JP5304697B2 - Radio access network system and operation parameter setting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio access network system and an operation parameter setting method. The present invention can be applied, for example, to setting operation parameters of a radio base station apparatus such as eNB (evolved Node B) constituting a radio access network of an LTE (Long-Term Evolution: 3.9G) system.

  FIG. 7 shows an outline of a connection configuration example of the radio access network system. The radio access network system includes a radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 connected via the IP network 7-2 and an OMC server 7-3 that performs maintenance and operation. The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 acquires an IP address corresponding to an FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) format address of the OMC server 7-3 by a DNS (Domain Name System) server 7-4. The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 acquires an IP address assigned to the own apparatus by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server 7-5.

  When newly installing a radio base station apparatus, the radio base station apparatus is incorporated in the IP network 7-2, and a start-up operation (commissioning) for performing a service is performed. Commissioning work is usually performed by a worker visiting a radio base station apparatus that is actually installed, connecting a local terminal to the radio base station apparatus, and setting data such as operation parameters in the radio base station apparatus. Do. One of the data set at this time is a base station identifier. The base station identifier is an identifier for uniquely identifying each radio base station device in the network.

  The base station identifier is used for identification of the radio base station apparatus, and is important data for management and operation of the radio base station apparatus. However, this base station identifier is also a part of the operation parameters in the radio base station apparatus, and, like other operation parameters, is accommodated in a non-volatile storage area (for example, hard disk or flash memory) that can be rewritten by software of the radio base station apparatus Is done.

  FIG. 8 shows an outline of an internal configuration example of the radio base station apparatus. The radio base station apparatus (eNB) includes a local maintenance port 8-1, an OMC interface unit 8-2, a CPU 8-3, a first nonvolatile storage area 8-4 with write access by software, and no write access by software A second nonvolatile storage area 8-5 and a signal processing unit 8-6 are provided. In FIG. 8, only a configuration example relating to setting of operation parameters is shown, and a baseband processing unit, a CPRI (Common Public Radio Interface) interface unit, and the like are not shown.

  The local maintenance port 8-1 is connected to the commissioning local terminal 8-7, and data for start-up work and maintenance work is transmitted to the local terminal 8-7 and the CPU 8-through the local maintenance port 8-1. 3 is sent to and received from.

  The OMC interface unit 8-2 is connected to the OMC server via a network such as an IP network, and maintenance / operation data by remote operation from the OMC server via the OMC interface unit 8-2 is stored in the CPU 8- 3 is sent to and received from. A MAC address is set in the OMC interface unit 8-2.

  CPU8-3 performs control and data processing of each function part in a radio base station apparatus (eNB). The first non-volatile storage area 8-4 with write access by software is an operation parameter and online software storage area, and the operation parameter includes a base station identifier (eNB) for identifying the radio base station apparatus (eNB). eNB-ID) and other parameters.

  The second non-volatile storage area 8-5 that has no write access by software stores the address of the boot loader, the OMC server, and the like. The address of this OMC server is, for example, omc. abc. It is an FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) format address such as net.

  The MAC address set in the OMC interface unit 8-2 and the boot loader and OMC server addresses stored in the second non-volatile storage area 8-5 have no write access by software. Content destruction does not occur.

  In a mobile communication system, a technique for maintaining a list in which identifiers (IDs) for identifying access points and connection information of access points are associated with each other and grasping access points with connection failures is, for example, Patent Document 1 and the like.

JP 2009-164882 A

  In the radio base station apparatus, the stored data in the first nonvolatile storage area 8-4 that can be rewritten by software may be destroyed due to a software failure. When data destruction of the operation parameters stored in the first nonvolatile storage area 8-4 occurs, it becomes impossible to provide a communication service as a radio base station apparatus.

  Therefore, when the operation parameter in the radio base station apparatus is destroyed, conventionally, a maintenance person goes to the radio base station apparatus and sets the operation parameter in the radio base station apparatus again using the local terminal 8-7. , Was working to restore the destroyed operational parameters. However, if the base station identifier (eNB-ID) of the radio base station apparatus can be acquired from the OMC server, it is possible to download other operation parameters from the OMC server based on that.

  However, the base station identifier (eNB-ID) itself may be destroyed or lost depending on the operation parameter destruction status. In such a case, the maintenance person goes to the radio base station apparatus and performs the work of setting and recovering the base station identifier (eNB-ID), leading to an increase in maintenance and operation costs. In addition, since the recovery procedure involves manpower, there is a possibility that an erroneous setting may occur due to an error in the procedure.

  The present invention makes it possible to reset operation parameters from a server that performs remote maintenance / operation even when data destruction or change of operation parameters occurs in a radio base station apparatus.

  A radio access network system as one form for solving the above problem is a radio access network system including a radio base station apparatus connected to a maintenance / operation server via a network. A notification means for associating a base station identifier assigned to a device with an address assigned in advance to an interface unit with the network and notifying the server, wherein the server is notified by the notification means; A storage unit that associates and stores an identifier, an address, and an operation parameter for the radio base station apparatus of the base station identifier; and the base station identifier and the operation parameter acquired from the storage unit based on the address Transfer means for transferring to the base station apparatus.

  Even when the operation parameter data is destroyed or changed in the radio base station apparatus, it is possible to set an appropriate operation parameter from a remote maintenance / operation server. As a result, the maintenance person goes to the installation location of the radio base station apparatus and does not need to set operation parameters in the radio base station apparatus, and the maintenance cost of the radio access network can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the base station identifier / MAC address registration sequence example of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of an operation parameter recovery sequence of Example 1. It is a figure which shows the example of an operation parameter update sequence at the time of radio base station apparatus transfer of Example 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation parameter management table according to the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation parameter management table according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the message transmitted / received between a wireless base station apparatus and an OMC server. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection structure of a radio | wireless access network system. It is a figure which shows the internal structural example of a radio base station apparatus.

  The wireless base station apparatus and an OMC server that performs maintenance / operation are connected by, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark), and transmit / receive maintenance / operation data to / from each other. Therefore, the radio base station apparatus has a MAC address for Ethernet (registered trademark) set in its own OMC interface unit 8-2. The MAC address is an identifier unique among all Ethernet (registered trademark) devices.

  Unlike the operation parameters, the MAC address is not data stored in the first non-volatile storage area 8-4 that can be rewritten by software, but written and held in hardware having an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface function at the time of device manufacture. As long as the hardware failure does not occur, it will not be lost.

  In the disclosed operation parameter setting method, at the time of commissioning, the radio base station apparatus notifies the base station identifier given to the own apparatus and the MAC address of the own apparatus to the server that performs maintenance and operation, and the server responds accordingly. Remember. In the server, the MAC address is used as an identifier for uniquely identifying the operation parameter in addition to the base station identifier, and even when the base station identifier cannot be received from the radio base station apparatus, The operation parameters to be downloaded to the base station apparatus are determined. Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosed operational parameter setting method will be described.

  The disclosed operation parameter setting method is not limited to LTE (Long-Term Evolution: 3.9G system), and a wireless access node such as 3G UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) and a maintenance / operation system for performing maintenance operations thereof. It is applicable to a mobile communication system including However, in the following description, for simplicity of explanation, the term eNB indicating a radio base station apparatus in the LTE system is used as the radio base station apparatus, but the radio base station apparatus is not limited to the radio base station apparatus in the LTE system. .

  In the description of the first embodiment, the base station identifier (eNB-ID) and MAC address registration sequence at the time of commissioning and the operation parameter repair sequence including the subsequent base station identifier (eNB-ID) are divided. explain.

[Base station identifier / MAC address registration sequence during commissioning]
The registration sequences [1] to [7] will be described below with reference to FIG. The sequence numbers [1] to [7] correspond to the sequence numbers in the figure.

[1] In the initial state, the commissioning target radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 is not assigned a base station identifier (eNB-ID), and other operation parameters are not set.

[2] As one of commissioning procedures, ID_a is set as a base station identifier (eNB-ID) from the local terminal 8-7 to the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1. After the base station identifier (eNB-ID) is set to ID_a, the local terminal 8-7 causes the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 to perform a restart operation.

[3] The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 starts the resuming operation, first accesses the DHCP server 7-5 on the network, and receives the IP address of the own apparatus. Next, the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 notifies the DNS server 7-4 on the network of the FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) format address of the OMC server 7-3, performs address resolution, and performs OMC Obtain the IP address of the server 7-3. The operations of the DNS server 7-4 and the DHCP server 7-5 are performed according to standard procedures.

  Note that the FQDN OMC server 7-3 address in the FQDN format is stored in the second non-volatile storage area 8-5 that cannot be accessed for writing from software. There is no data.

[4] The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 is based on the MAC address (MAC_a) of the own apparatus and the base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_a) assigned in the sequence [2] described above. , The message MACREGREQ shown in FIG. 6 is assembled and transmitted to the OMC server 7-3.

  The message MACREGREQ is a message for requesting registration of the base station identifier (eNB-ID) and MAC address assigned to the own device in the OMC server 7-3.

[5] The OMC server 7-3 that has received the message MACREGREQ from the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 searches the operation parameter management table using the base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_a) as an index, and The MAC address (MAC_a) corresponding to the station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_a) is registered.

  FIG. 4 shows a specific example of registration of the operation parameter management table in the OMC server 7-3. The operation parameter management table includes fields for registering a base station identifier (eNB-ID), a MAC address (MAC adrs), and an operation parameter file name of the base station identifier for the radio base station apparatus in association with each other.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, no MAC address is registered in the operation parameter management table. However, when the notification of the correspondence between the base station identifier (eNB-ID) and the MAC address is received from the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 by the above-described sequence [4], it is shown in (b) of FIG. As described above, the MAC address (MAC_a) is registered in correspondence with the base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_a), and the table is updated. After registration is completed, it responds with the message MACREQRSP shown in FIG.

[6] Subsequently, the OMC server 7-3 acquires the operation parameter file name File_a corresponding to the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 whose base station identifier (eNB-ID) is ID_a from the operation parameter management table. . In addition, this radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 is also a radio base station apparatus (eNB) whose MAC address is MAC_a. The operation parameter file name is set in advance in the operation parameter management table for each base station identifier (eNB-ID).

  The OMC server 7-3 extracts the operation parameter of File_a from the operation parameter database shown in FIG. 4C, and establishes an ftp (file transfer protocol) session to the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1. The operational parameters are transferred to the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1.

[7] The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 accommodates the operation parameter received from the OMC server 7-3 in the first nonvolatile storage area 8-4 of the own apparatus by the sequence [6] described above, The restart process is executed by autonomous operation. After restarting, the service is started and put into operation according to the operation parameters.

  In addition, the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 transmits the message MACREGREQ to the OMC server 7-3 during the restart procedure without distinguishing between the commissioning time and the normal restart time. When the combination of the base station identifier (eNB-ID) and the MAC address already exists in the operation parameter management table, the OMC server 7-3 sets the OPE field of the message MACREGRSP shown in FIG. 6 to “REGD (= registered: registration). ”), And the subsequent ftp transfer processing of the operation parameters is not performed.

[Operation parameter repair sequence]
The repair sequences [11] to [17] will be described below with reference to FIG. Each sequence number [11] to [17] corresponds to the sequence number in the figure.
[11] It is assumed that data destruction of operation parameters occurs during service in the operating radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1.

[12] The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 that has detected the destruction of the operation parameter starts the restart process by an autonomous operation. In addition, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which measures for minimizing the influence of service interruption (for example, eviction processing to another radio base station apparatus (eNB)) are performed before the autonomous resumption processing.

[13] The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 starts the DHCP and DNS procedures in the same manner as the above-described sequence [3] by starting the restart process, acquires the IP address of the own apparatus, and the OMC server 7 -3 IP address is acquired.

[14] The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 reads the operation parameters including the base station identifier (eNB-ID) from the first nonvolatile storage area 8-4 of the own apparatus as part of the restart process. However, since data destruction has occurred due to the sequence [11], reading fails. The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 that has detected the read failure assembles and transmits the message SYSRECVREQ shown in FIG. 6 using its own MAC address (MAC_a) as a parameter to the OMC server 7-3. This message SYSRECRECVREQ is a message for notifying the OMC server 7-3 of the MAC address of its own device and requesting notification of a base station identifier (eNB-ID) corresponding to the MAC address.

[15] The OMC server 7-3 that has received the message SYSRECVREQ uses the MAC address (MAC_a) notified by the message, uses the MAC address (MAC_a) as an index, and sets the operation parameter management table in (b) of FIG. Search and obtain the corresponding base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_a).

  Then, the OMC server 7-3 responds to the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 with the message SYSRECVRSP shown in FIG. 6 and notifies the base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_a). Thereby, the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 obtains the base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_a) allocated to the own apparatus before the operation parameter destruction, and the base station identifier of the nonvolatile storage area (ENB-ID) is restored.

[16] Subsequently, the OMC server 7-3 uses the operation parameter management table of FIG. 4B to set the radio base station device (eNB) whose base station identifier (eNB-ID) is ID_a (naturally MAC address = MAC_a). ) To obtain the operation parameter file name File_a. Then, the OMC server 7-3 extracts the File_a file from the operation parameter database shown in FIG. 4C, establishes an ftp session with the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1, and transfers the operation parameters. .

[17] The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 stores the operation parameter received from the OMC server 7-3 in the first nonvolatile storage area 8-4 of the own apparatus by the sequence [16] described above. , Recover the operation parameters and perform the restart process by autonomous operation. After the restart, the communication service is started according to the operation parameters and is in an operation state.

  As a second example, an example will be described in which a radio base station apparatus (eNB) that has already been installed is relocated as another radio base station. In this embodiment, the base station identifier (eNB-ID) of ID_b was originally assigned and operated, and the base station identifier (eNB-ID) of ID_x was relocated as a base station identifier (eNB-ID) of ID_x. This will be described as an example of operation.

  It is assumed that the relocation target radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 has completed commissioning according to the [base station identifier / MAC address registration sequence during commissioning] of the first embodiment. The sequence [21] to [26] of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The sequence numbers [21] to [26] correspond to the sequence numbers in the figure.

[21] The relocation work of the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 is started. First, the operating radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 is disconnected from the network by the maintenance procedure and moved to the relocation site. The state of the operation parameter management table before relocation is shown in FIG.

[22] The OMC server 7-3 updates the operation parameter management table as follows. In the second embodiment, the operation parameter management table includes a field (New eNB-ID) for storing a new base station identifier to be given to the relocated radio base station apparatus (eNB) in addition to the above-described fields. .

  The OMC server 7-3 first has a new base station identifier (eNB-ID) field (eNB-ID) corresponding to the base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_b) assigned to the relocation target radio base station apparatus (eNB). In (New eNB-ID), a base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID-x) to be allocated after the relocation is set. Furthermore, the operation parameter file name corresponding to the base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_b) is rewritten to File_x corresponding to the base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID-x) after relocation ((b in FIG. 5). )reference).

[23] After the update of the operation parameter management table described above is completed, the wireless base station device (eNB) 7-1 is connected to the network at the relocation destination, and a restart process is performed. The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 executes the DHCP and DNS procedures similarly to the above-described sequence [3], and then transmits the message MACREGREQ illustrated in FIG. 6 to the OMC server as in the above-described sequence [4]. Send to 7-3.

[24] The OMC server 7-3 searches the operation parameter management table of (b) of FIG. 5 with the own device MAC address (OWN-MAC) (MAC_b) of the received message MACREGREC, and creates a new base station identifier ( Since ID_x is set in the field (New eNB-ID) of (eNB-ID), update processing of the base station identifier (eNB-ID) is started for the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1. Then, ID_x is set as a base station identifier (eNB-ID) update request (OPE = UPDREQ) and a new base station identifier (eNB-ID) in the message MACREGRSP shown in FIG. ) Respond to 7-1.

  At the same time, the OMC server 7-3 updates the base station identifier (eNB-ID) with a new base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_x) for the table record of the radio base station device (eNB) 7-1, Further, the content ID_x of the field (New eNB-ID) of the new base station identifier (eNB-ID) is deleted (see (c) of FIG. 5). On the other hand, the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 that has received the message MACREGRSP recognizes the update request for the base station identifier (eNB-ID), and is simultaneously notified of the new base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_x ) In the first nonvolatile storage area 8-4.

[25] Subsequently, the OMC server 7-3 uses the operation parameter management table of FIG. 5C to determine the radio base station apparatus (eNB) with the base station identifier (eNB-ID) (ID_x) (MAC address = MAC_b). The operation parameter file name File_x corresponding to 7-1 is obtained, and File_x is obtained from the operation parameter database of FIG. Then, the OMC server 7-3 establishes an ftp session with the radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 and transfers the operation parameters.

[26] The radio base station apparatus (eNB) 7-1 accommodates the operation parameter received from the OMC server 7-3 in the first nonvolatile storage area 8-4 of the own apparatus by the sequence [25] described above, Restore operational parameters and resume by autonomous operation. After restarting, the service is started and put into operation according to the operation parameters.

  As described above, in the first and second embodiments, even when the operation parameter data is destroyed or changed in the radio base station apparatus, it is possible to set the appropriate operation parameter from the remote maintenance / operation server. . As a result, there is no work for the maintenance person to visit the site of the radio base station apparatus to set the operation parameter, and the maintenance cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the information to be set in the base station apparatus at the installation location of the radio base station apparatus at the time of commissioning may be only the base station identifier, the operation cost can be reduced by simplifying the commissioning procedure, and the operation parameter error due to the erroneous operation at the time of commissioning. Service interruption due to the setting can be reduced.

7-1 Radio base station apparatus (eNB)
7-2 IP network 7-3 OMC server 7-4 DNS server 7-5 DHCP server 8-1 Local maintenance port 8-2 To OMC interface unit 8-3 CPU
8-4 First non-volatile storage area 8-5 Second non-volatile storage area 8-6 Signal processing unit 8-7 Local terminal

Claims (6)

In a radio access network system including a radio base station device connected via a network to a server that performs maintenance and operation,
The radio base station apparatus includes a notification unit that associates a base station identifier assigned to the own apparatus with an address assigned in advance to an interface unit with the network, and notifies the server.
The server stores a base station identifier and an address notified from the notification unit, and an operation parameter for the radio base station apparatus of the base station identifier in association with each other;
Transfer means for transferring the base station identifier and operation parameters acquired from the storage means based on the address to the radio base station apparatus;
A wireless access network system comprising: The radio base station apparatus comprises means for notifying the server of the address and requesting notification of a base station identifier corresponding to the address when detecting that an operation parameter including the base station identifier is lost. ,
The transfer means transfers the base station identifier and operation parameters acquired from the storage means to the radio base station apparatus based on the address notified from the radio base station apparatus. The radio access network system described. The storage means stores an operation parameter for the radio base station apparatus of the second base station identifier together with a second base station identifier to be given to the relocated radio base station,
The transfer means stores the second base station identifier based on the first base station identifier or address when notified from the radio base station apparatus of the first base station identifier and address before the relocation. The first base station identifier is updated with the second base station identifier, and the second base station identifier and the radio base station apparatus of the second base station identifier are detected. The radio access network system according to claim 1, wherein operation parameters are transferred to the radio base station apparatus. In the operation parameter setting method of the radio base station device connected via the network with the server that performs maintenance / operation,
The radio base station apparatus associates a base station identifier assigned to the own apparatus with an address assigned in advance to an interface unit with the network, and notifies the server,
The server stores the base station identifier and the address notified in the first step in association with the operation parameters for the radio base station device of the base station identifier in a storage unit;
Transferring the base station identifier and operation parameters acquired from the storage unit based on the address to the radio base station device;
An operation parameter setting method characterized by comprising: The wireless base station device, when detecting that an operation parameter including the base station identifier has been lost, notifying the server of the address, and requesting notification of a base station identifier corresponding to the address;
The server forwards the base station identifier and operation parameters acquired from the storage unit based on the address notified from the radio base station apparatus to the radio base station apparatus;
The operation parameter setting method according to claim 4, further comprising: The server stores, in the storage unit, operation parameters for the radio base station apparatus of the second base station identifier together with a second base station identifier to be given to the relocated radio base station;
When the first base station identifier and address before relocation are notified from the radio base station apparatus, the second base station identifier is stored in the storage unit based on the first base station identifier or address. The first base station identifier is updated with the second base station identifier, and the second base station identifier and the operation of the second base station identifier with respect to the radio base station apparatus are detected. Transferring parameters to the radio base station device;
The operation parameter setting method according to claim 4, further comprising:

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