JP6064391B2 - Wireless communication system and communication control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and a communication control method, and more particularly, to a wireless communication system and a communication control method in which a wireless terminal device can perform wireless communication by selecting a wireless communication method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a mobile communication system, a cell having a radius of several hundred meters to several tens of kilometers, that is, a radio base station apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as a macro base station or eNB (eNodeB)) that forms an area where a radio terminal apparatus can communicate. Communication services have been provided.

  In recent years, due to a dramatic increase in the number of subscribers of mobile communication services and an increase in the amount of communication traffic due to data communication, subscribers and communication traffic are distributed by forming smaller radius cells, and a certain level of communication It is desirable to provide speed to users in a stable manner. In addition, in order to deal with dead zones associated with the increase in the number of buildings, it is desired to install radio base station devices on the corporate floor and in ordinary households.

  Together with these demands, the processing capability of various devices used in the radio base station apparatus has been dramatically improved, and the miniaturization of the radio base station apparatus has progressed. Collecting.

  Since the radius of the femto cell formed by this small base station (hereinafter also referred to as femto base station or HeNB (Home eNodeB)) is as small as about 10 meters, the femto base station is formed by a macro base station. It can be used in places such as homes and underground shopping malls where it is difficult to install a macro base station because it is outside the range of the macro cell.

  As a function when a wireless terminal device (hereinafter also referred to as UE (User Equipment)) accesses a terminal device provided in a LAN (Local Area Network) via such a HeNB, 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership) Project) defines LIPA (Local IP Access).

  LIPA is a function that enables an access using a local IP address for accessing a LAN, instead of a global IP (Internet Protocol) address assigned by a mobile communication carrier network, in a UE.

  For example, in Non-Patent Document 1 (3GPP SPEC 23.829 V1.3.0 2010.9), when a UE accesses a terminal device in a LAN via a HeNB, a local IP address is assigned to the UE, and data relay processing is performed. A local gateway device (hereinafter also referred to as L-GW) is disclosed.

  As a usage example of LIPA, for example, a user may download a video file from a hard disk recorder in a home LAN to a mobile terminal and watch a program.

3GPP SPEC 23.829 V1.3.0 2010.9

  By the way, due to an increase in communication traffic due to an increase in the number of wireless terminal devices with a large amount of data communication, for example, smartphones, a shortage of communication capacity between the wireless terminal devices and the wireless base station devices has become a problem.

  In order to alleviate such a shortage of communication capacity, a mobile communication carrier, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) device according to Wi-Fi (registered trademark) that is easier to install than a wireless base station device In other words, access points are being expanded.

  Then, by reducing or offloading communication traffic between the wireless terminal device such as a smartphone and the wireless base station device between the wireless terminal device and the access point, the shortage of communication capacity between the wireless terminal device and the wireless base station device is alleviated. In addition, the throughput in the communication system can be improved.

  By smoothly switching between wireless communication systems such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) standardized by 3GPP and other wireless communication systems such as wireless LANs in the communication destination switching processing of such wireless terminal devices It is desirable to provide a stable communication service.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to stabilize communication by enabling a device that conforms to a different wireless communication method to be smoothly switched as a communication destination of a wireless terminal device. A wireless communication system and a communication control method are provided.

  (1) In order to solve the above-described problem, a wireless communication system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a wireless terminal device that performs wireless communication according to a first wireless communication method, thereby transmitting communication data with another device. A first identification information assigning unit for assigning to the wireless terminal device identification information for identifying the transmission source of the communication data and designating the transmission destination when the other device transmits and receives; When the device performs wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies the transmission source of the communication data and designates the transmission destination A second identification information providing unit for assigning the identification information to the wireless terminal device, and the first identification information providing unit and the second identification information providing unit share the same wireless terminal device. To grant the identification information.

  With such a configuration, the wireless terminal device can switch communication media while using the same identification information. As a result, a range of areas in which the wireless terminal device can receive service provision is secured at a certain level without adding, for example, processing on the application side to cope with a change in identification information accompanying switching of communication media. In addition, it is possible to improve the throughput in the wireless communication system. Also, by maintaining the identification information, even if the wireless terminal device moves from the cell where it is currently located to another cell, the wireless terminal device cannot communicate or is interrupted because the identification information cannot be given. Can be prevented. In particular, devices that are equipped with radios exchange information with each other without human intervention. For example, the inventory status of products built in vending machines is automatically reported to the management device. In an M2M (Machine to Machine) network system in which devices are controlled in general, IP address depletion becomes a problem as the number of terminals increases. In this wireless communication system, for example, an IP address is maintained before and after switching of communication media, so that the number of IP addresses that can be assigned to one device can be minimized to prevent the exhaustion of IP addresses. Therefore, communication can be stabilized by enabling a device that conforms to a different wireless communication method to be smoothly switched as a communication destination of the wireless terminal device.

  (2) Preferably, when the first identification information provision unit and the second identification information provision unit receive a request for the identification information from a wireless terminal device, the wireless terminal device is using the identification information. If not, the identification information is given.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the identification information from being assigned to the wireless terminal device even though the corresponding identification information is being used by the wireless terminal device. Can be prevented.

  (3) Preferably, the first identification information providing unit acquires first specifying information for specifying a wireless terminal device, and the second identification information providing unit specifies a wireless terminal device. The wireless communication system further includes a storage unit for storing correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship between the first specification information, the second specification information, and the identification information. The first identification information adding unit and the second identification information adding unit determine the identification information to be given to the wireless terminal device based on the correspondence information.

  With such a configuration, existing specific information for each communication medium can be used without newly providing a common key for authenticating the wireless terminal device in different communication media, that is, specific information. In addition, when the telecommunications carrier decides what specific information to use and the user cannot freely select the specific information and it is difficult to use a common key in different communication media, switching of the communication media The identity of the wireless terminal device before and after can be easily confirmed.

  (4) More preferably, the storage unit has a correspondence relationship between the first specific information, the second specific information, the identification information, and a wireless communication method in use by the wireless terminal device for wireless communication. The first identification information adding unit and the second identification information adding unit receive the request for the identification information from the wireless terminal device, and the wireless terminal is based on the correspondence information. It is judged whether or not the device is using the identification information, and the identification information is given when the wireless terminal device is not using the identification information.

  With such a configuration, whether or not the wireless terminal device is using the corresponding identification information can be easily determined using the corresponding information.

  (5) Preferably, the said radio | wireless communications system is further equipped with the determination part for determining whether the said identification information is provided to a radio | wireless terminal apparatus, A said 1st identification information provision part and a said 2nd The identification information adding unit receives the request for the identification information from the wireless terminal device, and notifies the determination unit of a wireless communication method corresponding to the identification information, and the determination unit is a wireless device different from the notified wireless communication method. When the wireless terminal device is performing wireless communication according to a communication method, it is determined that the identification information is not given to the wireless terminal device.

  With this configuration, the determination unit can recognize that the wireless terminal device that has requested the identification information is already performing wireless communication according to another wireless communication method using the corresponding identification information. This identification information can be prevented from being given to the wireless terminal device even though the wireless terminal device is in use, and communication problems can be prevented from occurring.

  (6) Preferably, the wireless communication system further relays communication data between the wireless terminal device and other devices by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the wireless terminal device according to the first wireless communication method. A second radio for relaying communication data between the radio terminal device and another device by transmitting and receiving radio signals to and from the first radio access unit and the radio terminal device according to the second radio communication method. An access unit, and the wireless terminal device, when switching the relay destination of the communication data from the first wireless access unit to the second wireless access unit, via the first wireless access unit A communication connection for transmitting / receiving communication data to / from other devices is maintained, and the relay destination of the communication data is transferred from the second wireless access unit to the first wireless access unit. When switching to the scan unit is cleavable communication connection for transmitting and receiving communication data to and from another apparatus via the second radio access unit.

  With this configuration, for example, data communication traffic can be smoothly offloaded between the wireless terminal device and the second wireless access unit while maintaining call communication between the wireless terminal device and the first wireless access unit. In a wireless communication system that can perform communication, a lack of communication capacity between the wireless terminal device and the first wireless access unit can be alleviated while ensuring a good communication state.

  (7) Preferably, the wireless communication system further relays communication data between the wireless terminal device and another device by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the wireless terminal device according to the first wireless communication method. The first wireless access unit is connected to the internal network and relays communication data between the wireless terminal device and other devices by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the wireless terminal device according to the second wireless communication method. A second wireless access unit for connecting, the first identification information providing unit is connected between the first wireless access unit and the internal network, the second identification information providing unit, Connected to the second wireless access unit, a communication control device is connected between the first wireless access unit and an external network, and the wireless terminal device is connected to the first wireless access unit. By performing wireless communication in accordance with a communication method, communication data is transmitted to and received from the terminal device in the internal network via the first wireless access unit and the first identification information providing unit, and the second wireless communication By performing wireless communication according to the method, communication data is transmitted to and received from the terminal device in the internal network via the second wireless access unit.

  With such a configuration, the communication data for accessing the terminal device in the internal network is smoothly switched between the communication media that can prevent the communication data from flowing between the first wireless access unit and the communication control device. Therefore, communication traffic on the external network side can be reduced while securing a good communication state.

  (8) More preferably, the first radio access unit is a HeNB (Home eNodeB) defined by 3GPP, and the first identification information adding unit is an L-GW (Local Gateway) defined by 3GPP. The communication control device is an S-GW (Serving Gateway) defined by 3GPP.

  With such a configuration, in a wireless communication system having the LIPA function defined by 3GPP, that is, a wireless communication system having a function of reducing communication traffic on the external network side via the HeNB, a device conforming to a different wireless communication scheme is wireless terminal By enabling smooth switching as the communication destination of the apparatus, communication can be stabilized.

  (9) In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a communication control method in a wireless communication system, in which a wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to a first wireless communication system. When the communication data is transmitted / received to / from another device by the step, the other device identifies the transmission source of the communication data and gives identification information for designating the transmission destination to the wireless terminal device; When the wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies the transmission source of the communication data and sets the transmission destination. Providing identification information for designating to the wireless terminal device, and used for transmission / reception of communication data by wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method In the step of applying the identification information used for transmission and reception of communication data by wireless communication according to step and the second wireless communication system to impart a different information, to impart common the identification information to the same wireless terminal.

  With such a configuration, the wireless terminal device can switch communication media while using the same identification information. As a result, a range of areas in which the wireless terminal device can receive service provision is secured at a certain level without adding, for example, processing on the application side to cope with a change in identification information accompanying switching of communication media. In addition, it is possible to improve the throughput in the wireless communication system. Also, by maintaining the identification information, even if the wireless terminal device moves from the cell where it is currently located to another cell, the wireless terminal device cannot communicate or is interrupted because the identification information cannot be given. Can be prevented. In particular, devices that are equipped with radios exchange information with each other without human intervention. For example, the inventory status of products built in vending machines is automatically reported to the management device. In an M2M (Machine to Machine) network system in which devices are controlled in general, IP address depletion becomes a problem as the number of terminals increases. In this wireless communication system, for example, an IP address is maintained before and after switching of communication media, so that the number of IP addresses that can be assigned to one device can be minimized to prevent the exhaustion of IP addresses. Therefore, communication can be stabilized by enabling a device that conforms to a different wireless communication method to be smoothly switched as a communication destination of the wireless terminal device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, communication can be stabilized by enabling the apparatus according to a different radio | wireless communication system to be switched smoothly as a communication destination of a radio | wireless terminal apparatus.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the flow of an IP packet. It is a figure which shows the switching process of the communication media in the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the common authentication server and the structure between apparatuses in the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the management table in the common authentication server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. In the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows an example of the sequence of the process in which a radio | wireless terminal apparatus selects LIPA as a communication medium. In the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows an example of the sequence of the process in which a wireless terminal device selects wireless LAN as a communication medium. It is a figure which shows an example of the terminal authentication request | requirement in the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the terminal authentication result in the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. In the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows the other example of the sequence of the process in which a radio | wireless terminal apparatus selects LIPA as a communication medium. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a sequence of processing in which a wireless terminal device selects a wireless LAN as a communication medium in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

[Configuration and basic operation]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a radio communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 401 includes, for example, a mobile communication system conforming to LTE (Long Term Evolution) standardized by 3GPP, and a wireless LAN system standardized by IEEE 802.11, 301, an EPC (Evolved Packet Core) 302, and an eNB 106.

  Home network 301 includes HeNB (first wireless access unit) 101, L-GW (first identification information providing unit) 102, WiFi access point (AP) (second wireless access unit) 151, LAN (Internal network) 51. The EPC 302 includes an MME (Mobility Management Entity) (communication management device) 103, S-GWs (communication control devices) 104 and 105, and a P-GW 107.

  In FIG. 1, one L-GW and one WiFi access point are representatively shown, but a larger number of L-GWs and WiFi access points may be provided.

  The HeNB 101 and the eNB 106 communicate with the wireless terminal device 202 by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the wireless terminal device 202. That is, HeNB101 and eNB106 relay communication data between the radio | wireless terminal apparatus 202 and another apparatus by transmitting / receiving a radio signal with the radio | wireless terminal apparatus 202 according to a LTE system, for example.

  The HeNB 101 and the L-GW 102 have a LIPA function defined by 3GPP, and enable communication between the wireless terminal device 202 and the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51.

  More specifically, the L-GW 102 is connected between the HeNB 101 and the LAN 51. The L-GW 102 can provide a LIPA connection to a plurality of wireless terminal devices 202, for example.

  Specifically, the wireless terminal device 202 can transmit and receive communication data with the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the HeNB 101 and the L-GW 102 by performing wireless communication according to the LTE scheme.

  The L-GW 102 assigns a local IP address to the wireless terminal device 202, and performs data relay processing and the like when the wireless terminal device 202 accesses the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the HeNB 101. That is, the L-GW 102 transmits communication data such as an IP packet received from the wireless terminal device 202 via the HeNB 101 to the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51, and transmits communication data such as an IP packet received from the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 to the HeNB 101. Via the wireless terminal device 202.

  In addition, the WiFi access point 151 relays communication data between the wireless terminal device 202 and other devices by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the wireless terminal device 202 according to the wireless LAN method. That is, the wireless terminal device 202 transmits and receives communication data to and from the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the WiFi access point 151 by performing wireless communication according to the wireless LAN method.

  More specifically, the WiFi access point (AP) 151 gives a local IP address to the wireless terminal device 202 using, for example, a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server, and the wireless terminal device 202 is a terminal device in the LAN 51. When accessing 161, data relay processing or the like is performed. That is, the WiFi access point 151 transmits communication data such as an IP packet included in a wireless signal received from the wireless terminal device 202 to the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 and communication such as an IP packet received from the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51. A wireless signal including data is transmitted to the wireless terminal device 202.

  Here, when switching the relay destination of communication data from the HeNB 101 to the WiFi access point 151, the wireless terminal device 202 maintains a communication connection for transmitting and receiving communication data to and from the terminal device 161 via the HeNB 101. .

  On the other hand, when switching the relay destination of communication data from the WiFi access point 151 to the HeNB 101, the wireless terminal device 202 establishes a communication connection for transmitting and receiving communication data to and from the terminal device 161 via the WiFi access point 151. Can be cut.

  The S-GW 104 is connected between the HeNB 101 and the IP network (external network) 52. The S-GW 104 transmits communication data received from the wireless terminal device 202 via the HeNB 101 to the IP network 52 via the P-GW 107, and transmits communication data received via the P-GW 107 from other devices in the IP network 52 to the HeNB 101. Via the wireless terminal device 202.

  The MME 103 manages the wireless terminal device 202, the HeNB 101, the eNB 106, the L-GW 102, and the like in the wireless communication system 401. The MME 103 transmits / receives a control message to / from the HeNB 101 and transmits / receives a control message to / from the eNB 106.

  The HeNB 101 transmits and receives communication data such as IP packets to and from the IP network 52 via the S-GW 104 and the P-GW 107.

  The eNB 106 transmits and receives communication data such as IP packets to and from the IP network 52 via the S-GW 105 and the P-GW 107.

  The HeNB 101 and the S-GW 104 exchange various information with each other via the S1-U interface by transmitting and receiving communication data according to the S1-U interface, which is a logical interface.

  The HeNB 101 and the MME 103 exchange various pieces of information with each other via the S1-MME interface by transmitting and receiving communication data according to the S1-MME interface that is a logical interface.

  The eNB 106 and the S-GW 105 exchange various kinds of information with each other via the S1-U interface by transmitting and receiving communication data according to the S1-U interface which is a logical interface.

  The eNB 106 and the MME 103 exchange various pieces of information with each other via the S1-MME interface by transmitting and receiving communication data according to the S1-MME interface that is a logical interface.

  The L-GW 102 and the S-GW 104 exchange various pieces of information with each other via the S5 interface by transmitting and receiving communication data according to the S5 interface which is a logical interface.

  The MME 103 and the S-GWs 104 and 105 exchange various data with each other via the S11 interface by transmitting and receiving communication data according to the S11 interface which is a logical interface.

  The S-GWs 104 and 105 and the P-GW 107 exchange various kinds of information with each other via the S5 interface by transmitting and receiving communication data according to the S5 interface which is a logical interface.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the wireless communication system and the flow of IP packets according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the wireless communication system 401 further includes an IP backhaul 303, a home router 108, and a security gateway (SeGW) 109.

  The home router 108 is connected between the home network 301 and the IP backhaul 303 and provides, for example, a NAT (Network Address Translation) function to devices in the home network 301.

  The security gateway 109 is connected between the IP backhaul 303 and the EPC 302, and provides a security function to devices in the home network 301.

  When LIPA is not used in LTE, as indicated by arrow B1, when the wireless terminal device 202 accesses the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the HeNB 101, the wireless terminal device is connected via the IP backhaul 303, the EPC 302, and the IP network 52. Communication between the device 202 and the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 becomes possible.

  On the other hand, when using LIPA in LTE, as indicated by an arrow A1, the L-GW 102 assigns a local IP address to the wireless terminal device 202, and the wireless terminal device 202 connects to the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the HeNB 101. When accessing, data is relayed. As a result, communication between the wireless terminal device 202 and the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 can be performed using the local IP address without passing through the EPC 302 and the IP backhaul 303 of the mobile communication carrier.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing communication media switching processing in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 3, wireless communication system 401 further includes a DHCP server (second identification information adding unit) 152.

  The DHCP server 152 is connected to the WiFi access point 151. The DHCP server 152 gives an IP address to a terminal device such as the wireless terminal device 202 via the WiFi access point 151.

  The HeNB 101 can communicate with the wireless terminal device 202 by forming a cell CL and transmitting / receiving a wireless signal to / from the wireless terminal device 202 existing in the cell CL. Also, the WiFi access point 151 can communicate with the wireless terminal device 202 by forming a cell CW and transmitting / receiving a wireless signal to / from the wireless terminal device 202 existing in the cell CW. FIG. 3 shows a situation where a part of each of the cell CL and the cell CW overlaps.

  When selecting LTE as a communication medium, that is, when transmitting and receiving radio signals to and from the HeNB 101 according to the LTE radio communication scheme, the radio terminal device 202 uses the LIPA and the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the HeNB 101 and the L-GW 102. Communication data can be transmitted and received.

  In addition, when the wireless terminal device 202 selects a wireless LAN as a communication medium, that is, when a wireless signal is transmitted / received to / from the WiFi access point 151 according to the wireless communication method of the wireless LAN, the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the WiFi access point 151. Send and receive communication data.

  The wireless terminal device 202 exists in the overlapping region of the cell CL and the cell CW, and transmits and receives communication data with the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the HeNB 101 and the L-GW 102. The communication medium is switched from LTE to wireless LAN. That is, the wireless terminal device 202 switches the communication data relay device to the WiFi access point 151.

  On the other hand, the wireless terminal device 202 exists in the overlapping region of the cell CL and the cell CW, and in a state where communication data is transmitted to and received from the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the WiFi access point 151, the wireless terminal device 202 When moving in, the communication medium is switched from the wireless LAN to LTE. That is, the radio | wireless terminal apparatus 202 switches the relay apparatus of communication data to HeNB101 and L-GW102.

  Also, the wireless terminal device 202 exists in the overlapping area of the cell CL and the cell CW, and the communication media is also changed to LTE and wireless when the radio wave environment deteriorates or communication traffic of the other wireless terminal device 202 increases. Switch between LANs. Note that there may be a momentary communication interruption in switching between LTE and wireless LAN.

  Here, the wireless communication system 401 enables the wireless terminal device 202 to switch communication media while using the same IP address in the communication media switching operation as described above.

  That is, in the wireless communication system 401, when the L-GW 102 transmits / receives communication data to / from other devices by performing wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method, for example, the LTE method, the L-GW 102 The identification information for identifying the transmission source of the communication data and designating the transmission destination, for example, an IP address is given to the wireless terminal device 202.

  Specifically, when the L-GW 102 transmits / receives communication data to / from other devices via the wireless terminal device 202 according to LIPA (Local IP Access) defined by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). The IP address is assigned to the wireless terminal device 202.

  Further, when the wireless terminal device 202 transmits / receives communication data to / from another device by performing wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method, for example, the wireless LAN method, the DHCP server 152 causes the other device to transmit communication data. Identification information for specifying a transmission destination, for example, an IP address is assigned to the wireless terminal device 202.

  Then, the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 give common identification information to the same wireless terminal device 202.

  In this way, with the configuration that maintains the IP address, the range of the service-providable area in the home network 301 is constant without adding, for example, processing on the application side to cope with the change of the IP address accompanying switching of the communication media. It can be ensured at a level, and throughput in the wireless communication system 401 can be improved.

  Further, by maintaining the IP address, even if the wireless terminal device 202 moves from the cell where it is currently located to another cell, the wireless terminal device 202 cannot communicate because the IP address cannot be assigned, You can prevent interruptions. Specifically, for example, when the user of the wireless terminal device 202 uses a VoIP (Voice Over IP) call service, it is possible to prevent the call from being interrupted or requiring a re-call.

  In particular, devices that are equipped with radios exchange information with each other without human intervention. For example, the inventory status of products built in vending machines is automatically reported to the management device. In an M2M (Machine to Machine) network system in which devices are controlled in general, IP address depletion becomes a problem as the number of terminals increases. In the wireless communication system 401, the configuration in which the IP address is maintained before and after the switching of the communication media can minimize the number of IP addresses that can be assigned to one device and prevent the exhaustion of IP addresses.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a common authentication server and inter-device configuration in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, wireless communication system 401 further includes a common authentication server ( determination unit, first identification information adding unit, and second identification information adding unit) 153.

  The common authentication server 153 is a common authentication server used by the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 when the wireless terminal device 202 selects a communication medium, and performs an authentication process using a management table. Specifically, the common authentication server 153 determines whether or not to assign an IP address to the wireless terminal device 202 and determines an IP address to be assigned.

  For example, when the common authentication server 153 receives a request for an IP address from the wireless terminal device 202, the common authentication server 153 gives the IP address when the wireless terminal device 202 is not using a corresponding IP address. More specifically, when the common authentication server 153 receives a request for an IP address from the wireless terminal device 202, the common authentication server 153 determines whether the wireless terminal device 202 is using a corresponding IP address based on the management table. to decide. Then, the common authentication server 153 gives the IP address when the wireless terminal device 202 is not using the corresponding IP address.

  Further, the L-GW 102 acquires specific information for specifying the wireless terminal device 202, for example, IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity).

  Here, IMSI is an ID (Identifier) unique to the wireless terminal device recorded in a USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) card. Based on this IMSI, the EPC 302 determines whether or not the wireless terminal device can communicate.

  The DHCP server 152 acquires specific information for specifying the wireless terminal device 202, for example, a MAC (Media Access Control) address.

  For example, the common authentication server 153 determines whether or not to assign an IP address to the wireless terminal device 202 based on the management table using the specific information acquired by the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 as a key, and wirelessly. An IP address to be assigned to the terminal device 202 is determined.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a management table in the common authentication server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the management table is correspondence information indicating the correspondence relationship between the IMSI, the MAC address, the IP address, and the wireless communication method that the wireless terminal device 202 is using for wireless communication. The common authentication server 153 includes a storage unit for storing the management table.

  Specifically, for example, the IP address to be assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 whose IMSI is “AAA” and whose MAC address is “XXX” is “111.11.11.11.111”. A communication state 202 is “LIPA”, that is, performs communication using LIPA. Further, the IP address to be assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 having the IMSI “BBB” and the MAC address “YYY” is “222.222.22.22.222”, and the wireless terminal device 202 is in a communication state. Performs communication using “WiFi”, that is, a wireless LAN. Further, the IP address to be assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 whose IMSI is “CCC” and whose MAC address is “ZZZ” is “333.333.333.333”, and the wireless terminal device 202 is in a communication state. Is “none”, that is, neither LIPA nor wireless LAN is used.

  The “communication state” in the management table is updated by the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152, for example.

  For example, the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 receive a request for an IP address from the wireless terminal device 202 and notify the common authentication server 153 of the wireless communication method corresponding to itself.

  The common authentication server 153 refers to this management table, and the wireless terminal device 202 performs wireless communication according to a wireless communication method different from the wireless communication method notified from the L-GW 102 or the DHCP server 152. In order to avoid the collision of the use of the IP address, it is determined that no IP address is given to the wireless terminal device 202.

[Operation]
Next, address assignment processing in the radio communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence in which the wireless terminal device selects LIPA as a communication medium in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  With reference to FIG. 6, first, the wireless terminal device 202 wirelessly transmits the reception power of the wireless signal transmitted from the HeNB 101 from the WiFi access point 151 in a state where communication using the wireless LAN is performed, for example. When the received power of the signal becomes larger, a PDN (Packet Data Network) connection request indicating an access request to the LAN 51 is transmitted to the MME 103 via the HeNB 101. This PDN connection request includes, for example, the IMSI of the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP1).

  Next, when the MME 103 determines from the PDN connection request received from the wireless terminal device 202 that LIPA can be applied, the MME 103 transmits a session establishment request indicating a resource allocation request such as a local IP address to the S-GW 104. This session establishment request includes, for example, the IMSI of the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP2).

  Next, the S-GW 104 transmits the session establishment request received from the MME 103 to the L-GW 102 (step SP3).

  Next, the L-GW 102 receives a session establishment request from the S-GW 104 and transmits a terminal authentication request to the common authentication server 153 (step SP4).

  Next, the common authentication server 153 receives the terminal authentication request from the L-GW 102, refers to the management table held by itself, and the communication state corresponding to the IMSI indicated by the terminal authentication request is “none” or “LIPA”. If it is, it is determined that the corresponding IP address is assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP5).

  Then, the common authentication server 153 transmits a terminal authentication result including the local IP address for the wireless terminal device 202 to the L-GW 102 (step SP6).

  On the other hand, when the communication state corresponding to the IMSI indicated by the terminal authentication request is “WiFi”, the common authentication server 153 assigns the IP address to the wireless terminal device 202 in order to avoid collision of use of the IP address. Judged not to be granted. For example, the common authentication server 153 may determine that the corresponding IP address is not given to the wireless terminal device 202 when the communication state corresponding to the IMSI indicated by the terminal authentication request is “LIPA”. (Step SP5).

  Then, the common authentication server 153 transmits a terminal authentication result indicating that the IP address is not assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 to the L-GW 102 (step SP6).

  Next, the L-GW 102 receives the terminal authentication result from the common authentication server 153, and transmits a session establishment response including the content of the terminal authentication result to the S-GW 104 (step SP7).

  Next, the S-GW 104 transmits the session establishment response received from the L-GW 102 to the MME 103 (step SP8).

  Next, when the MME 103 receives a session establishment response from the S-GW 104 and the IP address assigned by the common authentication server 153 is included in the session establishment response, the MME 103 sends a bearer setup request including the IP address and the like to the HeNB 101. Transmit (step SP9). The bearer setup request is a request for establishing a connection between the HeNB and the wireless terminal device.

  Next, the HeNB 101 receives a bearer setup request from the MME 103 and transmits an RRC connection reconfiguration instruction including the IP address assigned by the common authentication server 153 to the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP10).

  Next, the wireless terminal apparatus 202 receives the RRC connection reconfiguration instruction from the HeNB 101, and sets the IP address indicated by the RRC connection reconfiguration instruction as its own IP address (step SP11).

  Next, the wireless terminal device 202 transmits an RRC connection reconfiguration response to the HeNB 101 (step SP12).

  Next, the HeNB 101 receives an RRC connection reconfiguration response from the wireless terminal device 202, and transmits a bearer setup response to the MME 103 (step SP13).

  Next, the radio | wireless terminal apparatus 202 transmits the direct transfer notification which shows accessing LAN51 using a LIPA function to HeNB101 (step SP14).

  Next, the HeNB 101 receives a direct transfer notification from the wireless terminal device 202, and transmits a PDN connection completion notification to the MME 103 (step SP15).

  As described above, the LIPA connection is established, and it becomes possible to perform IP access from the HeNB 101 to each device in the LAN 51 via the L-GW 102 directly. That is, the IP packet transmitted from the wireless terminal device 202 is transmitted to the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the HeNB 101 and the L-GW 102, and the IP packet transmitted from the terminal device 161 is transmitted to the wireless terminal device 202 via the L-GW 102 and the HeNB 101. Sent to.

  Since the establishment of the LIPA connection eliminates the need for data such as IP packets for the wireless terminal device 202 to access the LAN 51 to flow between the HeNB 101, the MME 103, and the S-GW 104, the wireless LAN is used. The communication traffic on the external network side can be reduced continuously from the state where the communication is performed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence of processing in which a wireless terminal device selects a wireless LAN as a communication medium in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 7, first, radio terminal apparatus 202 is a radio signal in which received power of a radio signal transmitted from WiFi access point 151 is transmitted from HeNB 101 in a state where communication using LIPA is performed, for example. When the received power becomes larger than the received power, a session establishment request indicating an access request to the LAN 51 is transmitted to the WiFi access point 151. This session establishment request includes, for example, the MAC address of the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP21).

  Next, by transmitting and receiving various information between the WiFi access point 151 and the wireless terminal device 202, a physical layer wireless LAN connection is established (step SP22).

  Next, when the wireless LAN connection establishment process is completed, the WiFi access point 151 transmits an address request including the MAC address of the wireless terminal device 202 to the DHCP server 152 (step SP23).

  Next, the DHCP server 152 receives an address request from the WiFi access point 151 and transmits a terminal authentication request to the common authentication server 153 (step SP24).

  Next, the common authentication server 153 receives the terminal authentication request from the DHCP server 152, refers to the management table held by itself, and the communication state corresponding to the MAC address indicated by the terminal authentication request is “none” or “WiFi”. ", It is determined that the corresponding IP address is assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP25).

  Then, the common authentication server 153 transmits a terminal authentication result including the local IP address for the wireless terminal device 202 to the DHCP server 152 (step SP26).

  On the other hand, when the communication state corresponding to the MAC address indicated by the terminal authentication request is “LIPA”, the common authentication server 153 uses the IP address as the wireless terminal device in order to avoid collision of use of the IP address. It is determined not to be assigned to 202. For example, the common authentication server 153 may determine that the corresponding IP address is not assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 when the communication state corresponding to the IMSI indicated by the terminal authentication request is “WiFi”. (Step SP25).

  Then, the common authentication server 153 transmits a terminal authentication result indicating that the IP address is not assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 to the DHCP server 152 (step SP26).

  Next, when the DHCP server 152 receives the terminal authentication result from the common authentication server 153 and the IP address given by the common authentication server 153 is included in the terminal authentication result, the DHCP server 152 sends an address response including the IP address to WiFi. It transmits to the access point 151 (step SP27).

  Next, the WiFi access point 151 receives the address response from the DHCP server 152, and transmits a session establishment response including the local IP address for the wireless terminal device 202 to the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP28).

  Next, the wireless terminal device 202 receives a session establishment response from the WiFi access point 151, and sets the IP address indicated by the session establishment response as its own IP address (step SP29).

  As described above, a session via the wireless LAN is established, and it becomes possible to perform IP access from the wireless terminal device 202 to each device in the LAN 51 via the WiFi access point 151 directly. That is, the IP packet transmitted from the wireless terminal device 202 is transmitted to the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 via the WiFi access point 151, and the IP packet transmitted from the terminal device 161 is transmitted to the wireless terminal device 202 via the WiFi access point 151. Is done.

  Since the session via the wireless LAN is established, it is not necessary for the wireless terminal device 202 to flow data such as an IP packet for accessing the LAN 51 between the HeNB 101, the MME 103, and the S-GW 104. It is possible to continue to reduce communication traffic on the external network side from the state of performing communication using.

  In the sequence shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 have the same configuration of the wireless terminal device 202 before and after switching of the communication media by using the management table indicating the correspondence relationship between the IMSI, the MAC address, and the IP address. And a common IP address can be assigned to the same wireless terminal device 202. That is, the wireless terminal device 202 can continue to use the same IP address before and after switching of communication media.

  Note that the wireless communication system 401 is not limited to the configuration including the DHCP server 152, and the WiFi access point 151 may have a DHCP server function.

  Further, the wireless communication system 401 is not limited to a configuration that performs authentication using a MAC address by a DHCP server, but may be configured to perform authentication using EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol), PSK (Pre-Shared Key), or the like. Good.

  In the sequences shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the IP address in the management table is not limited to a configuration registered in advance by an operator or the like, and when the wireless terminal device 202 first uses LIPA or wireless LAN, The L-GW 102 or the DHCP server 152 may register an IP address in the management table, and thereafter, the wireless terminal device 202 may be configured to use the IP address fixedly. Further, if the IP address is maintained before and after switching of the communication media, the L-GW 102 or the DHCP server 152 can update the IP address of the management table every predetermined time.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal authentication request in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 8, the terminal authentication request includes “UE ID”, “communication standard”, and “authentication request reason” as variables.

  “UE ID” is 15-bit data indicating IMSI in the sequence shown in FIG. 6, and 24-bit data indicating the MAC address in the sequence shown in FIG. 7.

  The “communication standard” is a standard of communication media that the wireless terminal device 202 newly desires to use. Specifically, it is “LTE” in the sequence shown in FIG. 6, and “WiFi” in the sequence shown in FIG. It is.

  The “authentication request reason” is a reason why the wireless terminal device 202 requests switching of communication media, such as “deterioration of communication quality”, “increase in communication delay”, “to receive a specific service”, and the like. This “authentication request reason” is aggregated in the common authentication server 153 and used, for example, for maintenance management of the mobile communication carrier.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal authentication result in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 9, the terminal authentication result includes “IP address v4”, “IP address v6”, and “authentication result” as variables.

  The “authentication result” is a Boolean variable, and is “1” when the authentication is successful in the common authentication server 153, that is, when the common authentication server 153 determines that the IP address is given, the authentication is performed in the common authentication server 153. Is “0” when the common authentication server 153 determines that the IP address has not been assigned.

[Other operation examples]
In the sequence shown in FIG. 6, the common authentication server 153 receives the terminal authentication request including the IMSI from the L-GW 102 and determines whether to give the wireless terminal device 202 an IP address. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The L-GW 102 may refer to the management table using the IMSI as a key and determine whether to assign an IP address.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of a processing sequence in which a wireless terminal device selects LIPA as a communication medium in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 10, the operations in steps SP31 to SP33 are the same as the operations in steps SP1 to SP3 shown in FIG.

  Next, the L-GW 102 receives a session establishment request from the S-GW 104 and transmits a terminal information inquiry to the common authentication server 153 (step SP34).

  Next, the common authentication server 153 receives a terminal information inquiry from the L-GW 102 and transmits a terminal information response indicating a management table held by the common authentication server 153 to the L-GW 102 (step SP35).

  Next, the L-GW 102 receives the terminal information response from the common authentication server 153, refers to the management table indicated by the terminal information response, and the communication state corresponding to the IMSI indicated by the session establishment request is “none” or “ If it is “LIPA”, it is determined that the corresponding IP address is assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP36).

  On the other hand, when the communication state corresponding to the IMSI of the wireless terminal device 202 indicated by the session establishment request is “WiFi”, the L-GW 102 sets the IP address in order to avoid collision of the use of the IP address. It is determined that the wireless terminal device 202 is not given. Further, for example, when the communication state corresponding to the IMSI indicated by the session establishment request is “LIPA”, the L-GW 102 may determine that the corresponding IP address is not assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 ( Step SP36).

  Next, when it is determined that the corresponding IP address is assigned to the wireless terminal device 202, the L-GW 102 transmits a session establishment response including the local IP address for the wireless terminal device 202 to the S-GW 104. On the other hand, when determining that the corresponding IP address is not assigned to the wireless terminal device 202, the L-GW 102 transmits a session establishment response indicating that the IP address is not assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 to the S-GW 104 ( Step SP37).

  Next, the S-GW 104 transmits the session establishment response received from the L-GW 102 to the MME 103 (step SP38).

  Next, the MME 103 receives a session establishment response from the S-GW 104, and when the IP address assigned by the L-GW 102 is included in the session establishment response, transmits a bearer setup request including the IP address and the like to the HeNB 101. (Step SP39). The bearer setup request is a request for establishing a connection between the HeNB and the wireless terminal device.

  Next, the HeNB 101 receives a bearer setup request from the MME 103, and transmits an RRC connection reconfiguration instruction including the IP address assigned by the L-GW 102 to the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP40).

  Next, the wireless terminal device 202 receives the RRC connection reconfiguration instruction from the HeNB 101, and sets the IP address indicated by the RRC connection reconfiguration instruction as its own IP address (step SP41).

  Since the operations of steps SP42 to SP45 are the same as the operations of steps SP12 to SP15 shown in FIG. 6, detailed description will not be repeated here.

  In the sequence shown in FIG. 7, the common authentication server 153 receives a terminal authentication request including a MAC address from the DHCP server 152 and determines whether to give an IP address to the wireless terminal device 202. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration may be such that the DHCP server 152 refers to the management table using the MAC address as a key, and determines the assignment of the IP address.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of a processing sequence in which a wireless terminal device selects a wireless LAN as a communication medium in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 11, the operations of steps SP51 to SP53 are the same as the operations of steps SP21 to SP23 shown in FIG. 7, and thus detailed description will not be repeated here.

  Next, the DHCP server 152 receives an address request from the WiFi access point 151 and transmits a terminal information inquiry to the common authentication server 153 (step SP54).

  Next, the common authentication server 153 receives a terminal information inquiry from the DHCP server 152, and transmits a terminal information response indicating a management table held by itself to the DHCP server 152 (step SP55).

  Next, the DHCP server 152 receives the terminal information response from the common authentication server 153, refers to the management table indicated by the terminal information response, and the communication state corresponding to the MAC address indicated by the session establishment request is “none” or In the case of “WiFi”, it is determined that the corresponding IP address is assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 (step SP56).

On the other hand, when the communication state corresponding to the MAC address indicated by the session establishment request is “LIPA”, the DHCP server 152 assigns the IP address to the wireless terminal device 202 in order to avoid collision of use of the IP address. Judged not to be granted. Further, for example, when the communication state corresponding to the MAC address indicated by the session establishment request is “WiFi”, the DHCP server 152 may determine not to assign the corresponding IP address to the wireless terminal device 202. (Step SP56).

  Next, when it is determined that the corresponding IP address is assigned to the wireless terminal device 202, the DHCP server 152 transmits an address response including the local IP address for the wireless terminal device 202 to the WiFi access point 151 (step SP57). ).

  Since the operations of steps SP58 to SP59 are similar to the operations of steps SP28 to SP29 shown in FIG. 7, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

  By the way, communication traffic between a wireless terminal device such as a smartphone and a wireless base station device is saved, that is, offloaded between the wireless terminal device and the access point, thereby reducing a shortage of communication capacity between the wireless terminal device and the wireless base station device. In addition, the throughput in the communication system can be improved. In such a communication destination switching process of the wireless terminal device, switching between a wireless communication system such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) standardized by 3GPP and another wireless communication system such as a wireless LAN is smoothly performed. Therefore, it is desired to provide a stable communication service.

  On the other hand, in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the L-GW 102 or the common authentication server 153 is different when the wireless terminal device 202 performs wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method, for example, the LTE method. When transmitting / receiving communication data to / from the device, the other device identifies the transmission source of the communication data and assigns identification information such as an IP address to the wireless terminal device 202 for designating the transmission destination. When the wireless terminal device 202 transmits / receives communication data to / from another device by performing wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method, for example, the wireless LAN method, the DHCP server 152 or the common authentication server 153 The wireless terminal device 202 is given identification information, for example, an IP address, for identifying the transmission source of the communication data and designating the transmission destination. Then, the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 or the common authentication server 153 give common identification information to the same wireless terminal device 202.

  With this configuration, the wireless terminal device 202 can switch communication media while using the same IP address. Thereby, the range of the area in which the wireless terminal device 202 can receive the service provision can be set at a certain level without adding processing for dealing with the change of the IP address accompanying the switching of the communication media, for example, on the application side. It can be ensured, and the throughput in the wireless communication system can be improved.

  Further, by maintaining the IP address, even if the wireless terminal device 202 moves from the cell where it is currently located to another cell, the wireless terminal device 202 cannot communicate because the IP address cannot be assigned, You can prevent interruptions.

  In particular, devices that are equipped with radios exchange information with each other without human intervention. For example, the inventory status of products built in vending machines is automatically reported to the management device. In an M2M (Machine to Machine) network system in which devices are controlled in general, IP address depletion becomes a problem as the number of terminals increases. In the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration in which IP addresses are maintained before and after switching of communication media minimizes the number of IP addresses that can be assigned to one device, thereby reducing IP address depletion. Can be prevented.

  Therefore, in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, communication can be stabilized by enabling a device that conforms to a different wireless communication method to be smoothly switched as a communication destination of the wireless terminal device.

  In the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the common authentication server 153 or the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 receives a request for an IP address from the wireless terminal device 202, the wireless terminal device 202 Is assigned the IP address when the corresponding IP address is not in use.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the wireless terminal device 202 from being assigned the corresponding IP address even though the wireless terminal device 202 is using the corresponding IP address. It can be prevented from occurring.

  Further, in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, common authentication server 153 stores correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship between the IMSI, the MAC address, and the IP address. Then, the common authentication server 153 or the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 determine an IP address to be assigned to the wireless terminal device 202 based on the correspondence information.

  With such a configuration, existing specific information for each communication medium can be used without newly providing a common key for authenticating the wireless terminal device 202 in different communication media, that is, specific information. Also, especially when LTE is used as a communication medium, the carrier decides what specific information is used, and the user cannot freely select the specific information, and uses a common key in different communication media. Therefore, it is possible to easily confirm the identity of the wireless terminal device 202 before and after switching of the communication media.

  Further, in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the common authentication server 153 has a correspondence relationship between the IMSI, the MAC address, the IP address, and the wireless communication method that the wireless terminal device 202 is using for wireless communication. The correspondence information shown is stored. When the common authentication server 153 or the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 receives a request for an IP address from the wireless terminal device 202, the wireless terminal device 202 is using the corresponding IP address based on the correspondence information. It is determined whether or not. Then, the common authentication server 153 or the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 gives the IP address when the wireless terminal device 202 is not using the corresponding IP address.

  With such a configuration, whether or not the corresponding IP address is being used by the wireless terminal device 202 can be easily determined using the correspondence information.

  Further, in the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the L-GW 102 and the DHCP server 152 receive a request for an IP address from the wireless terminal device 202, and set the wireless communication method corresponding to itself to the common authentication server 153. Notice. Then, when the wireless terminal device 202 performs wireless communication according to a wireless communication method different from the notified wireless communication method, the common authentication server 153 determines that an IP address is not assigned to the wireless terminal device 202.

  With this configuration, the common authentication server 153 can recognize that the wireless terminal device 202 that has requested the IP address is already performing wireless communication according to another wireless communication method using the corresponding IP address. Therefore, although the corresponding IP address is being used by the wireless terminal device 202, it is possible to prevent the IP address from being assigned to the wireless terminal device 202, and to prevent problems in communication. Can do.

  Moreover, in the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention, when switching the relay destination of communication data from HeNB101 to the WiFi access point 151, the radio | wireless terminal apparatus 202 is between other apparatuses via HeNB101. Maintain a communication connection for sending and receiving communication data. On the other hand, when switching the relay destination of communication data from the WiFi access point 151 to the HeNB 101, the wireless terminal device 202 establishes a communication connection for transmitting / receiving communication data to / from other devices via the WiFi access point 151. Can be cut.

  With such a configuration, for example, wireless communication capable of smoothly offloading data communication traffic between the wireless terminal device 202 and the WiFi access point 151 while maintaining call communication between the wireless terminal device 202 and the HeNB 101. In the system, a lack of communication capacity between the wireless terminal device 202 and the HeNB 101 can be alleviated while ensuring a good communication state.

  In the radio communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, radio terminal apparatus 202 transmits communication data to / from terminal apparatus 161 in LAN 51 via HeNB 101 and L-GW 102 by performing radio communication according to the LTE scheme. Send and receive. The wireless terminal device 202 transmits and receives communication data to and from the terminal device 161 in the LAN 51 through the WiFi access point 151 by performing wireless communication according to the wireless LAN method.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to perform smooth switching between communication media that can prevent communication data for accessing terminal devices in the internal network from flowing between the HeNB 101, the MME 103, and the S-GW 104. Therefore, communication traffic on the external network side can be reduced while ensuring a good communication state.

  Moreover, the radio | wireless communications system which concerns on embodiment of this invention is equipped with HeNB prescribed | regulated by 3GPP, L-GW prescribed | regulated by 3GPP, and MME prescribed | regulated by 3GPP.

  With such a configuration, in a wireless communication system having a LIPA function defined by 3GPP, that is, a wireless communication system having a function of reducing communication traffic on the external network side via the HeNB 101, an apparatus conforming to a different wireless communication method is used as a wireless terminal. By enabling smooth switching as the communication destination of the apparatus, communication can be stabilized.

  The wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to maintain the usable IP address of the wireless terminal device 202 when switching between LTE and WiFi. However, the present invention is not limited to this. is not. The wireless communication system 401 is not limited to LTE and WiFi, and other wireless communication methods in which a wireless terminal device communicates using identification information, such as ZigBee (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark), are switched communication media. It may be configured as follows.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the operation of switching the state in which the wireless terminal device 202 performs communication using the LIPA and the state in which communication using the wireless LAN is performed is illustrated. However, the communication using the LIPA is illustrated. In addition, the wireless terminal device 202 can perform an operation of switching between a state where LIPA is not used in LTE and a state where communication using a wireless LAN is performed. Even in such a case, it is possible to achieve the object of the present invention to stabilize communication by enabling a device that conforms to a different wireless communication method to be smoothly switched as a communication destination of the wireless terminal device.

  In the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the IMSI and MAC address of the wireless terminal device 202 are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Other information may be used as long as the information can uniquely identify the wireless terminal device 202.

  In addition, the WiFi access point 151, the DHCP server 152, the common authentication server 153, the HeNB 101, and the L-GW 102 are not limited to configurations provided as separate devices, but a part or all of each is housed in a common housing, The structure provided collectively as one apparatus may be sufficient. In this case, part or all of the inter-device communication for various types of information as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 10, and FIG.

  The femtocell and access mode are described in 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) SPEC TS 22.220 as follows. That is, a femto base station is a customer premises apparatus that connects a wireless terminal device connected via a wireless interface to a mobile communication carrier network using an IP backhaul.

  Further, in the femtocell access mode, the femto base station in the closed access mode provides a service only to related CSG (Closed Subscriber Group) members. The hybrid mode femto base station also provides services to the associated CSG members and CSG non-members. The femto base station in the open access mode operates as a normal base station.

  Such a 3GPP definition may also be applied to the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Further, the following definitions can be applied together with or separately from the above definitions.

  The macro base station is a radio base station device that is under the management of the operator and can communicate with the radio base station device that has contracted with the operator. In addition, it is considered that the macro base station is basically not turned off.

  A femto base station is a radio base station apparatus that is installed mainly in an individual or corporate building and may move or be turned off depending on the circumstances of the user.

  Further, the femto base station operates in one of open / hybrid / closed access modes. When the femto base station operates in the closed access mode, only registered members (terminals) can be connected. When operating in the closed access mode, the service is provided only to registered members. When operating in the hybrid mode, the service is provided to both registered members and unregistered members, that is, non-members. Further, when operating in the open access mode, the same operation as the macro base station is performed.

  The above embodiment should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

51 LAN (internal network)
52 IP network (external network)
101 HeNB (first radio access unit)
102 L-GW (1st identification information provision part)
103 MME (communication management device)
104, 105 S-GW (communication control device)
106 eNB
107 P-GW
108 Home router 109 Security gateway 151 WiFi access point (second wireless access unit)
152 DHCP server (second identification information providing unit)
153 Common authentication server (authentication unit, first identification information adding unit, second identification information adding unit)
202 wireless terminal device 301 home network 302 EPC (mobile communication carrier network)
303 IP Backhaul 401 Wireless Communication System

Claims (8)

When the wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies the transmission source of the communication data and designates the transmission destination A first identification information giving unit for giving identification information to the wireless terminal device;
When a wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies a transmission source of the communication data and designates a transmission destination A second identification information providing unit for providing identification information to the wireless terminal device,
The first identification information giving unit and the second identification information giving unit give the common identification information to the same wireless terminal device ,
further,
A determination unit for determining whether to give the identification information to a wireless terminal device;
The first identification information giving unit and the second identification information giving unit give the identification information based on a determination result of the determination unit,
The first identification information providing unit acquires first specifying information for specifying a wireless terminal device from the wireless terminal device,
The second identification information giving unit acquires second specifying information for specifying a wireless terminal device from the wireless terminal device,
further,
A storage unit for storing correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship between the first specific information, the second specific information, and the identification information;
The determination unit determines, based on the correspondence information, the identification information to be given to the wireless terminal device corresponding to the acquired first specific information or the second specific information,
The storage unit stores the first specific information, the second specific information, the identification information, and the correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship of a wireless communication method that the wireless terminal device is using for wireless communication. ,
When the determination unit receives a request for the identification information from a wireless terminal device, the determination unit determines whether the wireless terminal device is using the identification information based on the correspondence information, and the wireless terminal device A wireless communication system that determines to give the identification information when the identification information is not in use . When the wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies the transmission source of the communication data and designates the transmission destination A first identification information giving unit for giving identification information to the wireless terminal device;
When a wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies a transmission source of the communication data and designates a transmission destination A second identification information providing unit for providing identification information to the wireless terminal device,
The first identification information giving unit and the second identification information giving unit give the common identification information to the same wireless terminal device ,
further,
A determination unit for determining whether to give the identification information to a wireless terminal device;
The first identification information giving unit and the second identification information giving unit give the identification information based on a determination result of the determination unit,
The first identification information providing unit acquires first specifying information for specifying a wireless terminal device from the wireless terminal device,
The second identification information giving unit acquires second specifying information for specifying a wireless terminal device from the wireless terminal device,
further,
A storage unit for storing correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship between the first specific information, the second specific information, and the identification information;
The determination unit determines, based on the correspondence information, the identification information to be given to the wireless terminal device corresponding to the acquired first specific information or the second specific information,
The first identification information provision unit and the second identification information provision unit receive a request for the identification information from a wireless terminal device, and notify the determination unit of a wireless communication method corresponding to the first identification information provision unit,
The determination unit determines that the identification information is not given to the wireless terminal device when the wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to a wireless communication method different from the notified wireless communication method. . 3. The radio according to claim 2 , wherein when receiving the request for the identification information from a wireless terminal device, the determination unit determines to give the identification information when the wireless terminal device is not using the identification information. Communications system. The wireless communication system further includes:
A first wireless access unit for relaying communication data between the wireless terminal device and another device by transmitting and receiving wireless signals according to the first wireless communication method with the wireless terminal device;
A wireless terminal device and a second wireless access unit for relaying communication data between the wireless terminal device and another device by transmitting and receiving wireless signals according to the second wireless communication method;
When switching the relay destination of the communication data from the first wireless access unit to the second wireless access unit, the wireless terminal device communicates with another device via the first wireless access unit. When the communication connection for transmitting / receiving communication data is maintained and the relay destination of the communication data is switched from the second wireless access unit to the first wireless access unit, the second wireless access unit is The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a communication connection for transmitting and receiving communication data to and from another device can be disconnected. The wireless communication system further includes:
A first wireless access unit for relaying communication data between the wireless terminal device and another device by transmitting and receiving wireless signals according to the first wireless communication method with the wireless terminal device;
A second wireless access unit connected to an internal network and configured to relay communication data between the wireless terminal device and another device by transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the wireless terminal device according to the second wireless communication method; With
The first identification information giving unit is connected between the first wireless access unit and the internal network,
The second identification information providing unit is connected to the second wireless access unit,
A communication control device is connected between the first wireless access unit and the external network;
The wireless terminal device communicates with the terminal device in the internal network through the first wireless access unit and the first identification information adding unit by performing wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method. The communication data is transmitted / received to / from a terminal device in the internal network via the second wireless access unit by transmitting / receiving data and performing wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method. Item 5. The wireless communication system according to any one of item 4 . The first radio access unit is a HeNB (Home eNodeB) defined by 3GPP, and the first identification information adding unit includes an L-GW (Local Gateway) defined by 3GPP, and the communication control device The wireless communication system according to claim 5 , which is an S-GW (Serving Gateway) defined by 3GPP. A communication control method in a radio communication system,
When the wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies the transmission source of the communication data and designates the transmission destination Providing identification information to the wireless terminal device; and
When a wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies a transmission source of the communication data and designates a transmission destination Providing identification information to the wireless terminal device,
Adding the identification information used for transmission / reception of communication data by wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method and the identification information used for transmission / reception of communication data by wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method; In the granting step, the common identification information is given to the same wireless terminal device ,
The communication control method further includes:
Determining whether to give the identification information to a wireless terminal device,
Adding the identification information used for transmission / reception of communication data by wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method and the identification information used for transmission / reception of communication data by wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method; In the granting step, the identification information is given based on the determination result ,
The communication control method further includes:
Obtaining first identification information for identifying a wireless terminal device from the wireless terminal device;
Obtaining second specifying information for specifying a wireless terminal device from the wireless terminal device,
The wireless communication system includes a storage unit for storing correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship between the first specific information, the second specific information, and the identification information,
In the step of determining whether or not to give the identification information, it should be given to the wireless terminal device corresponding to the acquired first specific information or the second specific information based on the correspondence information Determining the identification information;
The storage unit stores the first specific information, the second specific information, the identification information, and correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship of a wireless communication method that the wireless terminal device is using for wireless communication,
In the step of determining whether to give the identification information, when the request for the identification information is received from a wireless terminal device, the wireless terminal device is using the identification information based on the correspondence information A communication control method for determining whether to add the identification information when the wireless terminal device is not using the identification information . A communication control method in a radio communication system,
When the wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies the transmission source of the communication data and designates the transmission destination Providing identification information to the wireless terminal device; and
When a wireless terminal device performs wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method to transmit / receive communication data to / from another device, the other device identifies a transmission source of the communication data and designates a transmission destination Providing identification information to the wireless terminal device,
Adding the identification information used for transmission / reception of communication data by wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method and the identification information used for transmission / reception of communication data by wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method; In the granting step, the common identification information is given to the same wireless terminal device ,
The communication control method further includes:
Determining whether to give the identification information to a wireless terminal device,
Adding the identification information used for transmission / reception of communication data by wireless communication according to the first wireless communication method and the identification information used for transmission / reception of communication data by wireless communication according to the second wireless communication method; In the granting step, the identification information is given based on the determination result ,
The communication control method further includes:
Obtaining first identification information for identifying a wireless terminal device from the wireless terminal device;
Obtaining second specifying information for specifying a wireless terminal device from the wireless terminal device,
The wireless communication system includes a storage unit for storing correspondence information indicating a correspondence relationship between the first specific information, the second specific information, and the identification information,
In the step of determining whether or not to give the identification information, it should be given to the wireless terminal device corresponding to the acquired first specific information or the second specific information based on the correspondence information Determining the identification information;
The communication control method further includes:
Receiving a request for the identification information from a wireless terminal device, and notifying a wireless communication method corresponding to the request,
In the step of determining whether or not to give the identification information, when the wireless terminal device is performing wireless communication according to a wireless communication method different from the notified wireless communication method, the identification is performed on the wireless terminal device. A communication control method for determining that information is not given .

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