JP4563231B2 - Wireless base station concentrator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio base station concentrator that accommodates a plurality of radio base stations and connects a plurality of radio base stations to a radio base station controller.

  With the recent development of communication technology, efficient data communication is desired in next-generation mobile communication. For example, there is a base station concentrator that realizes effective use of facilities by relaying connections between a plurality of radio base stations and a public network, and housing a specific contractor and a general contractor in the same facility. .

  The base station concentrator described in Patent Document 1 collects connection lines extended from subordinate radio base stations and connects them to the public fixed network via a common connection line for all radio base stations. . The base station concentrator then (1) relays the connection request from the mobile terminal accommodated in the subordinate radio base station to the public fixed network, and (2) receives the connection request received from the public fixed network. When relaying to a mobile terminal accommodated in a radio base station and (3) both the mobile terminal that issued the connection request and the mobile terminal that is the counterpart is a mobile terminal of a specific subscriber, The mobile terminal that disconnects the part of the call set between them and issues a connection request and the mobile terminal that is the counterpart are directly connected within the own apparatus.

  Further, in the 3GPP (third generation partnership project) standard radio access network (RAN (Radio Access Network)) described in Non-Patent Document 1, a plurality of radio base stations (Node B) are connected to a radio base station controller (RNC (Radio Network)). Controller)).

JP 2001-95032 A 3GPP standard TS25.401 V5.9.0 (2004-09)

  However, in the former conventional technique, it is necessary for the base station concentrator to relay or convert a call signal or a call signal for the mobile terminal based on the identification information of the mobile terminal. For this reason, there has been a problem that the configuration of the base station concentrator is complicated.

  In the latter conventional technique, as shown in the 3GPP specification “UTRAN overall description” (FIG. 4), the radio base station is only allowed to be directly accommodated in the radio base station controller. . In addition, the number of radio base stations and the number of cells accommodated by the radio base station controller are limited due to control specifications and device capacity constraints. For this reason, even if the radio base station control apparatus can accommodate the radio base station as a processing capacity, there are cases where the radio base station cannot be accommodated due to limitations on the number of radio base stations to be accommodated or the number of cells. There has been a problem that the efficiency of housing is deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a radio base station concentrator that can accommodate radio base stations with high efficiency.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is arranged between a plurality of radio base stations and a control device that controls the plurality of radio base stations, and the plurality of radio base stations In the radio base station concentrator accommodated in the control device and information related to higher-order user data and higher-order control data transmitted to and received from the control device; An information setting unit that associates lower-layer user data and information on lower-layer control data to be transmitted to and received from the base station, and a storage unit that stores information associated with the information setting unit as association information Based on the association information stored in the storage unit, the higher-order user data and the higher-order control data from the control device are converted into the lower-order user data and the lower-order user data. Converted into control data and transmitted to each radio base station, and converted lower user data and lower control data from each radio base station into higher user data and higher control data And a data conversion unit that transmits the data to the control device, and the storage unit is included in the control data on the upper side and is the destination of the control data on the lower side, the wireless base station has Cell address correspondence information relating to correspondence between a cell and information relating to an address of a radio base station having the cell is further stored, and the data conversion unit is configured to control data on the lower side based on the cell address correspondence information. Is transmitted to the radio base station .

  According to this invention, since the radio base station concentrator converts control data and user data between the control device and the radio base station and transmits them, the control device transmits the radio base station concentrator to one virtual base station. It can operate as a base station, and the radio base station concentrator has an effect that it can accommodate a plurality of radio base stations with high efficiency.

  Embodiments of a radio base station concentrator according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a wireless communication system including a wireless base station concentrator according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, a radio base station concentrator 2 accommodates a plurality of radio base stations (BTS (Base Transceiver Station)) (hereinafter referred to as base stations) 3a and 3b. The radio base station concentrator 2 is accommodated in a radio base station controller (RNC (Radio Network Controller)) (hereinafter referred to as a controller) 1. Since the base station 3a and the base station 3b have the same configuration and perform the same operation, here, a case where the control device 1 communicates with the base station 3a via the radio base station concentrator 2 will be described as an example. To do.

  The radio base station concentrator 2 converts signaling messages (RL Request req 14, 15, RL Request reply 16, 17 described later) and U plane data (U plane connection data) transmitted and received between the base station 3a and the control apparatus 1. To switch. The signaling message here is a message for setting a transfer path between the base station 3a and the control apparatus 1, and initially, between the base station 3a and the control apparatus 1 before transmitting / receiving each U-plane data. Sent and received. The U plane data is user data from the control device 1 to the base station 3a, and is transmitted and received between the base station 3a and the control device 1 according to a transfer path set based on each signaling message.

  Next, the configuration of the radio base station concentrator 2 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the radio base station concentrator. The radio base station concentrator 2 includes communication I / F units 21 and 22, a storage unit 23, a conversion setting unit 25, and a control unit 29. The conversion setting unit 25 here corresponds to the information setting unit and the data conversion unit described in the claims.

  The communication I / F units 21 and 22 are communication interfaces that communicate with the control device 1, and the communication I / F unit 22 is a communication interface that communicates with the base stations 3a and 3b. The memory | storage part 23 memorize | stores the various messages for converting the signaling message and U plane data which are transmitted / received between the base station 3a and the control apparatus 1. FIG. The storage unit 23 stores a cell-BTS correspondence table (cell address correspondence information) 101, an RNC signaling connection table 102, a BTS signaling connection table 103, U-plane connection tables 104A and 104B, which will be described later. The conversion setting unit 25 converts a signaling message and U plane data. The control unit 29 controls the communication I / F units 21 and 12, the storage unit 23, and the conversion setting unit 25.

  Next, an operation procedure of the radio communication system having the radio base station concentrator 2 will be described. The radio base station concentrator 2 monitors reception of a signaling message sent from the controller 1. The signaling message here includes a cell identifier, “Communication Context ID”, etc., which will be described later.

  When the radio base station concentrator 2 receives a signaling message (RL (Radio Link) Request req message 14 for U plane connection setting) from the control device 1 via the communication I / F unit 21, the radio base station concentrator 2 conversion setting unit 25 identifies the cell identifier (ID for identifying the cell of the base station) in this message. The conversion setting unit 25 identifies “cell # 1” as a cell identifier, for example.

  The RL Request req message 14 here includes, for example, the identification ID (# 0) of the radio base station concentrator 2, the port number (RNC Port # 2) on the U-plane data control device 1 side, and the control for U-plane data Information such as the IP address (RNC Address) on the device 1 side is included.

  The conversion setting unit 25 extracts the destination (base station address) of the base station corresponding to the cell identifier of the received signaling message based on the cell-BTS correspondence table 101 stored in advance in the storage unit 23.

  Here, the configuration of the cell-BTS correspondence table 101 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the cell-BTS correspondence table. The cell-BTS correspondence table 101 is an information table indicating a correspondence between a cell identifier (cell identifier), a cell-accommodating base station identifier, and a base station IP address. Here, the cell identifier indicates the identifier of the cell accommodated by the base station under the radio base station concentrator 2, the base station identifier indicates the identifier of the base station that accommodates the cell corresponding to this cell identifier, The station IP address indicates the IP address of this base station.

  For example, the cell identifier “cell # 1” is associated with the base station identifier “BTS # 1” (base station 3a), the IP address “BTS address # 1” of the base station 3a, and the cell identifier “cell # 2” is The base station identifier “BTS # 2” (base station 3b) and the IP address “BTS address # 2” of the base station 3b are associated with each other. The cell-BTS correspondence table 101 includes as many cell identifiers as the total number of cells accommodated by the base station accommodated in the radio base station concentrator 2.

  When the cell identifier in the signaling message is, for example, “cell # 1”, the conversion setting unit 25 here indicates that the destination base station (base station identifier) of the signaling message is “BTS # 1” (base station 3a), It is determined that the IP address of the base station is “BTS address # 1”.

  Next, the conversion setting unit 25, based on “Transport Layer Address” in the signaling message, information on the destination of the U plane data allocated on the control device 1 side to the U plane connection (U plane data transmission path) Get (connection end point). In addition, the conversion setting unit 25 is information (information indicating which U-plane the signaling message corresponds to) based on the “Communication Context ID” in the signaling message. Signaling connection) is acquired.

  Then, the conversion setting unit 25 "Communication Context ID" assigned to the signaling connection between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a, and the connection termination point (U-plane connection assigned on the radio base station concentrator 2 side) The base station 3a IP address, UDP port number, etc.) are determined. Here, the conversion setting unit 25 selects and sets a new “Communication Context ID” that is not in use as the “Communication Context ID”. Also, the conversion setting unit 25 sets a new connection termination point that is not in use as a connection termination point.

  Also, the conversion setting unit 25 uses the RNC signaling connection table 102, the BTS signaling connection in the storage unit 23, the connection termination point acquired based on the signaling message, the signaling connection, the newly set “Communication Context ID”, and the connection termination point. It is stored (registered) in the table 103 and the U-plane connection table 104A.

  Here, the configuration of the RNC signaling connection table 102, the BTS signaling connection table 103, and the U plane connection table 104A stored in the storage unit 23 will be described.

  First, the configuration of the RNC signaling connection table 102 will be described. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an RNC signaling connection table. The RNC signaling connection table 102 is an information table indicating the correspondence between the signaling connection on the RNC (control device 1) side and the signaling connection on the BTS (base station 3a) side. The RNC signaling connection table 102 is generated by the conversion setting unit 25 when the radio base station concentrator 2 receives a signaling message from the controller 1.

  Here, the RNC signaling connection table 102 includes the “RNC Communication Context ID” in the signaling message received from the control device 1, the IP address of the base station (“corresponding BTS IP address”) acquired by the conversion setting unit 25, the base It shows the correspondence between the station port number (“corresponding BTS Port number”) and “BTS Communication Context ID”.

  For example, the “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 0) set on the control device 1 side is the IP address (BTS address # 1) of the base station 3a, the Port number (BTS Port # 1) of the base station 3a, the radio base This corresponds to “BTS Communication Context ID” (# 1) assigned to the signaling connection between the station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a. Note that the “RNC Communication Context ID” set on the control device 1 side exists in the numerical value range defined by the 3GPP standard specifications and the like.

  Thus, by generating the RNC signaling connection table 102, the conversion setting unit 25 thereafter converts the signaling connection on the control device 1 side to the corresponding signaling connection on the base station side based on the RNC signaling connection table 102. It becomes possible to convert to.

  That is, when the conversion setting unit 25 receives, for example, “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 1) set on the control device 1 side, the base station IP address (BTS address # 1) and the base station Port number (BTS) Port # 1), “BTS Communication Context ID” (# 1) assigned to the signaling connection between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a is extracted, and “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 1) is set to “BTS”. It is converted to “Communication Context ID” (# 1).

  Next, the configuration of the BTS signaling connection table 103 will be described. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the BTS signaling connection table. The BTS signaling connection table 103 is an information table indicating the correspondence between the signaling connection on the base station side and the signaling connection on the control device 1 side. The BTS signaling connection table 103 is generated by the conversion setting unit 25 when the radio base station concentrator 2 receives a signaling message from the controller 1.

  Here, the BTS signaling connection table 103 includes a port number for receiving a message from the base station set by the conversion setting unit 25, and a “BTS Communication Context assigned to the signaling connection between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a”. The correspondence relationship between “ID” and “RNC Communication Context ID” between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2 is shown.

  For example, the Port number (# 0) assigned for the base station 3a and the "BTS Communication Context ID" (# 1) assigned to the signaling connection between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a are the control device 1- This corresponds to “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 0) between the radio base station concentrators 2.

  Here, the Port number allocated for the base station is assigned a unique Port number for each base station accommodated in the radio base station concentrator 2, and the number of base stations accommodated in the radio base station concentrator 2 Only exist. Further, there are as many “BTS Communication Context IDs” assigned to the signaling connection between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a as many as defined in the 3GPP standard specifications or the like for each Port number.

  Thus, by generating the BTS signaling connection table 103, the conversion setting unit 25 thereafter converts the base station side signaling connection into the control device 1 side signaling connection based on the BTS signaling connection table 103. It becomes possible to do.

  That is, the conversion setting unit 25 uses, for example, the “BTS Communication Context ID” (#) assigned to the signaling connection between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a from the port number (# 0) for receiving a message from the base station. When # 1) is received, “BTS Communication Context ID” (# 1) is converted into “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 0) between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2.

  Next, the configuration of the U plane connection table 104A will be described. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the U-plane connection table. The U plane connection table 104A is an information table that indicates the correspondence between the U plane connection on the control device 1 side and the U plane connection on the base station side. The U plane connection table 104 </ b> A is generated by the conversion setting unit 25 when the radio base station concentrator 2 receives a signaling message from the controller 1.

  Here, the U plane connection table 104A includes the U plane data concentrator side Port number (destination from the control device 1 to the radio base station concentrator 2, destination from the base station 3a to the radio base station concentrator 2), Destination IP address of U plane data (address of control device 1 or base station 3a), Destination Port number of U plane data (Port number of control device 1 or base station 3a), Destination node type of U plane data (control device 1) Or a base station), and a control device 1 to a radio base station concentrator 2, a correspondence relationship of “RNC Communication Context ID” is shown.

  For example, the concentrator port number (# n + 2) is a destination IP address (RNC Address) of U plane data, a destination Port number (RNC Port # 2) of U plane data, a destination node type (RNC) of U plane data, This corresponds to “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 0) between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2. Therefore, the concentrator side Port number (# n + 2) indicates that it is assigned for receiving U-plane data transmitted from the base station.

  Based on these assignments, the conversion setting unit 25 receives the U-plane data destination IP address (RNC address) and the U-plane data destination Port number (RNC reception) in the RL Request req message 14 received from the control device 1. Port number), destination node type of U plane data (base station 3a), and "RNC Communication Context ID" (# 0) between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2 from the base station 3a to the radio base The concentrator side Port number (# n + 2) of U plane data to the station concentrator 2 is set. Further, the concentrator port number (# n + 1) indicates that it is assigned for receiving U-plane data transmitted from the controller 1.

  Here, there are as many concentrator port numbers as the number of U-plane data connections that the radio base station concentrator 2 can provide. Further, a number other than the Port number set in the BTS signaling connection table 103 is assigned to this destination Port number.

  Thus, by generating the U plane connection table 104A, the conversion setting unit 25 thereafter sets the destination port number of the U plane data from the base station 3a to the concentrator side based on the U plane connection table 104A. In the case of the Port number (# n + 2), it is possible to convert it to a destination IP address (RNC Address # 1) and a destination Port number (RNC Port # 2) and transmit it to the control device 1.

  Next, when the radio base station concentrator 2 receives the RL Request req message 14 from the controller 1, the conversion setting unit 25 assigns “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 0) to the signaling connection set on the controller 1 side. ) Is converted to “BTS Communication Context ID” (# 1) assigned to the signaling connection between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a.

  Also, the conversion setting unit 25 uses the IP address (destination address) of the connection termination point of the U plane connection set on the control device 1 side as the IP address (“Concentrator Address”) of the connection termination point on the radio base station concentrator 2 side. , Port number (# n + 2)).

  Next, the conversion setting unit 25 of the radio base station concentrator 2 sends the “BTS Communication Context ID” (# between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3 a) to the RL Request req message 14 received from the controller 1. 1) Set the IP address of the connection termination point on the radio base station concentrator 2 side regarding the U plane connection setting (“Concentrator Address”), the destination port number (# n + 2) of the U plane data, and set it as the RL Request req message 15 Transmit to the destination BTS (base station 3a). At this time, the conversion setting unit 25 designates the Port number (# 0) as the Port through which the radio base station concentrator 2 communicates with the base station 3a, and transmits the RL Request req message 15. The RL Request req message 15 is transmitted to the base station 3a (BTS Address # 1, BTS Port # 1) via the communication I / F unit 22.

  Upon receiving the RL Request req message 15 from the radio base station concentrator 2, the base station 3a sets the IP address (BTS address # 1) and Port number (BTS Port # 2) of the connection termination point for the U plane connection. Then, the RL Request reply 16 to which the set information is added is transmitted to the radio base station concentrator 2. The port number (# 2) of the connection termination point set by the base station 3a is different from the port number (# 1) that received the RL Request req message 15.

  Here, the RL Request reply 16 includes “BTS Communication Context ID” (# 1) assigned to the signaling connection between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a. Also, the base station 3a transmits an RL request reply 16 to the port number (# 0) of the radio base station concentrator 2 based on the RL request request message 15.

  When receiving the RL Request reply 16 via the communication I / F unit 22, the conversion setting unit 25 of the radio base station concentrator 2 receives the RL Request reply 16 from the controller 1 to the radio base station concentrator 2. “Communication Context ID” is set.

  Here, the destination Port number of the RL Request reply 16 received from the base station 3a is the Port number (# 0) of the radio base station concentrator 2 and the signaling connection between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a is “ Since it is “BTS Communication Context ID” (# 1), the conversion setting unit 25 sets “Communication Context ID” between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2 to “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 0). .

  Next, the conversion setting unit 25 extracts the concentrator side Port number (n + 1, n + 2) related to the “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 0) set by the conversion setting unit 25 based on the U-plane connection table 104A. To do.

  Then, the information in the RL Request reply 16 is set to the Port number (n + 1) in which the destination IP address and the destination Port number of the U plane data are not set among the extracted Port numbers. That is, the conversion setting unit 25 connects the connection termination point information ((destination IP address (BTS Address # 1), destination Port number (BTS Port # 2) and U plane data) regarding the U plane connection in the RL Request reply 16. The information associated by the conversion setting unit 25 is added to the U plane connection table 104A and stored in the storage unit 23 as the U plane connection table 104B.

  Here, the configuration of the U-plane connection table 104B will be described. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the U-plane connection table. Similar to the U plane connection table 104A, the U plane connection table 104B is an information table indicating the association between the U plane connection on the control device 1 side and the U plane connection on the base station side. The U plane connection table 104B is generated by the conversion setting unit 25 when the radio base station concentrator 2 receives a signaling message from the base station.

  For example, the concentrator port number (# n + 1) from the controller 1 to the radio base station concentrator 2 is the destination IP address (BTS Address # 1) of U plane data and the destination port number (BTS Port #) of U plane data. 2) Corresponds to the destination node type (BTS) of U-plane data and “RNC Communication Context ID” (# 0) between the base station 3a and the radio base station concentrator 2. Therefore, it is shown that the concentrator port number (# n + 1) is assigned for reception of U plane data transmitted from the controller 1.

  In this way, by generating the U plane connection table 104B, the conversion setting unit 25 thereafter converts the U plane data of the concentrator side Port number (# n + 1) to the destination based on the U plane connection table 104B. The IP address (BTS Address # 1) and the destination Port number (BTS Port # 2) can be converted and transmitted to the base station 3a.

  Next, the conversion setting unit 25 of the radio base station concentrator 2 receives the “RNC Communication Context ID” (#) between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the controller 1 in the RL Request reply message 16 received from the base station 3a. 0), the IP address “Concentrator Address” of the connection termination point regarding the U plane connection and the destination Port number (# n + 1) of the U plane data are set and transmitted to the control device 1 as the RL Request reply message 17. The RL Request reply message 17 is transmitted to the control device 1 via the communication I / F unit 21.

  Next, the control device 1 transmits the U plane data 18 to the radio base station concentrator 2 based on the RL Request reply message 17. The U plane data 18 from the control device 1 is transmitted to the radio base station concentrator 2 with the destination IP address of the data packet as “Concentrator Address” and the destination Port number as the Port number (# n + 1).

  When the radio base station concentrator 2 receives the U plane data 18 via the communication I / F unit 21, the conversion setting unit 25 converts the destination IP address and the destination Port number of the data packet based on the U plane connection table 104B. To do.

  Here, since the destination IP address of the data packet is “Concentrator Address” and the destination Port number is the Port number (# n + 1), the IP address of the destination base station 3a is “BTS Address # 1”, the Port number. Is converted to “BTS Port # 2”. The radio base station concentrator 2 transmits the converted U plane data as U plane data 19 to the base station 3a.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining various data transmitted and received in the wireless communication system and settings thereof. (1) The RL Request req message 14 transmitted from the control device 1 to the radio base station concentrator 2 is a ComID (# 0) which is an “RNC Communication Context ID” between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2. , Including UPport (RNC Port # 2) which is a Port number on the control device 1 side for receiving U-plane data, UIP (RNC Address) which is an IP address on the control device 1 side for receiving U-plane data. Yes.

  (2) The RL Request req message 15 transmitted from the radio base station concentrator 2 to the base station 3a is a destination IP (BTS address # 1) whose destination is the IP address of the base station, and the Port number of the base station 3a. A certain destination Port number (BTS Port # 1) is set. Also, the RL Request req message 15 includes a ComID (# 1) which is a “BTS Communication Context ID” between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a, and a radio base station for receiving U-plane data from the base station 3a. It includes information such as UP Port (# n + 2) which is the port number on the concentrator 2 side, UIP (Concentrator Address) which is the IP address on the radio base station concentrator 2 side for receiving U plane data.

  As described above, the destination IP (BTS address # 1) and the destination port number (BTS Port # 1) are set based on the “Transport Layer Address” in the cell-BTS correspondence table 101 and the RL Request req message 14. Is done.

  (3) The RL Request reply message 16 transmitted from the base station 3a to the radio base station concentrator 2 is set to a destination Port number (# 0) whose destination is the Port number of the radio base station concentrator 2. The RL Request reply message 16 includes a ComID (# 1) which is a “BTS Communication Context ID” between the radio base station concentrator 2 and the base station 3a, and a Port number on the base station 3a side for receiving U-plane data. Information such as a certain UP Port (BTS Port # 2), UIP (BTS Address # 1) which is an IP address on the base station 3a side for receiving U plane data is included. As described above, the destination port number (# 0) is set based on the RL Request req message 15.

  (4) The RL Request reply message 17 transmitted from the radio base station concentrator 2 to the controller 1 is ComID (# 0) which is “RNC Communication Context ID” between the controller 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2. UPport (# n + 1) which is the Port number on the radio base station concentrator 2 side for receiving U plane data from the control device 1, and UIP (IP address on the radio base station concentrator 2 side for receiving U plane data Information such as Concentrator Address # 1) is included.

  (5) The U plane data 18 transmitted from the control device 1 to the radio base station concentrator 2 is a destination IP (Concentrator Address #) whose destination is the IP address on the radio base station concentrator 2 side for receiving U plane data. 1) The destination port number (# n + 1) which is the port number of the radio base station concentrator 2 is set. As described above, the destination IP (Concentrator Address # 1) and the destination Port number (# n + 1) are set based on the RL Request reply message 17.

  (6) The U plane data 19 transmitted from the radio base station concentrator 2 to the base station 3a has a destination IP (BTS Address # 1) whose destination is the IP address on the base station 3a side for receiving U plane data, The destination port number (BTS Port # 2) that is the port number of the base station 3a is set. As described above, the destination IP (BTS Address # 1) and the destination Port number (BTS Port # 2) are set based on the RL Request reply message 16.

  Thereafter, when the radio base station concentrator 2 receives the signaling message from the controller 1, it transmits the signaling message to the base station 3a based on the RNS-signaling connection table 102 and receives the signaling message from the base station 3a. A signaling message is transmitted to the control device 1 based on the BTS signaling connection table 103.

  The radio base station concentrator 2 also transmits U plane data from the base station 3a to the controller 1 by the same processing as the U plane data 18 and 19. At this time, the radio base station concentrator 2 transfers U plane data based on the U plane connection table 104A or the U plane connection table 104B.

  That is, the U plane data transmitted from the base station 3a to the radio base station concentrator 2 is a destination IP (Concentrator Address), a radio whose destination is the IP address on the radio base station concentrator 2 side for receiving U plane data. The destination port number (# n + 2), which is the port number of the base station concentrator 2, is set. Note that, as described above, the destination IP (Concentrator Address) and the destination Port number (# n + 2) are set based on the RL Request req message 15.

  Also, the U plane data transmitted from the radio base station concentrator 2 to the control device 1 is a destination IP (RNC Address) whose destination is the IP address on the control device 1 side for receiving U plane data. It is set to the destination Port number (RNC Port # 2) which is the Port number. As described above, the destination IP (RNC Address) and the destination Port number (RNC Port # 2) are set based on the RL Request req message 14.

  In the first embodiment, the radio communication system including the radio base station concentrator 2 accommodates two base stations 3a. However, the radio communication system includes one or more base stations. May be.

  As described above, the radio base station concentrator 2 includes information that associates the signaling between the controller 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2 with the signaling between the base station 3a and the radio base station concentrator 2, the controller 1 Since the information for associating the U plane connection between the base station concentrator 2 and the U plane connection between the base station 3a and the radio base station concentrator 2 is stored, a signaling message between the controller 1 and the base station 3a And U-plane data can be converted and switched.

  Thus, according to Embodiment 1, the radio base station concentrator 2 performs conversion and switching of signaling messages and U-plane data between the controller 1 and the base station 3a. It is possible to operate the concentrator 2 as one virtual base station. Therefore, the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2 of the radio communication system can accommodate a plurality of base stations with high efficiency.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a radio communication system including the radio base station concentrator according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, when the control device 1 recognizes all cells under the control of the radio base station concentrator 2, the radio base station concentrator 2 transmits the cell notification information from the control device 1 to each base station. Send to.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the radio communication system including the radio base station concentrator according to the second embodiment. Among the constituent elements in FIG. 7, constituent elements that achieve the same functions as those of the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

  The control apparatus 1 includes cell broadcast information including frequency used for each cell (hereinafter referred to as Cell) 11 and 12 accommodated in each base station 3a and 3b, transmission timing information regarding transmission timing when performing communication, a cell identifier, and the like. (Cell notification 71, 72) is transmitted to the radio base station concentrator 2.

  When receiving the cell broadcast information from the control device 1, the conversion setting unit 25 of the radio base station concentrator 2 receives the cell broadcast information from the cell identifier included in the cell broadcast information based on the cell-BTS correspondence table 101 ( Determine the destination) base station. And the cell alerting | reporting information (Cell alerting | reporting 73, 74) from the control apparatus 1 is transmitted to the base station of the determined transmission destination.

  Thus, since the radio base station concentrator 2 transmits cell broadcast information to each base station based on the cell identifier, the control device 1 is conscious of the base stations 3a and 3b subordinate to the radio base station concentrator 2. The cell broadcast information can be transmitted to the cells 11 and 12 without the cells 11 and 12 under the control of the base stations 3a and 3b as the cells under the control of the radio base station concentrator 2.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the radio base station concentrator 2 can cause the control device 1 to transmit cell notification information to the cells 11 and 12 with the base stations 3a and 3b serving as cells. . Therefore, the control device 1 can transmit the cell broadcast information to each of the cells 11 and 12 by using the radio base station concentrator 2 as one virtual base station.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Next, a radio communication system including the radio base station concentrator according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In Embodiment 3, when the control device 1 does not recognize a cell under the control of the radio base station concentrator 2, the radio base station concentrator 2 generates cell notification information and transmits it to each base station.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a configuration of the radio base station concentrator according to the third embodiment. Of the constituent elements in FIG. 8, constituent elements that achieve the same functions as those of the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The radio base station concentrator 2 includes a notification information generation unit 31 in addition to the communication I / F units 21 and 22, the storage unit 23, the conversion setting unit 25, and the control unit 29. Here, the broadcast information generation unit 31 generates cell broadcast information corresponding to each Cell.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the radio communication system including the radio base station concentrator according to the third embodiment. In Embodiment 3, the radio base station concentrator 2 stores a cell information table 201 for generating cell broadcast information in the storage unit 23. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the cell information table. The cell information table 201 is an information table related to a correspondence between a cell identifier, “frequency used” when the cell communicates, “transmission timing information”, “cell restriction state” indicating the restriction state of the cell, and the like.

  The broadcast information generation unit 31 of the radio base station concentrator 2 generates cell broadcast information corresponding to each cell based on the cell information table 201 at a predetermined timing. Then, based on the cell-BTS correspondence table 101, a transmission destination base station of cell broadcast information corresponding to the generated cell broadcast information is determined. Here, the transmission destination base station is determined based on the cell identifier in the cell broadcast information. The radio base station concentrator 2 transmits the generated cell notification information (Cell notification 81, 82) to the transmission destination base station corresponding to the cell notification information.

  On the other hand, when the radio base station concentrator 2 receives cell broadcast information (Cell broadcast 83) from the control device 1, the radio base station concentrator 2 discards the received cell broadcast information. That is, the radio base station concentrator 2 does not transmit the cell broadcast information received from the controller 1 to each base station.

  In this way, since the radio base station concentrator 2 generates cell broadcast information based on the cell information table 201 and transmits it to each base station, the control device 1 can control the base stations 3a and 3b under the radio base station concentrator 2. The cells 11 and 12 under the base stations 3a and 3b can be operated as the cells under the radio base station concentrator 2 without being aware of 3b.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, even when the control device 1 cannot recognize all the cells under the control of the radio base station concentrator 2, the control device 1 uses one radio base station concentrator 2 as one. It becomes possible to operate as a virtual base station. In addition, cell broadcast information can be transmitted from the radio base station concentrator 2 to each of the cells 11 and 12.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
Next, a radio communication system including the radio base station concentrator according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the configuration of the radio base station concentrator according to the fourth embodiment. Among the constituent elements in FIG. 11, constituent elements that achieve the same functions as those of the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

  The radio base station concentrator 2 includes a quality detection unit 32 in addition to the communication I / F units 21 and 22, the storage unit 23, the conversion setting unit 25, and the control unit 29. The quality detection unit 32 here extracts the quality value Q in the U plane data from the base station 3a and compares a preset threshold (quality degradation threshold) limit to detect quality degradation. To do.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the radio communication system including the radio base station concentrator according to the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, when the quality detection unit 32 of the radio base station concentrator 2 detects the communication quality of the mobile terminal 5 connected to the base station, and the communication quality of the mobile terminal 5 is detected to be degraded, The base station concentrator 2 discards the U plane data from the controller 1 and causes the mobile terminal 5 to detect a radio link failure.

  When the base stations 3a and 3b transmit U-plane data (User Plane protocol frame) as defined in the 3GPP standard specifications, the base stations 3a and 3b add the radio reception quality measurement information from the mobile terminal 5 and add the radio base station concentration line. The U plane data is transmitted to the device 2. The radio reception quality measurement information here is a value (quality value Q) indicating the quality of communication between the mobile terminal 5 and the base station 3a.

  When the quality detection unit 32 of the radio base station concentrator 2 receives U plane data from the base station 3a, it extracts radio reception quality measurement information in the U plane data, and sets a quality value Q and a preset threshold limit. Compare If the quality value Q is larger than the threshold limit, the radio base station concentrator 2 transmits the U plane data received from the controller 1 to the base station 3a.

  On the other hand, when the quality value Q is less than or equal to the threshold limit, the radio base station concentrator 2 discards the U plane data to be received from the controller 1 and transmitted to the base station 3a (1). As a result, the U plane data from the control device 1 is not sent to the base station 3a, and communication between the mobile terminal 5 and the control device 1 is interrupted. As a result, as defined in the 3GPP standard specifications, the mobile terminal 5 determines that a radio link failure has occurred after a predetermined time has elapsed, and reconnects the radio link (2). At this time, the mobile terminal 5 performs cell reselection. That is, the mobile terminal 5 selects a cell of an adjacent base station that is determined to have good quality and performs reconnection (handover) of the radio link. Accordingly, the mobile terminal 5 resumes communication with the control device 1 (3).

  As described above, when the radio base station concentrator 2 detects the deterioration of the communication quality of the mobile terminal 5, the U-plane data from the control apparatus 1 is discarded, so that the mobile terminal 5 can detect a radio link failure. It becomes.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the radio base station concentrator 2 does not perform complicated SHO (Soft Hand Over) or HHO (Hard Hand Over) control between the mobile terminal 5 and the controller 1. It becomes possible for the mobile terminal 5 to detect a failure of the radio link and cause the mobile terminal 5 to perform handover.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
Next, a radio communication system including the radio base station concentrator according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a configuration of the radio base station concentrator according to the fifth embodiment. Of the constituent elements in FIG. 13, constituent elements that achieve the same functions as those of the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

  The radio base station concentrator 2 includes a delay time measurement unit 33 in addition to the communication I / F units 21 and 22, the storage unit 23, the conversion setting unit 25, and the control unit 29. Here, the delay time measuring unit 33 performs delay time measurement and inter-node time synchronization between the base stations 3a and 3b and the radio base station concentrator 2, and between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2. Delay time measurement and inter-node time synchronization.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the radio communication system including the radio base station concentrator according to the fifth embodiment. In the 3GPP standard specifications, in order to perform time synchronization between the control device 1 and the base stations 3a and 3b, delay difference measurement between nodes is performed using U plane data (User Plane protocol). In the fifth embodiment, the delay time measurement unit 33 exchanges delay difference measurement messages such as Node Sync between the base stations 3a and 3b and the radio base station concentrator 2, and delay time measurement and inter-node time synchronization are performed. I do.

  Further, between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2, the radio base station concentrator 2 receives the Node Sync from the controller 1. When the delay time measuring unit 33 of the radio base station concentrator 2 notifies the control apparatus 1 of the delay time by Node Sync, the delay difference between the base stations 3a and 3b and the radio base station concentrator 2 is described. The predetermined delay time calculated based on the delay time is added to the delay time between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2 and notified to the control device 1. Here, the delay time measurement unit 33 calculates, for example, the average value of the delay difference between the base stations 3a and 3b and the radio base station concentrator 2 and the delay time between the base stations 3a and 3b and the radio base station concentrator 2. To do.

  As a result, the radio base station concentrator 2 gives the control device 1 the delay difference between the control device 1 and the radio base station concentrator 2, and the delay difference between the base stations 3a, 3b and the radio base station concentrator 2. Notification can be made.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the radio base station concentrator 2 gives the control device 1 a delay difference with a small error relative to the actual delay difference between the base stations 3a and 3b and the control device 1. Notification can be made.

  As described above, the radio base station concentrator according to the present invention is suitable for accommodating a plurality of radio base stations.

It is a figure which shows the structure of Embodiment 1 of the radio | wireless communications system containing the radio base station concentrator concerning this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radio base station concentrator according to a first embodiment; It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a cell-BTS correspondence table. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a RNC signaling connection table. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a BTS signaling connection table. It is a figure (1) which shows an example of composition of a U plane connection table. It is a figure (2) which shows an example of composition of a U plane connection table. It is a figure for demonstrating the various data transmitted / received within a radio | wireless communications system, and its setting. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation of a radio communication system including a radio base station concentrator according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radio base station concentrator according to a third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation of a radio communication system including a radio base station concentrator according to a third embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a cell information table. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radio base station concentrator according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation of a radio communication system including a radio base station concentrator according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radio base station concentrator according to a fifth embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation of a radio communication system including a radio base station concentrator according to a fifth embodiment;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control apparatus 2 Radio base station concentrator 3a, 3b Base station 21, 22 Communication I / F part 23 Storage part 25 Conversion setting part 29 Control part 31 Broadcasting information generation part 32 Quality detection part 33 Delay time measurement part 101 Cell-BTS Correspondence table 102 RNC signaling connection table 103b TS signaling connection table 104A, 104B U-plane connection table 201 Cell information table

Claims (10)

A radio base station arranged between a plurality of radio base stations and a control device for controlling the plurality of radio base stations, and collecting and accommodating communication lines of the plurality of radio base stations, and being accommodated in the control device In the station concentrator,
Information on higher-order user data and higher-order control data to be transmitted to and received from the control device; information on lower-order user data and lower-order control data to be transmitted to and received from the radio base station; An information setting section that associates
A storage unit for storing information associated with the information setting unit as association information;
Based on the association information stored in the storage unit, the higher-order user data and the higher-order control data from the control device are converted into the lower-order user data and the lower-order control data, respectively. Transmits to the radio base station and converts lower user data and lower control data from each radio base station into the upper user data and upper control data and transmits to the control device A data converter,
Equipped with a,
The storage unit includes a cell included in the higher-level control data and a destination of the lower-level control data, the cell included in the radio base station, and information regarding the address of the radio base station including the cell Further storing cell address correspondence information related to correspondence,
The radio base station concentrator , wherein the data converter transmits the lower control data to the radio base station based on the cell address correspondence information . The information setting unit, when receiving the higher-order control data from the control device, associates the lower-order control data with the lower-order control data and converts the lower-order control data to the lower-order control data. The radio base station concentrator according to claim 1 , characterized in that association is performed for converting control data into the higher-level control data. The information setting unit
When the higher-order control data is received from the control device, the upper-order user data is associated with the lower-order user data,
When receiving the control data of the lower side from the radio base station, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to associate for converting user data of the lower side to the user data of the upper-side A radio base station concentrator described in 1. The information setting unit uses the higher-level control data identification information, the lower-level control data identification information, and information on the address of each base station to convert the higher-level control data to the lower-level control data. The radio base station concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that association is performed for conversion into control data on the side. The information setting unit uses the lower-layer control data identification information and the upper-side control data identification information using the lower-layer control data identification information and the upper-layer control data identification information. 5. The radio base station concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein association is performed for converting the control data on the side into the control data on the higher-order side. The information setting unit sets predetermined identification information for each user data to be transmitted / received to / from the radio base station, and associates and converts the higher-order user data into the lower-order user data. The radio base station concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein association is performed for converting user data into the higher-order user data. When the data conversion unit receives cell broadcast information related to the setting of each cell transmitted from the control device to the cell, the data conversion unit sends the cell broadcast information from the control device to the radio base station based on the cell address correspondence information. The radio base station concentrator according to claim 1 , wherein the radio base station concentrator transmits. A broadcast information generator for generating cell broadcast information related to the setting of each cell to be transmitted to the cell;
Wherein the data conversion unit, the cell broadcast information the notification information generating unit has generated, to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that transmitted to the radio base station based on the cell address correspondence information A radio base station concentrator as described. A quality detection unit that receives information on communication quality transmitted from a mobile terminal connected to the radio base station and detects deterioration in communication quality;
The data conversion unit does not transmit higher-order user data transmitted from the control device as the lower-order user data to the radio base station when the quality detection unit detects quality degradation of the communication. The radio base station concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 8 . The information on time synchronization between the own device and the control device, the own device and each of the radio base station, a plus information on time synchronization between, between the own device and the control device The radio base station concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the radio base station concentrator is transmitted to the control device as time synchronization information .

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