and second IP networks and The femtocell base station apparatus performs a process of transmitting the wireless packet via the first IP network and the mobile communication network to a signal processing apparatus that is provided in the connected mobile communication network and converts the wireless packet into an IP packet. A program to make it run. A health check signal for checking whether or not the barrier device is normal is periodically transmitted to the barrier device,
If the health check response signal that is a response signal of the health check signal is not received within a predetermined time, it is determined that the barrier device is not normal, and when the health check response signal is received within the predetermined time, The program according to claim 11, wherein the gateway device is determined to be normal. A health check signal for checking whether or not the barrier device is normal is periodically transmitted to the barrier device,
If the health check response signal, which is a response signal of the health check signal, is not received within a predetermined time, the count value is incremented by 1, and when the count value exceeds a predetermined threshold, the gateway device is not normal. The program according to claim 11, wherein the program determines that the barrier device is normal when the count value is equal to or less than a threshold value. A health check signal including information on a communication quality item, which is an item related to communication quality for a communication line connecting the first and second IP networks, is periodically transmitted to the gateway device;
When a plurality of health check response signals that are response signals of the health check signal are received within a predetermined period, including numerical information of the communication quality item, the numerical value included in the health check response signal and a predetermined reference value The health check response signal as a comparison result indicating that the communication quality is bad is intermittently or continuously received, and it is determined that the communication line is not normal. The program according to any one of the above.

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