JP5171453B2 - Wireless base station management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio base station management system that manages the relationship between a plurality of radio base stations and a plurality of gateway units according to the status of a processing load.

  In recent years, in a wireless communication system, in addition to many wireless communication systems, a data transmission / reception technique using a network such as the Internet or a LAN that has been rapidly spread among wired communication lines has been developed. As an example, in communication processing of a wireless communication terminal, a wireless communication standard IEEE802.16 (Non-patent Document 1), a wireless standard of IEEE802.16, a detailed technical examination of the existing wired standard, and a WiMAX Forum (which performs WiMAX device authentication). In Non-Patent Document 2), a broadband data transmission / reception technique is incorporated. Hereinafter, IEEE 802.16 and WiMAX Forum are referred to as WiMAX. Further, the configuration of a network system related to WiMAX is disclosed in WiMAX Forum NWG (Non-patent Document 3).

  In such a wireless communication system, a gateway unit of a gateway device is assigned to a wireless base station in order to perform a handover process on a packet from the wireless base station. In such a communication system, several techniques for assigning computer resources such as gateway devices are known.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for determining which packet has priority when receiving a plurality of packets from a plurality of gateways.
Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for detecting a processing capacity margin of a plurality of computers and selecting an optimum computer to be processed when a call is generated.

Wireless communication standard IEEE 802.16 (http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/16/pubs/80216-2004.html)

WiMAX Forum (http://www.wimaxforum.org/home)

WiMAX Forum NWG (“WiMAX Forum Network Architecture (Stage 2: Architecture Tenets, Reference Model and Reference Points) [Part 1] Release 1, Version 1.2” January 11, 2008)

JP 2007-335945 A

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-194747

  However, the prior art of Patent Document 1 discloses which packet should be given priority when receiving a plurality of packets from a branched communication network. In a wireless communication system, the processing of a plurality of wireless base stations is performed by a plurality of gateways. It does not disclose how to allocate to units.

  The prior art of Patent Document 2 assigns a computer with processing capability when a call to a computer is generated, but it is changed without the approval of the system administrator. Does not indicate whether to approve and manage changes.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a radio base station management system that allows a system administrator to appropriately manage association between a radio base station and a gateway unit.

One embodiment for solving the problem is:
A plurality of radio base stations that perform radio communication with radio communication terminals;
A gateway unit that relays a communication packet transmitted from a first radio base station of the plurality of radio base stations and transmits the communication packet to a second radio base station of the plurality of radio base stations; A plurality of gateway devices;
A radio base station management system comprising a management device that manages a relationship between the plurality of radio base stations and the plurality of gateway units,
The management device
Means for obtaining measurement information of the radio base station and the gateway unit from the plurality of radio base stations and the plurality of gateway units;
Based on the acquired measurement information, a candidate gateway unit for handling a communication packet from a first radio base station among the plurality of radio base stations is selected from the plurality of gateway units and displayed on the screen. Means to
When a signal for approving the candidate gateway unit displayed on the screen is input, at least means for supplying address information of the approved candidate gateway unit to the first radio base station is provided. A wireless base station management system is characterized.

  When a radio base station is added in the radio base station management system, candidates are displayed according to the usage status of the gateway device, and an appropriate gateway is associated with the new radio base station according to the judgment of the system administrator. Address management is performed to change the accommodation to the unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Constitution)
A configuration of a radio base station management system A according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a radio base station management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a radio base station management system A according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of radio communication terminals 9 and a plurality of radio base stations installed in outdoor areas that communicate with the radio communication terminals 9 via radio transmission paths 11. Wireless base station 7. Further, the radio base station management system A is connected to the radio base station 7 via a wide area Ethernet (registered trademark) network 6 and the like, and is connected to a CSN (connectivity service network) 12 to perform relaying or authentication with a provider. It has a management device 8 called Element Management System, EMS, or the like that manages the relationship between the gateway device 10 that mediates processing and session management, and the gateway unit of the wireless base station 7 and the gateway device 10.

  Here, the gateway device 10 is called an Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture system (hereinafter referred to as an ATCA system) or the like, and is installed in a building. The radio base station 7 is integrated to perform radio resource management. The wireless communication terminal 9 performs session management so as to support a handover function that goes beyond the communication cover area of the wireless base station 7 and enters the communication cover area of another wireless base station. Further, the gateway device 10 is connected to the CSN 12 to perform relaying, or mediates authentication processing with a provider connected to the CSN 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the gateway device 10 includes a switch card 1, a management card 3, a power supply 4, a fan 5 and the like in addition to a plurality of CPU cards 2 that are a plurality of gateway units.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the management device 8 called EMS or the like described above performs a data processing unit 41 such as a CPU system that performs data processing, an interface unit 42 that communicates with the outside, and an accommodation change process that will be described later. A memory unit 43 for storing operation programs to be performed, a database unit 44 for storing management information and address information of a plurality of radio base stations 7, and management information and address information of a plurality of gateway units of the gateway device 10 corresponding thereto The image forming unit 45 generates image information indicating various control information, and a display unit 46 such as a liquid crystal display device.

In the radio base station management system A having such a configuration, the radio base station 7 that has received a call from the radio communication terminal 9 is assigned to a specific CPU card 2 that is a gateway unit of the gateway device 10 set by the management device 8. Transfer communication packets.
(First accommodation change process)
The radio base station management system A having such a configuration and function, for example, adds a new radio base station 7 in the area, thereby changing the accommodation change that is a new association between the radio base station 7 and the gateway unit. Processing is performed as follows. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the accommodation change process, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the accommodation change process.

Note that each step in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4, 6, and 7 can be replaced with a circuit block, and therefore all steps in each flowchart can be redefined as a circuit block.
Such accommodation change processing is mainly performed by the data processing unit 41 in accordance with a program stored in the memory unit 43 of the management device 8. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the data processing unit 41 of the management apparatus 8 receives a service start request by adding a radio base station in the area B by the radio base station 7 (step S11). On the other hand, the data processing unit 41 requests current measurement information (CPU usage rate, etc.) from all the CPU cards of the gateway device 10 (step S12). Here, the measurement information includes, for example, a CPU load factor (usage rate) of the CPU card, but is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, as an example, there are a plurality of gateway apparatuses 10-1 and 10-2, each of which includes a plurality of CPU cards 21-1, 21-2, 21-3, 21-4, 31-. 1, 31-2, 31-3, 31-4. Further, the load factor acquisition timing of the CPU card 2 and the wireless base station 7 of the management device 8 is acquired by a request, and the management device 8 and the wireless base station 7 are connected to each CPU card 2 and each wireless device at a constant frequency such as 1 minute intervals. A method of monitoring the load factor of the base station 7 is also suitable.

  If the measurement information is given from the CPU card of the gateway device 10, the data processing unit 41 selects a candidate gateway unit (CPU card or the like) corresponding to the added wireless base station based on the acquired measurement information (step) S13). Next, the data processing unit 41 generates an image of a gateway unit (CPU card) candidate corresponding to the added wireless base station by the image forming unit 45 and displays it on the display unit 46 (step S14).

(1) Display Information Here, the information displayed on the display unit 46 when the management apparatus 8 selects candidates for the system manager M is, for example, as follows.
CPU load factor of each CPU card 2 (time MAX / day, day of week MAX / week, day MAX / month)
CPU load factor of the wireless base station 7 connected to the CPU card 2 of the accommodation change source (time MAX / day, day of week MAX / week, day MAX / month)
CPU card 2 that is a candidate for accommodation change destination
・ Radio base station 7 which is a candidate to be changed
Here, “time MAX / day, day of week MAX / week, day MAX / month” indicates that the load factor is “the ratio of the time per day when the load factor becomes MAX (100%). ,
Percentage of days per week when load factor became MAX (100%),
It means “the ratio of the day when the load factor becomes MAX <100%) per month”.

Note that the load factor determined to be MAX is not limited to 100% but may be less than 90% (such as 90%). In particular, regarding the load factor of the radio base station 7, it is considered normal to set 100% or less (such as 80%) as a default as the MAX determination threshold.
Further, as an example of the approval selection means of the system administrator M, three options of “approval (OK)”, “change”, and “cancel (cancel)” are shown. At this time, if “change” is selected, an arbitrary CPU card can be selected as the accommodation change destination.

(2) Criteria for Selection of Accommodation Change Destination Candidates The selection criteria for the radio base station 7 and the CPU card 2 that are the targets of the accommodation change by the management device 8 are as follows, for example.
By default, the candidate selection criterion is “time MAX / day> day of week MAX / week> day MAX / month”, and it is preferable to prioritize a CPU card with a low percentage of “time MAX / day” as a candidate. is there. If this is the same rate, a candidate with a low “day of week day MAX / day” is selected as a candidate. This selection criterion is set as a default setting, and the system administrator M can arbitrarily change it.

  As for the selection criteria for the radio base station 7 whose accommodation is changed, as with the CPU card 2 of the gateway device 10, the default candidate selection criteria is “time MAX / day> day of week MAX / week> day MAX / It is preferable that the radio base station 7 with a low percentage of “time MAX / day” be a candidate for “month”. The radio base station 7 to be accommodated / changed is preferably selected from the radio base stations 7 connected (accommodated) to the CPU card 2 as the accommodation change source.

(3) Load warning issued from the CPU card A certain threshold value (for example, 100%, 90%, etc.) is provided for the CPU load state, and an alert signal is output from the CPU card 2 when the threshold value is exceeded. It is preferred that
Here, when the “MAX” determination threshold value at the time of load factor monitoring is set to 100% or less, the threshold value of the load factor as a condition for raising an alert from the gateway device 10 is set separately, for example, “MAX The determination threshold value may be 60%, the alert occurrence threshold value may be 90%, and the like.

In addition, a load warning is issued even when there is no response from the CPU card 2 at the health check from the management device 8 (for example, at regular intervals of 1 second) or at the load factor acquisition timing (for example, at intervals of 1 minute). It is preferable to perform the same processing as described above.
In response to this, the system administrator M shown in FIG. 3 approves the gateway unit (CPU card) candidate displayed on the display unit 46 and operates the operation unit such as a keyboard. When detecting the operation signal for approval, the data processing unit 41 recognizes that the candidate for the gateway unit (CPU card) has been approved (step S15). In addition to approving candidates here, the system administrator M can also specify an arbitrary gateway unit by specifying an arbitrary IP address.

By detecting the approved signal, the data processing unit 41 registers the IP address of the added radio base station 7 and the IP address of the selected CPU card in the database unit 44, and starts the service (step S16). .
As a result, the data processing unit 41 of the management device 8 transmits, for example, “notification of accommodation change” and “IP addresses of the accommodation change source and accommodation change destination CPU cards 2” to the added wireless base station 7 as an example. As an example, “notification of accommodation change”, “IP addresses of accommodation change source and accommodation change destination CPU cards 2”, and “IP address of radio base station on which accommodation change processing has been performed” are transmitted to the gateway device 10. . The two notifications are preferably performed at the same timing, but are not limited thereto.

  As a result, the radio base station management system A associates a gateway unit (IC card 2 or the like) with the added radio base station 7 by the operation of the management device 8, for example, WiMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access). The accommodation change processing can be performed in a form that complies with the communication standards.

(Second accommodation change process)
Next, as the second accommodation change process, the accommodation change process performed by receiving a warning signal such as a load factor warning from the gateway unit or the like of the gateway device will be described below using the explanatory diagram of FIG. 5 and the flowchart of FIG. Explained.

  Such accommodation change processing is mainly performed by the data processing unit 41 in accordance with a program stored in the memory unit 43 of the management device 8. In the flowchart of FIG. 6, that is, the data processing unit 41 of the management apparatus receives a load factor warning from the gateway unit (CPU card 2 or the like) of the gateway apparatus 10 (step S21). In response to this, the data processing unit 41 supplies a request signal or the like to the gateway unit (CPU card or the like) of the gateway device 10 (or at a constant frequency such as an interval of 1 minute), and from the gateway unit of the gateway device 10. Measurement information (CPU usage rate, etc.) is acquired (step S22). The data processing unit 41 selects a gateway unit (CPU card 2) candidate with a low usage rate based on the acquired measurement information (step S23). The data processing unit 41 displays the gateway unit (CPU card) candidates on the display unit 46 (step S24).

It should be noted that “(1) display information, (2) reference for selection of accommodation change destination, and (3) load warning issued from CPU card” described above are equally effective in the second accommodation change process. .
Then, by the operation of the management device 8 of the system administrator M shown in FIG. 5, the data processing unit 41 detects a signal in which the candidate for the gateway unit (CPU card) is approved (step S25). In addition to approving candidates here, the system administrator M can also specify an arbitrary gateway unit by specifying an arbitrary IP address. Next, the data processing unit 41 notifies disconnection by e-mail or the like by notifying the wireless communication terminal 9 in communication with the wireless base station 7 whose allocation is to be changed (step S26). This avoids misinterpreting a communication interruption as a failure. Thereafter, the data processing unit 41 registers the address of the added wireless base station and the address of the selected CPU card in the database, and starts the service (step S27).

  As a result, the data processing unit 41 of the management device 8 transmits, as an example, “notification of accommodation change” and “IP addresses of the accommodation change source and accommodation change destination CPU cards 2” to the corresponding radio base station 7. As an example, “notification of accommodation change”, “IP addresses of accommodation change source and accommodation change destination CPU cards 2”, and “IP address of radio base station on which accommodation change processing has been performed” are transmitted to the gateway device 10. . The two notifications are preferably performed at the same timing, but are not limited thereto.

  As a result, the radio base station management system A changes the gateway unit (IC card 2 etc.) that issued the load factor warning to the gateway unit (IC card 2 etc.) that can operate normally by the processing operation of the management device 8. Thus, by associating with the radio base station 7, for example, the accommodation change process can be performed in conformity with the communication standard of WiMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access).

(Third accommodation change process)
Next, as the third accommodation change process, the measurement information from the wireless base station and the gateway unit of the gateway apparatus is monitored, and the accommodation change process automatically performed in accordance with the change of the measurement information is shown in the flowchart of FIG. Will be described below.

  Such accommodation change processing is mainly performed by the data processing unit 41 in accordance with a program stored in the memory unit 43 of the management device 8. In the flowchart of FIG. 7, the data processing unit 41 receives measurement information such as the load status of the radio base station and measurement information (CPU usage rate) from the gateway unit (CPU card or the like) of the gateway device at regular intervals (for example, 1 second). (Interval) (step S31). When the measurement information satisfies a certain condition, the data processing unit 41 of the management device determines to change accommodation between the radio base station and the gateway unit (step S32). Here, the certain condition is when the CPU usage rate of the gateway unit of the wireless base station 7 or the gateway device 10 exceeds a certain value or a load factor warning signal is issued from the wireless base station 7 or the gateway device 10. It is.

  The data processing unit 41 selects a gateway unit (CPU card) candidate with a low usage rate based on the acquired measurement information (step S33). The data processing unit 41 displays the gateway unit (CPU card) candidates on the display unit (step S34). However, this display does not wait for the approval operation of the system administrator, and thus does not need to be performed. Even if there is no approval signal from the system administrator, the accommodation change processing to the gateway unit (CPU card) by this candidate is executed by the determination of the data processing unit 41.

The above-mentioned “(1) Display information, (2) Criteria for selection of accommodation change destination, (3) Load warning issued from CPU card” and the like are equally possible in the third accommodation change process. is there.
Next, the data processing unit 41 notifies the wireless communication terminal that is communicating with the wireless base station whose allocation is to be changed, by e-mail or the like (step S35). This avoids misinterpreting a communication interruption as a failure. The data processing unit 41 registers the address of the added wireless base station and the address of the selected CPU card in the database, and starts the service (step S36).

  As a result, the data processing unit 41 of the management device 8 transmits, for example, “notification of accommodation change” and “IP addresses of the accommodation change source and accommodation change destination CPU cards 2” to the added wireless base station 7 as an example. As an example, “notification of accommodation change”, “IP addresses of accommodation change source and accommodation change destination CPU cards 2”, and “IP address of radio base station on which accommodation change processing has been performed” are transmitted to the gateway device 10. . The two notifications are preferably performed at the same timing, but are not limited thereto.

  Thereby, the radio base station management system A associates the gateway unit (IC card 2 or the like) with the radio base station 7 when the conditions for accommodation change processing are met by the operation of the management device 8, for example, , The accommodation change process can be performed in conformity with WiMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access) communication standards.

  A plurality of the various embodiments described above can be implemented at the same time. With these descriptions, those skilled in the art can realize the present invention, but various modifications of these embodiments can be conceived. It is easy for a person skilled in the art and can be applied to various embodiments without inventive ability. Therefore, the present invention covers a wide range consistent with the disclosed principle and novel features, and is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

The block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the radio base station management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the management apparatus which a wireless base station management system similarly has. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the accommodation change process at the time of a new radio base station being expanded similarly in a radio base station management system. The flowchart which shows an example of the accommodation change process at the time of a new radio base station being expanded similarly in a radio base station management system. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the accommodation change process when a gateway unit becomes high load similarly in a wireless base station management system. The flowchart which shows an example of the accommodation change process when a gateway unit becomes high load similarly in a wireless base station management system. The flowchart which shows an example of the accommodation change process when a gateway unit becomes high load similarly in a wireless base station management system.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Switch card, 2 ... CPU card, 3 ... Management card, 4 ... Power supply, 5 ... Fan, 6 ... Wireless base station, 8 ... Management apparatus (EMS), 9 ... Wireless communication terminal, 10 ... Gateway apparatus (ATCA) , 11 ... wireless communication path, 12 ... CSN (connectivity service network), 21 ... CPU card, 41 ... data processing unit, 42 ... I / F unit, 43 ... memory unit, 44 ... database unit, 45 ... image processing unit, 46: Display section.

Claims (1)

A plurality of radio base stations that perform radio communication with radio communication terminals;
A gateway device including a plurality of gateway units for managing the plurality of radio base stations;
A radio base station management system comprising a management device that manages a relationship between the plurality of radio base stations and the plurality of gateway units,
The management device
Means for obtaining measurement information of the radio base station and the gateway unit from the plurality of radio base stations and the plurality of gateway units;
Based on the acquired measurement information, a candidate gateway unit for handling a communication packet from a first radio base station among the plurality of radio base stations is selected from the plurality of gateway units and displayed on the screen. Means to
When a signal for approving the candidate gateway unit displayed on the screen is input, at least means for supplying address information of the approved candidate gateway unit to the first radio base station is provided. A wireless base station management system that is characterized.

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