JP5178336B2 - Base station apparatus and radio communication system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a base station apparatus and a wireless communication system that communicate with a wireless communication terminal in a narrow area.

  In recent years, a communication system called a femtocell has been proposed in a wireless communication system, and the femtocell enables communication of a wireless communication terminal in a local service area that is narrower than a service area of a public network. Yes (see Non-Patent Document 1, for example).

  A service area (hereinafter referred to as a femtocell area) in which a base station that implements a femtocell (hereinafter referred to as a femtocell base station) can communicate is basically a service area (in which a base station of a public network can communicate with ( (Hereinafter referred to as the public network area). The femtocell base station is installed, for example, in a house or office. The wireless communication terminal can communicate with both the wide area base station and the femtocell base station in the public network area.

In the form in which the femtocell base station is installed, a wireless communication terminal can receive services in the femtocell area by communicating with the femtocell base station. This service is, for example, a call, e-mail, SMS, or WEB browsing.
“Femtocell”, [online], [Search May 29, 2008], Internet (URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A7%E3 (% 83% A0% E3% 83% 88% E3% 82% BB% E3% 83% AB)

  However, in the conventional wireless communication system described above, a wireless communication terminal communicating with a wide area base station in the public network area can communicate from the list of femtocell base stations in order to handoff to the femtocell base station. A means for searching for a femtocell base station, a means for measuring the received strength of a pilot signal from the searched femtocell base station, and a means for authenticating the femtocell base station are added or modified to the communication function of the wireless communication terminal. It becomes necessary to do.

  In a new wireless communication terminal to be developed in the future, the above-described means may be added to the function. However, in a conventional wireless communication terminal that does not have the above-described means, a wide area base station in the public network area with which the communication is performed may Since handoff cannot be performed autonomously to the base station, convenience for the user is impaired.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems. When the wireless communication terminal is switched from a wide area base station to a narrow area base station, the function of the wireless communication terminal is not changed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a base station apparatus and a radio communication system that can switch communication to a regional base station.

  The base station apparatus of the present invention is a base station apparatus of a narrow area base station that can communicate in a narrow area within a wide area that can communicate with the wide area base station, and the wide area base station and the narrow area base station An IC communication unit that communicates with a wireless IC device attached to a wireless communication terminal capable of communication; a terminal communication unit that communicates with the wireless communication terminal; and a base station communication unit that communicates with the wide area base station; When the wireless communication terminal is communicating with the wide area base station when the IC communication unit detects a signal transmitted from the wireless IC device, the wireless communication terminal communicates with the terminal communication unit. And a control unit that notifies the wide area base station of switching information for switching so as to perform the switching via the base station communication unit.

  With this configuration, when a signal transmitted from a wireless IC device is detected, when the wireless communication terminal is communicating with a wide area base station, the wireless communication terminal is switched to communicate with its own base station apparatus. By notifying the wide area base station of the switching information, since the wide area base station instructs the wireless communication terminal to switch, it is possible to switch the communication to the narrow area base station without changing the function of the wireless communication terminal.

  In the base station apparatus of the present invention, an identifier of the wireless communication terminal or an identifier of the wireless IC device is set in a signal transmitted from the wireless IC device, and the control unit receives the wireless communication device from the identifier. A configuration is provided in which a wide area base station communicating with a communication terminal is identified by inquiring through the base station communication unit to a management server that manages the wide area base station, and the switching information is notified to the identified wide area base station. doing.

  With this configuration, since the wide area base station communicating with the wireless communication terminal is specified from the identifier of the wireless communication terminal or the identifier of the wireless IC device via the management server, the wide area base station can be specified with high accuracy.

  In addition, the control unit of the base station apparatus of the present invention inquires a management server about a communication state between the specified wide area base station and the wireless communication terminal, and when the communication state is in communication, from the specified wide area base station The switching information is set to be handed off.

  With this configuration, when the communication state is in communication, the switching information indicating that the specified wide-area base station is to be handed off is set in the switching information, and the set switching information is transmitted to the management server. Therefore, preparation for handoff can be prepared in advance.

  In addition, the control unit of the base station apparatus of the present invention inquires a management server about a communication state between the specified wide area base station and the wireless communication terminal, and when the communication state is in standby, the specified wide area base station Is set in the switching information to cause the wireless communication terminal to stand by.

  With this configuration, when the communication state is standby, the switching information indicating that the specified wide area base station makes the wireless communication terminal stand by is set in the switching information, and the set switching information is transmitted to the management server. Can be prepared in advance for processing preparation.

  Moreover, the base station apparatus of this invention has the structure by which the communicable distance of the said IC communication part and the communicable distance of the said terminal communication part are substantially the same.

  With this configuration, the communicable distance of the IC communication unit and the communicable distance of the terminal communication unit are substantially the same, so the communication between the IC communication unit and the wireless IC device and the communication between the terminal communication unit and the wireless communication terminal are performed simultaneously. Since communication is possible and the communicable distance of the IC communication unit is longer than the communicable distance of the terminal communication unit, the signal is transmitted from the wireless communication terminal by the terminal communication unit when the signal can be detected by the IC communication unit. Can solve the problem of not being able to detect the signal.

  The base station apparatus of the present invention is a base station apparatus of a narrow base station that can communicate in a narrow area within a wide area that can communicate with the wide area base station, the base station apparatus and the narrow base station Communication between an IC communication unit that communicates with a wireless IC device attached to a wireless communication terminal that can communicate with a station, a terminal communication unit that communicates with the wireless communication terminal, and a management server that controls the wide area base station And when the wireless communication terminal is communicating with the wide area base station when the IC communication section detects a signal transmitted from the wireless IC device, the wireless communication terminal Includes a control unit for notifying the management server of switching information for switching so as to communicate with the terminal communication unit via the base station communication unit.

  With this configuration, when the signal transmitted from the wireless IC device is detected, when the wireless communication terminal is communicating with the wide area base station, switching information for switching the wireless communication terminal to communicate with the terminal communication unit By notifying the management server via the base station communication unit, the wide-area base station instructs the wireless communication terminal to switch, so that the communication is switched to the narrow-area base station without changing the function of the wireless communication terminal. be able to.

The wireless communication system of the present invention can communicate with a base station device of a narrow base station that can communicate in a narrow area within a wide area that can communicate with the wide base station, and the wide base station and the narrow base station A wireless communication system comprising a wireless communication terminal having a wireless IC device attached to the wireless communication terminal, wherein the base station device communicates with the wireless communication terminal;
An IC communication unit that communicates with the wireless IC device, and a base station communication unit that communicates with the wide area base station, and the IC communication unit detects a signal transmitted from the wireless IC device. When the wireless communication terminal is communicating with the wide area base station, switching information for switching the wireless communication terminal to communicate with the terminal communication unit is transmitted to the wide area base station via the base station communication unit. And a control unit that notifies the user.

  With this configuration, when a signal transmitted from the wireless IC device is detected, when the wireless communication terminal is communicating with the wide area base station, switching information for switching the wireless communication terminal to communicate with the base station apparatus Since the wide-area base station instructs the wireless communication terminal to switch, the communication can be switched to the narrow-area base station without changing the function of the wireless communication terminal.

  The wireless communication system of the present invention can communicate with a base station device of a narrow base station that can communicate in a narrow area within a wide area that can communicate with the wide base station, and the wide base station and the narrow base station A wireless communication system comprising a wireless communication terminal, comprising a wireless IC device attached to the wireless communication terminal, wherein the base station device communicates with the wireless communication terminal, and An IC communication unit that communicates with a wireless IC device; and a base station communication unit that communicates with a management server that controls the wide-area base station. The IC communication unit transmits a signal transmitted from the wireless IC device. When detected, when the wireless communication terminal is communicating with the wide area base station, switching information for switching the wireless communication terminal to communicate with the terminal communication unit is transmitted to the management server. It has a configuration in which a control unit for notifying via.

  With this configuration, when a signal transmitted from the wireless IC device is detected, when the wireless communication terminal is communicating with the wide area base station, switching information for switching the wireless communication terminal to communicate with the base station apparatus By notifying the management server via the base station communication unit, the wide-area base station instructs the wireless communication terminal to switch, so that the communication is switched to the narrow-area base station without changing the function of the wireless communication terminal. be able to.

  The present invention provides a base station device capable of switching communication to a narrow area base station without changing the function of the radio communication terminal when the radio communication terminal switches communication from the wide area base station to the narrow area base station. A wireless communication system is provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication system using a femtocell according to the present embodiment. The wireless communication system shown in FIG. 1 includes a wide area base station 5 and a femtocell base station 10 of a public network using a CDMA system. In addition, since the femtocell that is an area that can be communicated by the femtocell base station 10 is inside the macrocell that is an area that can be communicated by the wide area base station 5, the radio communication terminal 9 includes the femtocell base station 10 Communication with both of the wide area base stations 5 is possible. Note that the femtocell base station 10 is installed in, for example, a house or an office.

  The wireless communication terminal 9 is a portable terminal using the CDMA system, and can perform a call or data communication with a communication apparatus as a communication partner. Further, an RF tag 9 a is attached to the wireless communication terminal 9. As shown in FIG. 1, the user preferably uses the wireless communication terminal 9 and the RF tag 9a in close contact with each other. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this form. For example, the user may use the wireless communication terminal 9 and the RF tag 9 a in a state where the RF tag 9 a is in the vicinity of the wireless communication terminal 9 without being in close contact with each other.

  The femtocell base station 10 includes a base station apparatus main body 10a and an RF tag interrogator 10b, which will be described in detail later. The RF tag 9a and the RF tag interrogator 10b can communicate with each other.

  Although the IC communication unit of the present invention is illustrated as the RF tag interrogator 10b, any device may be used as long as it can communicate with the wireless IC device of the present invention. Further, although the wireless IC device of the present invention is illustrated as the RF tag 9a, an IC card or the like may be used as long as it can communicate with the IC communication unit of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the communicable distance that can be communicated between the RF tag interrogator 10b and the RF tag 9a is set to be approximately the same according to the communicable distance that can be communicated between the femtocell base station 10 and the wireless communication terminal 9. It has been done. The communicable distance at which the RF tag interrogator 10b and the RF tag 9a can communicate may be shorter than the communicable distance at which the femtocell base station 10 and the wireless communication terminal 9 can communicate.

  The wireless communication system shown in FIG. 1 further includes a gateway 8 that connects the network 7 connected to the wide area base station 5 and the femtocell base station 10, and a management server 6 that manages the wide area base station 5. Yes.

  The management server 6 has an OAM (Operation And Maintenance) function, and manages, for example, communication information related to communication between the managed wide area base station 5 and the wireless communication terminal 9. The communication information includes the ID of the wireless communication terminal 9, the communication state of the wireless communication terminal 9, and the frequency channel used by the wireless communication terminal 9. The communication state includes a state such as communication or standby. The femtocell base station 10 can acquire the communication information managed by the management server 6 via the gateway 8.

  FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a base station apparatus constituting the femtocell base station of the present embodiment. The base station apparatus main body 10a illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a terminal communication unit 11, a control unit 12, a network interface unit 13, an RF tag interface unit 14, and a database 15.

  The terminal communication unit 11 includes an RF transmission / reception unit 11a, a transmission system RF circuit unit 11b, a transmission system modulation unit 11c, a reception system RF circuit unit 11d, and a reception system demodulation unit 11e. These members are constituted by, for example, an integrated circuit. The RF transmission / reception unit 11 a transmits and receives an RF signal from the antenna in order to communicate with the wireless communication terminal 9.

  The transmission system modulation unit 11c modulates the signal output from the control unit 12, and the transmission system RF circuit unit 11b converts the modulated signal into a radio signal and outputs the radio signal to the RF transmission / reception unit 11a. ing. The reception system RF circuit unit 11d converts the received signal, and the reception system demodulation unit 11e demodulates the signal and outputs it to the control unit 12.

  The network interface unit 13 communicates with the wide area base station 5 and the network 7 connected to the management server 6, and the RF tag interface unit 14 communicates with the RF tag interrogator 10b.

  The controller 12 includes a baseband signal processor 12a and a protocol controller 12b. The baseband signal processing unit 12a processes baseband signals with respect to input / output signals, and the protocol control unit 12b performs processing on the signals in accordance with a wireless communication standard such as CDMA. is there. The control unit 12 is configured by, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM.

  The database 15 has a storage medium for storing a regular list of IDs of regular wireless communication terminals 9 when communicating with the femtocell base station 10. In addition, the database 15 may store an RF tag ID list in which an ID of a regular wireless communication terminal 9 is associated with an RF tag ID that is an identifier of the RF tag 9a. A regular list and an RF tag ID list are shown in FIG.

  The RF tag interrogator 10b radiates an interrogation radio wave for communicating with the RF tag 9a in order to detect the presence of the RF tag 9a. For example, the RF tag interrogator 10b may always emit the interrogation radio wave, or may emit the interrogation radio wave at regular time intervals, and radiate the interrogation radio wave so as to detect the presence of the RF tag 9a. It is like that.

  The operation of the femtocell base station 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the first embodiment of the base station apparatus shown in FIG. In the operation example of the first embodiment, the operation of the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed at regular time intervals.

  First, after the femtocell base station 10 is activated, the RF tag interrogator 10b radiates an interrogation radio wave for communicating with the RF tag 9a (S1). Next, the RF tag interrogator 10b confirms whether there is a response to the interrogation radio wave (S2). If there is no response, the operation is temporarily terminated.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the wireless communication terminal 9 in close contact with the RF tag 9 a enters the communicable area of the femtocell base station 10. Then, the RF tag 9a transmits a response signal for responding to the inquiry radio wave. In addition, RF tag ID etc. are set to the response signal.

  When there is a response to the interrogation radio wave, the RF tag interrogator 10b notifies the control unit 12 of the RF tag ID, and the control unit 12 refers to the database 15 and determines the ID of the wireless communication terminal 9 corresponding to the RF tag ID. Obtain (S3). The RF tag ID may be the same as the ID of the wireless communication terminal 9. If the RF tag ID is the same as the ID of the wireless communication terminal 9, the operation of S3 is not necessary.

  Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the acquired ID of the wireless communication terminal 9 is included in the regular list of FIG. 3 (S4). When the ID of the wireless communication terminal 9 acquired by the control unit 12 is included in the regular list, that is, when the ID is the regular wireless communication terminal 9, the control unit 12 transmits the wireless communication via the network interface unit 13. In addition to sending the ID of the terminal 9 to the management server 6, the management server 6 is inquired about the communication state of the wireless communication terminal 9 (S5).

  As a result of inquiring the communication state of the wireless communication terminal 9 to the management server 6, when the wireless communication terminal 9 is out of service area due to power-off, or when already communicating with the femtocell base station 10 (S6), the operation ends. Here, “communicating” means a call, data communication, and standby operation.

  When the result of the inquiry to the management server 6 is returned, the control unit 12 determines whether the wireless communication terminal 9 is in communication or in standby such as during a call or data communication (S7). When there are a plurality of wide area base stations 5 in the public network area, as a result of making an inquiry to the management server 6, the control unit 12 communicates with which wide area base station the wireless communication terminal 9 communicates (that is, the wide area base station). Address).

  When the communication state is communicating, the control unit 12 requests the wide area base station 5 communicating with the wireless communication terminal 9 to perform handoff (S8). Here, when requesting handoff, the control unit 12 transmits to the wide area base station 5 switching information for causing the wireless communication terminal 9 to handoff to the own femtocell base station 10. Next, when the wireless communication terminal 9 has handed off to the femtocell base station 10 (S9), the control unit 12 performs handoff processing (S10).

  When the communication state is standby, the control unit 12 requests the wide area base station 5 communicating with the wireless communication terminal 9 so that the wireless communication terminal 9 waits at another base station (S11). . Here, when requesting to stand by, for example, the wide-area base station 5 sets a traffic channel with the target wireless communication terminal 9 by paging, and sets the target wireless communication terminal 9 by handing off once. The control unit 12 transmits to the wide area base station 5 switching information for immediately disconnecting the traffic channel and causing the wireless communication terminal 9 to stand by.

  Next, when the wireless communication terminal 9 performs operations necessary for standby such as location registration in the femtocell base station 10 (S12), the control unit 12 performs processing related to standby (S13).

  As described above, when the femtocell base station apparatus according to the first embodiment detects a signal transmitted from the RF tag 9a, when the wireless communication terminal 9 is communicating with the wide area base station 5, wireless communication is performed. Since the wide-area base station 5 instructs the wireless communication terminal 9 to perform switching by notifying the wide-area base station 5 of switching information for switching the terminal 9 to communicate with its own femtocell base station 10, The femtocell base station 10 can switch communication without changing the function of the communication terminal 9.

  Further, since the communicable distance of the RF tag interface unit 14 and the communicable distance of the terminal communication unit 11 are substantially the same, the RF tag interface unit 14 and the terminal communication unit 11 can communicate at the same time. Since the communicable distance of the RF tag interface unit 14 is longer than the communicable distance of the terminal communication unit 11, the signal is transmitted from the wireless communication terminal 9 by the terminal communication unit 11 when a signal is detected by the RF tag interface unit 14. Can solve the problem of not being able to detect the signal.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the second embodiment of the base station apparatus shown in FIG. In the operation example of the second embodiment, the operation of the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed at regular time intervals. In the second embodiment, the management server 6 requests the wide-area base station 5 communicating with the wireless communication terminal 9 to hand off to the femtocell base station 10, or the wireless communication terminal 9 Requests to wait at the base station.

  First, since S1 to S4 are the same operations as those in the first embodiment, their descriptions are omitted. Next, if it is included in the regular list, that is, if it is a regular wireless communication terminal 9, the control unit 12 transmits the ID of this wireless communication terminal 9 to the management server 6 via the network interface unit 13. At the same time, the management server 6 is inquired about the communication state of the wireless communication terminal 9, and a switching process corresponding to the communication state is requested (S15). Here, when requesting the switching process according to the communication state, the control unit 12 transmits to the wide area base station 5 switching information for causing the wireless communication terminal 9 to perform the switching process according to the communication state. Become.

  Upon receiving the request, the management server 6 requests the wide-area base station 5 communicating with the wireless communication terminal 9 to hand off to the femtocell base station 10, or the wireless communication terminal 9 waits at another base station. Ask to do.

  As a result of inquiring the communication state of the wireless communication terminal 9 to the management server 6, when the wireless communication terminal 9 is out of service area due to power-off, or when already communicating with the femtocell base station 10 (S6), the operation ends.

  When the result of the inquiry to the management server 6 is returned, the control unit 12 determines whether the communication state of the wireless communication terminal 9 is in communication or in standby (S7). When the communication state is in communication, when the wireless communication terminal 9 has handed off to the femtocell base station 10 (S9), the control unit 12 performs handoff processing (S10).

  When the communication state is standby, when the wireless communication terminal 9 performs an operation necessary for standby such as location registration in the femtocell base station 10 (S12), the control unit 12 performs processing related to standby. (S13).

  As described above, the femtocell base station apparatus according to the second embodiment determines which wide-area base station the wireless communication terminal 9 is communicating with as a result of inquiring the communication state of the wireless communication terminal 9 to the management server 6. Since it is not necessary to grasp and there is no need to request the wide area base station 5 for processing according to the communication state, the operation of the femtocell base station can be simplified.

  The base station apparatus and the wireless communication system according to the present invention allow a wireless communication terminal to communicate with a narrow area base station without changing the function of the wireless communication terminal when switching communication from the wide area base station to the narrow area base station. It has the effect of being able to be switched, and is widely useful for a base station apparatus that communicates with a wireless communication terminal in a narrow area and a wireless communication system using this base station apparatus.

It is a block diagram of the radio | wireless communications system using the femtocell which concerns on a present Example. It is a block diagram of the base station apparatus which comprises the femtocell base station of a present Example. It is a figure which shows a regular list and RF tag ID list. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of 1st Example of the base station apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of 2nd Example of the base station apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

5 Wide-area base station 6 Management server 7 Network 8 Gateway 9 Wireless communication terminal 9a RF tag (wireless IC device)
10 Femtocell base stations (narrow base stations)
10a Base station main unit 10b RF tag interrogator (IC communication unit)
11 terminal communication unit 11a RF transmission / reception unit 11b transmission system RF circuit unit 11c transmission system modulation unit 11d reception system RF circuit unit 11e reception system demodulation unit 12 control unit 12a baseband signal processing unit 12b protocol control unit 13 network interface unit (base station) Communication department)
14 RF tag interface

Claims (5)

A base station device of a narrow base station that can communicate in a narrow area within a wide area that can communicate with a wide base station,
An IC communication unit for communicating with a wireless IC device attached to a wireless communication terminal capable of communicating with the wide area base station and the narrow area base station;
A terminal communication unit for communicating with the wireless communication terminal;
A base station communication unit for communicating with the wide area base station ;
When the IC communication unit detects a signal transmitted from the wireless IC device, the wireless communication terminal communicates with the terminal communication unit when the wireless communication terminal is communicating with the wide area base station. A control unit for notifying the wide area base station of switching information for switching via the base station communication unit ,
In the signal transmitted from the wireless IC device, the identifier of the wireless communication terminal or the identifier of the wireless IC device is set,
The control unit inquires and identifies a wide area base station communicating with the wireless communication terminal from the identifier to a management server that manages the wide area base station via the base station communication unit, and identifies the identified wide area base station A base station apparatus that notifies the switching information to a base station apparatus. The control unit inquires of a management server about a communication state between the specified wide area base station and the wireless communication terminal, and when the communication state is in communication, the switching information indicates that the specified wide area base station is handed off. The base station apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base station apparatus is set. The control unit inquires of a management server about a communication state between the identified wide area base station and the wireless communication terminal, and when the communication state is in standby, the identified wide area base station waits on the wireless communication terminal. The base station apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching information is set in the switching information. The base station apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a communicable distance of the IC communication unit and a communicable distance of the terminal communication unit are substantially the same. A base station device of a narrow base station capable of communicating in a narrow area within a wide area capable of communicating with the wide base station, and a wireless communication terminal capable of communicating with the wide base station and the narrow base station A wireless communication system,
A wireless IC device attached to the wireless communication terminal;
The base station device is
A terminal communication unit for communicating with the wireless communication terminal;
An IC communication unit for communicating with the wireless IC device;
A base station communication unit for communicating with the wide area base station ;
When the IC communication unit detects a signal transmitted from the wireless IC device, the wireless communication terminal communicates with the terminal communication unit when the wireless communication terminal is communicating with the wide area base station. A control unit for notifying the wide area base station of switching information for switching via the base station communication unit ,
In the signal transmitted from the wireless IC device, the identifier of the wireless communication terminal or the identifier of the wireless IC device is set,
The control unit inquires and identifies a wide area base station communicating with the wireless communication terminal from the identifier to a management server that manages the wide area base station via the base station communication unit, and identifies the identified wide area base station The wireless communication system is characterized by notifying the switching information to the wireless communication system.