KR101439289B1 - Base station and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a base station apparatus which can reduce the overall load of the base station apparatus increased due to a CA function, while preventing the service quality on a terminal`s end from degrading; and a base station apparatus operation method according to the same. The base station apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a cell checking unit; a terminal checking unit; a terminal determination unit; an access releasing unit; and a service level checking unit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a base station apparatus and a base station apparatus,

The present invention relates to a base station apparatus and a base station apparatus, and more particularly, to a base station apparatus and a base station apparatus, which can reduce the overall load of an increasing base station apparatus due to a CA (Carrier Aggregation) And an operation method of the base station apparatus.

In the existing LTE system, it is possible to support high-speed communication service by using a bandwidth of up to 20 MHz. However, as the type of communication service and the speed of transmission demand have become diverse, there is an increasing demand for faster speed communication systems.

In recent years, an IMT-advanced communication system capable of supporting a wider band than the existing 20 MHz band has emerged. In an IMT-advanced communication system, in a case where a plurality of frequency bands coexist, (CA) technology to support a wider bandwidth.

CA technology can acquire a wider frequency band through integration of multiple unit frequency bands (CCs), and since each unit frequency band (CC) is used as an LTE frequency band for LTE terminals, So as to maintain compatibility with the system.

A base station supporting such a CA function forms a plurality of cells according to a plurality of frequency bands (CC), so that a communication service utilizing a CA function, that is, a communication service using a CA do.

The CA terminal first connects a cell formed with one of the plurality of frequency bands (CC) to a base station with a primary cell (PCell) (For example, SCell Add state) as an additional cell (SCell) as an additional cell (SCELL), and then, if necessary, switch the connection ready state for the additional cell (SCell) It is possible to access the base station through the additional cell (SCell), and to use the communication service by integrating the plurality of cells, that is, PCell and SCell.

As described above, the CA technology is advantageous in that the terminal can use the communication service simultaneously through two or more cells from the base station, thereby increasing the utilization rate of the terminal side communication service.

However, in the CA technology, a processing load is generated in only one cell when a terminal is connected to one cell in the past, whereas CA technology generates a processing load in two or more connected cells, that is, PCell and SCell Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the overall load on the base station side is increased.

Accordingly, the present invention proposes a method of reducing the load on the base station side, which is increased due to the CA function, while minimizing the deterioration of service quality on the terminal side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and an object of the present invention is to provide a base station apparatus and an operation method of a base station apparatus capable of reducing an increase in load due to a CA function while minimizing degradation of service quality on a terminal side .

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base station apparatus comprising: a cell identifying unit for identifying a specific cell for which load adjustment is required among the plurality of cells based on a load level for each of a plurality of cells; A terminal confirmation unit for identifying a terminal connecting the specific cell as an additional cell among a plurality of terminals using a communication service through any one of the plurality of cells except for the specific cell; A terminal determination unit for determining a specific terminal to be disconnected among terminals connected to the specific cell as additional cells according to a load level of the specific cell; And a connection releasing unit for releasing the connection between the specific terminal and the specific cell so as to adjust the load of the specific cell.

Preferably, the mobile station further includes a service level checking unit for checking a service level of the communication service used by the terminal connecting the specific cell as an additional cell, wherein the terminal determining unit determines the load level of the specific cell and the specific cell The specific terminal to be disconnected can be determined according to the service level of the terminal connected as the additional cell.

Preferably, the service level of the terminal is determined according to the amount of data traffic required by the communication service used by the terminal, and the terminal determination unit identifies a specific service level matching the load level of the specific cell, The terminal having the same service level as the specific service level and the terminal having the service level lower than the specific service level can be determined to be disconnected from the terminals connecting the specific cell as an additional cell.

Advantageously, the amount of data traffic associated with a service level lower than said particular service level may be less than the amount of data traffic associated with said particular service level.

Preferably, the connection release unit may release connection with the specific cell sequentially from a terminal having a lower service level among the two or more specific terminals, when the specific terminal is two or more.

Preferably, the connection releasing unit is configured to, when the number of the specific terminals of the same service level is two or more, to sequentially select one of the two or more specific terminals from a terminal having a long connection holding time with the specific cell, The connection with the specific cell can be released sequentially from the terminal having a larger number of other cells connected as an additional cell than the cell.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a base station, the method comprising: a cell checking step of checking a specific cell requiring load adjustment among the plurality of cells based on a load level of each of a plurality of cells; Identifying a terminal connected to the specific cell as an additional cell among a plurality of terminals using a communication service through any one of the plurality of cells except the specific cell; A service level checking step of checking a service level of the communication service used by a terminal connected to the specific cell as an additional cell; Determining a specific terminal to be disconnected among terminals connected to the specific cell as additional cells according to the load level of the specific cell and the service level of the terminal connecting the specific cell as an additional cell; And disconnecting the connection between the specific terminal and the specific cell so that the load of the specific cell is adjusted.

Preferably, the service level of the terminal is determined according to the amount of data traffic required in the communication service used by the terminal, and the terminal determination step determines a specific service level matching the load level of the specific cell , The terminal having the same service level as the specific service level and the terminal having the service level lower than the specific service level can be determined to be disconnected from the terminals connecting the specific cell as an additional cell.

Advantageously, the amount of data traffic associated with a service level lower than said particular service level may be less than the amount of data traffic associated with said particular service level.

Advantageously, in the case where the specific terminal is two or more, the connection releasing step can sequentially release the connection with the specific cell from the terminal having a lower service level among the two or more specific terminals.

Preferably, the disconnection step may include, when the number of the specific terminals of the same service level is two or more, sequentially from a terminal having a long connection holding time with the specific cell among the two or more specific terminals, The connection with the specific cell can be released sequentially from the terminal having a larger number of other cells connected as an additional cell than the specific cell.

Therefore, according to the operation method of the base station apparatus and the base station apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the overall load of the base station apparatus, which is increased due to the CA function, while minimizing the deterioration of service quality on the terminal side.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a communication system including a base station apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a base station apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a control flowchart of a communication system including a base station apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a base station apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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

1 is a diagram illustrating a communication system including a base station apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the communication system including the base station apparatus 100 of the present invention, a plurality of frequency bands coexist in the same area.

For example, referring to FIG. 1, the base station 100 includes a plurality of cells according to a plurality of frequency bands, that is, a first cell C1 according to a first frequency band, a second cell C1 according to a second frequency band, The first cell C1 and the third cell C3 according to the third frequency band may be formed and the third cell C3 may be included in the second cell C2 and the first cell C1, And the second cell C2 may be included in the first cell C1 of greater coverage than the second cell C2.

The present invention is related to a Carrier Aggregation (CA) technique adopted in an IMT-advanced communication system that has been introduced to support a wider band than the existing 20 MHz band.

Here, the CA technology can secure a wider frequency band through the integration of multiple unit frequency bands (CCs), and since each unit frequency band (CC) is used as an LTE frequency band for LTE terminals, So that compatibility with the system can be maintained.

1, the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention provides a communication service to a terminal connected through any one of a plurality of cells C1, C2, and C3, May be a CA supporting base station capable of providing a communication service by combining two or more cells, that is, PCell and SCell, for a terminal operating as a CA function.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the base station device 100 forms two cells, for example, the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 described above as an example.

It is assumed that the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 shown in FIG. 1 are terminals supporting the CA function. 1, the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 located in the second cell C2 receive the frequency bands of the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 provided by the base station apparatus 100, The UE supporting both the first frequency band and the second frequency band can be connected to the base station apparatus 100 through at least one of the first cell C1 and the second cell C2.

The terminal 1, which is referred to as the CA 1, will be briefly described below. The terminal 1 which is powered on or released in the idle mode is a primary cell (PCell) among the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 Selects a cell to be connected first, connects to the base station 100 through the selected cell, and performs a connection procedure to the communication system such as location registration and call session connection.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the cell selected as the basic cell (PCell) among the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 will be described as an example as the second cell C2. That is, in the following description, the basic cell (PCell) used by the terminal 1 for initial connection to the base station apparatus 100 and the second cell C2 will be the same.

Accordingly, the terminal 1 can access the base station apparatus 100 through the second cell C2 and use the communication service.

Meanwhile, the base station apparatus 100 accesses the terminal 1 supporting the CA function through the second cell C2, more specifically, through the second cell C2, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) (SCell) capable of interfacing with the second cell (C2) to the terminal (1) in the connection process.

At this time, information to be provided includes a SCell Index for additional cells (SCell), PCI, frequency band information, measurement parameters (e.g., active threshold strength, inactive threshold strength) for measuring SCell signal strength, SCell activation timer, And the like.

As described above, if the primary cell (PCell) among the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 is the second cell C2, then the base station apparatus 100 determines that the cell And provides information on the first cell C1 to the terminal 1. That is, in the following description, the additional cell (SCell) for additional connection and the first cell C1 will be the same.

Accordingly, the terminal 1 supporting the CA function receives the information on the additional cell (SCell) from the base station apparatus 100 and accordingly transmits the information to the base station apparatus 100 through the additional cell SCell, that is, the first cell C1. Enter the connection ready state (eg SCell Add state) for additional connection.

Then, if necessary, the terminal 1 checks the buffer size and if necessary, the terminal 1 switches the connection ready state for the additional cell SCell, that is, the first cell C1, to the active state (e.g. SCell Activation state) Accordingly, it is possible to connect to the base station apparatus 100 through the first cell C1 and use the communication service by integrating a plurality of cells, that is, the first cell C1 and the second cell C2.

For example, among the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 shown in FIG. 1, terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the base station apparatus 100 through a second cell (C2) And uses the communication service through the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 by connecting to the base station apparatus 100 through the first cell C1 as an additional cell SCell, The first cell C1 is connected to the base station 100 through the first cell C1 selected by the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 is connected to the base station 100 through the second cell C2 as the additional cell SCell, 2 < / RTI > cell C2.

Of course, in addition to the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 supporting the above-described CA function, many terminals may be connected to the base station apparatus 100 through the first cell C1 or the second cell C2.

The base station device 100 of the present invention is a CA supporting base station. In the conventional base station device 100, a single terminal is connected only through one cell and a processing load is generated in only one cell. On the other hand, And SCell, so that there is a burden that the overall load on the base station side is increased.

Therefore, the base station apparatus 100 of the present invention intends to reduce the overall load on the base station side, which is increased due to the CA function, while minimizing the deterioration of service quality on the terminal side.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a base station apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

The base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes a cell identifying unit 110 for identifying a specific cell for which load adjustment is required among the plurality of cells based on a load level for each of a plurality of cells, A terminal confirmation unit (120) for confirming a terminal connecting the specific cell as an additional cell among a plurality of terminals using a communication service through any one of the base cells except for a specific cell; , A terminal determination unit (130) for determining a specific terminal to be disconnected among the terminals connected to the specific cell as an additional cell, and a determination unit (130) for canceling the connection between the specific terminal and the specific cell, (140).

The base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention can form a plurality of cells C1, C2, and C3 as shown in FIG. 1, and for convenience of explanation, two cells, for example, One cell C1 and the second cell C2 will be described as an example.

The cell identifying unit 110 identifies a specific cell for which load adjustment is required among the plurality of cells based on a plurality of cell-specific load levels.

More specifically, the base station apparatus 100 confirms the load levels for a plurality of cells, that is, the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 described above.

For example, when explaining the cell C1, the base station apparatus 100 confirms that the maximum value or the average value of the number of terminals connected to the cell C1 for a predetermined period of time is equal to or less than the first threshold value, If the first threshold value is exceeded and the second threshold value is less than or equal to the second threshold value, the load level is checked. If the second threshold value is exceeded and the third threshold value is less than the third threshold value, the load level is confirmed. If it is below the 4th threshold value, it can be confirmed at load level 3. Here, the relationship of each threshold value is a first threshold value <the second threshold value <the third threshold value <the fourth threshold value.

Or the cell C1 is referred to as the base station apparatus 100, the base station apparatus 100 determines whether the maximum or average radio resource utilization rate for radio resources used in the cell C1 for a predetermined period of time is equal to or smaller than the first threshold value, If the first threshold value is exceeded and the second threshold value is less than or equal to the second threshold value, the load level is checked. If the second threshold value is exceeded and the third threshold value is less than the third threshold value, the load level is confirmed. If it is below the fourth threshold value, it can be confirmed as the load level 3.

Therefore, among the load levels 0, 1, 2 and 3, the load level 3 represents the load with the largest load, the load level 2 represents the load smaller than the load level 3, the load level 1 represents the load smaller than the load level 2, Level 0 represents the smallest load.

Therefore, the load level 0 is a load level at which no load adjustment is required, and the load levels 1, 2, and 3 are load levels at which load adjustment is required.

Accordingly, the base station apparatus 100 can confirm which of the load levels 0, 1, 2, 3 belongs to the first cell C1 and the second cell C2, respectively. Hereinafter, the case where the first cell C1 is identified as the load level 2 and the second cell C2 is identified as the load level 0 will be described as an embodiment.

Therefore, the cell identifying unit 110 determines the number of cells C1 and C2 based on the load levels of a plurality of cells, that is, the load level 2 of the first cell C1 and the load level 0 of the second cell C2. 2 cell (C2), a specific cell for which load adjustment is required.

As described above, if the first cell C1 is identified as a load level 2 and the second cell C2 is identified as a load level 0, then the cell identifying unit 110 determines that the load level 1 , The first cell (C1) having the second-order load level 2 will be identified as a specific cell.

The terminal check unit 120 determines whether or not communication is performed through any one of the plurality of cells, i.e., the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 except for the first cell C1 That is, a terminal connecting the first cell C1 as an additional cell (SCell) among a plurality of terminals using the service. That is, among the terminals operating with the CA function, the terminal that connects the first cell C1 as an additional cell (SCell) is identified.

For example, as described above, among the terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4 shown in FIG. 1, the terminals 1, 2 and 3 are connected to the base station apparatus 100 And connects to the base station device 100 through the first cell C1 as an additional cell SCell to use the communication service through the first cell C1 and the second cell C2, The first cell C1 connected to the base station 100 is connected to the base station 100 through the first cell C1 selected as the basic cell PCell and the second cell C2 connected as the additional cell SCell, ) And the second cell (C2).

In this case, the terminal check unit 120 may determine a communication service through one of the first cell C1 and the second cell C2, that is, a primary cell (PCell) excluding the first cell C1 It is possible to identify the terminals 1, 2, and 3 as the terminals connecting the first cell C1 as an additional cell (SCell) among a plurality of terminals to be used, that is, terminals 1,

The terminal determination unit 130 determines whether the first cell C1 is connected to the first cell C1 as the additional cell SCell according to the load level of the first cell C1, And determines a specific terminal to be disconnected.

Hereinafter, a process for determining a specific terminal to be disconnected will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention may further include a service level checking unit 150.

The service level checking unit 150 checks the service level of the communication service used by the terminal connected as a specific cell (SCell) to a specific cell.

As described above, since the terminals 1, 2 and 3 are terminals operating as the CA function as a terminal connecting a specific cell, i.e., the first cell C1 as an additional cell (SCell), the first cell C1, PCell), for example, the second cell C2, and is using the communication service.

The service level check unit 150 checks the service level of the communication service used by each of the terminals 1, 2, and 3 checked by the terminal check unit 120.

For example, a specific device (hereinafter referred to as a CN device) on the core network can determine the service level for the communication service used by each terminal and provide it to the base station device.

More specifically, for example, a CN apparatus (not shown) determines a service level for a communication service used by the terminal in the process of connecting the terminal and the base station through a base cell (PCell) To the base station apparatus, a Quality of Service Indicator (QCI).

The communication service can be divided into communication services such as VoIP and VoLTE (hereinafter referred to as VoLTE service), and general communication services such as portal service, SNS service, download service and streaming service (hereinafter referred to as data service). The data service can be divided into a low capacity data service requiring a relatively small amount of data traffic such as a portal service and an SNS service and a large capacity data service requiring a relatively large amount of data traffic such as a download service and a streaming service.

Here, it is assumed that the service level 1 is set, the service level 2 is set for the low-capacity data service, and the service level 3 is set for the high-capacity data service because the VoLTE service is a communication service requiring less amount of data traffic than the low- do.

The terminal 1 can use a low-capacity or large-capacity data service or use a VoLTE service to communicate with a counterpart device (not shown).

Explanation will be given of the case where the terminal 1 uses the VoLTE service. The terminal 1 accepts the VoLTE service attempted by the counterpart apparatus (not shown) by the counterpart apparatus (not shown) or accepts the VoLTE service attempted from the counterpart apparatus The CN apparatus (not shown) notifies the terminal 1 of VoLTE (not shown) in the process of connecting the terminal 1 and the base station apparatus 100 via the basic cell (PCell), that is, the second cell C2, The service level 1 set in the service can be determined, and the QCI, e.g., QCI # 1 indicating the service level 1, can be transmitted to the base station apparatus 100. [

When the terminal 1 attempts to use a low-capacity data service such as a portal service and an SNS service, the terminal 1 and the base station 100 transmit data to a base cell (PCell) 2, the CN device (not shown) determines the service level 2 set for the low capacity data service for the terminal 1 and transmits QCI # QCI # 8 indicating the service level 2 to the base station device 100).

When the terminal 1 attempts to use a large-capacity data service such as a download service and a streaming service, the terminal 1 and the base station 100 transmit the basic cell (PCell), that is, 2, the CN apparatus (not shown) determines the service level 3 set in the large capacity data service for the terminal 1 and transmits QCI # QCI # 9 indicating the service level 3 to the base station apparatus 100).

A method for distinguishing whether the communication service desired by the terminal 1 is a low-capacity data service or a large-capacity data service in a CN apparatus (not shown) includes a server of a service server providing a low-capacity data service, The server address of the service server providing the large capacity data service, that is, the download service and the streaming service, is preliminarily registered, and the terminal 1 and the base station apparatus 100 register the server address of the basic cell (PCell) C2), it is possible to distinguish whether the communication service to be used by the terminal 1 is a low-capacity data service or a high-capacity data service, based on the server address that is confirmed in the process of accessing the terminal.

In the above description, it is explained that the service quality of the terminal is confirmed according to the amount of data traffic of the communication service used by the terminal, but the service quality may be confirmed by other conditions.

For example, in the process of the terminal and the base station accessing through the base cell (PCell), the CN device determines the highest service level when the telephone number of the terminal is a preset specific telephone number and sets QCI indicating the determined service level To the base station apparatus. Alternatively, the CN device may determine the service level according to the terminal model in the process of connecting the terminal and the base station device through the base cell (PCell), and may transmit the QCI indicating the determined service level to the base station device.

Accordingly, the service level checking unit 150 can check the service level of the communication service used by each of the terminals 1, 2, and 3 based on the QCI transmitted from the CN unit (not shown) to each terminal .

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, description will be given of an embodiment in which service level 2 is confirmed for terminal 1 and terminal 2, and service level 3 is checked for terminal 3.

Accordingly, the terminal determination unit 130 determines whether or not the load level of the specific cell, that is, the load level 2 of the first cell C1 and the first cell C1 as the additional cells (SCell) According to the service level, a specific terminal to be disconnected from the terminals 1, 2, 3 connecting the first cell C1 as an additional cell (SCell) can be determined.

More specifically, the terminal determination unit 130 identifies a specific service level that matches the load level of the specific cell, that is, the load level 2 of the first cell C1.

For example, the base station apparatus 100 may be stored with a matching table that matches the service levels 1, 2, and 3 for the load levels 1, 2, and 3 for which load adjustment is required.

At this time, the load level 3 indicating the largest load among the load levels 1, 2 and 3 and the service level 3 indicating the large capacity data service are matched with the load level 2 indicating the load smaller than the load level 3, A service level 2 representing a service can be matched and a load level 1 representing a load smaller than the load level 2 and a service level 1 representing a VoLTE service requiring the smallest amount of data traffic can be matched.

Accordingly, the terminal determination unit 130 can confirm the service level 2 as the specific service level matched with the load level of the specific cell, that is, the load level 2 of the first cell C1, in the above-described matching table.

Then, the terminal determination unit 130 determines whether a service level such as a specific service level, that is, a service level 2, among the terminals 1, 2, and 3 connecting the specific cell, that is, the first cell C1, And a terminal whose service level 1 is lower than the service level 2 is identified as a specific terminal to be disconnected.

As described above, when the service level 2 is confirmed for the terminal 1 and the terminal 2, and the service level 3 is confirmed for the terminal 3, the terminal determination unit 130 determines the service level It is determined that the identified terminal 1 or 2 is the specific terminal to be disconnected.

On the other hand, if the load level of the specific cell, that is, the first cell C1 is the load level 3, the terminal determination unit 130 will check the service level 3 as the specific service level matched with the load level 3, The terminal 3 whose service level is the same as the level 3 and the terminal 1 or 2 whose service level 2 is lower than the service level 3 are determined to be the specific terminal to be disconnected.

On the other hand, if the load level of the specific cell, that is, the first cell C1, is the load level 1, the terminal determination unit 130 will check the service level 1 as the specific service level matched with the load level 1, There is no service level lower than the level 1 and no terminal has the same service level as the service level 1. Therefore, the terminal 1, 2, or 3 will not be able to determine the specific terminal.

As described above, when the load adjustment of the first cell C1 is required, the base station apparatus 100 of the present invention is configured such that the higher the load level of the first cell C1, .

The connection release unit 140 cancels the connection between the specific terminal and the specific cell, that is, the first cell C1 determined by the terminal determination unit 130, so that the load of the first cell C1 is adjusted.

More specifically, the connection release unit 140 may release the connection between one specific terminal and the first cell C1 if there is one specific terminal determined by the terminal determination unit 130. [

At this time, there may be two or more specific terminals determined by the terminal determination unit 130, and two or more specific terminals may have the same service level.

If the number of the specific terminals determined by the terminal determination unit 130 is two or more, the connection release unit 140 releases the connection with the first cell C1 sequentially from two or more specific terminals with lower service levels .

For example, if the terminal 3 of the service level 3 and the terminal 1 or 2 of the service level 2 are determined to be the specific terminal to be disconnected as the load level of the first cell C1 is confirmed as the load level 3 as described above, The connection releasing unit 140 first disconnects the first cell C1 from two or more specific terminals, i.e., the terminals 1 and 2 of the lower service level 2 out of the terminals 1, 2 and 3, 3 from the first cell C1.

At this time, since there are the terminals 1 and 2 of the same service level 2, the connection releasing unit 140 sequentially selects the terminals 1 and 2 of the same service level 2 from the terminal having a long connection holding time with the first cell C1 The connection with the first cell C1 can be released.

This is due to the fact that the user of the terminal 1 and terminal 2 experiences relatively few complaints that the connection of the terminal having a relatively long connection holding time is canceled first among the terminals 1 and 2.

For example, if the terminal 1 of the terminals 1 and 2 has a longer holding time of connection with the first cell C1 than the terminal 2, the disconnection unit 140 first disconnects the terminal 1 from the first cell C1 The terminal 2 is disconnected from the first cell C1. Thereafter, the connection releasing section 140 disconnects the terminal 3 having the service level 3 higher than that of the terminals 1 and 2 from the first cell C1.

On the other hand, if the terminal 1 or 2 of the same service level 2 has the same connection holding time with the first cell C1, the connection releasing section 140 selects any one of the terminals 1 and 2 and sequentially selects the first cell C1 can be released.

Or, since there are the terminals 1 and 2 of the same service level 2, the disconnection unit 140 can select one of the plurality of cells 1 and 2 of the same service level 2 as the additional cell (SCell) The connection with a specific cell can be released sequentially from the terminal having a larger number of connected other cells.

This is due to the fact that the users of the terminals 1 and 2 will experience a relatively small decrease in the quality of service by releasing the connection of the terminal frequently using another additional cell (SCell) among the terminals 1 and 2. [

For example, if there is one cell of the terminals 1 and 2 connected to the cell 1 as an additional cell (SCell) other than the first cell C1 and the terminal 2 is not present, 1 from the first cell C1, and disconnects the terminal 2 from the first cell C1. Thereafter, the connection releasing section 140 disconnects the terminal 3 having the service level 3 higher than that of the terminals 1 and 2 from the first cell C1.

On the other hand, if the number of the other cells connected to the terminal 1, 2 of the same service level 2 as the additional cell (SCell) in addition to the first cell C1 is the same, the disconnection unit 140 disconnection So that the connection with the first cell C1 can be released sequentially.

Herein, the connection releasing unit 140 sets the activation state (e.g., the SCell Activation state) for the first cell C1 in the terminal 1 in releasing the connection between the specific terminal such as the terminal 1 and the first cell C1 To the terminal 1 to instruct the terminal 1 to switch to the connection ready state (e.g. SCell Add state) or to release the connection ready state (e.g. SCell Add state) for the first cell C1 in the terminal 1 By this command, the connection can be released.

As described above, when the load adjustment of the first cell C1 is required, the base station apparatus 100 of the present invention is configured such that, as the load level of the first cell C1 increases, The base station apparatus 100 determines the terminal as a terminal and disconnects the specific terminal sequentially from the first cell C1 in a predetermined order so as to adjust the load of the first cell C1, ) Can be expected to be reduced.

The base station apparatus 100 also determines whether the connection disconnection unit 140 disconnects the terminals 1, 2, and 3 from the first cell C1 in a sequential manner as described above, The load level is checked for each of the first cell C1 and the second cell C2.

If the load level of the first cell C1 is changed from 3 to the load level 2 during the process of disconnecting the terminals 1, 2, and 3 sequentially from the first cell C1, The disconnection process is suspended.

For example, before the terminals 1 and 2 are disconnected from the first cell C1 and the terminal 3 is disconnected from the first cell C1, the load level of the first cell C1 is changed from 3 to the load level 2 If it is changed, the disconnection unit 140 can stop the disconnection process in progress without disconnecting the terminal 3 from the first cell C1.

Accordingly, the base station apparatus 100 periodically or at the request of the operator or immediately after stopping the ongoing connection release process as described above, the cell check unit 110, the terminal check unit 120, The operation of the present invention described above is repeated based on the service level checking unit 130 and the service level checking unit 150 and the connection releasing unit 140 so that a plurality of cells, that is, a first cell C1 and a second cell C2 The overall load of the base station apparatus 100 can be reduced through load adjustment.

As described above, the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention can reduce the overall load of the base station apparatus, which is increased due to the CA function, while minimizing the deterioration of service quality on the terminal side.

Hereinafter, an operation method of the base station apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. For convenience of description, reference will be made to the reference numerals of FIGS. 1 to 2 described above.

First, with reference to FIG. 3, a control flow of a communication system including a base station apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

The base station apparatus 100 is a base station that can provide a communication service utilizing a CA function for a terminal operating as a CA function. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, terminals 1 and 2, 3 and 4, the CA function is used to connect to the base station 100 through the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 to use the communication service (S10).

For example, among the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 shown in FIG. 1, terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the base station apparatus 100 through a second cell C2 selected as a base cell (PCell) The terminal 4 is connected to the base station 100 through the first cell C1 as a cell SCell and uses the communication service through the first cell C1 and the second cell C2, The first cell C1 and the second cell C1 are connected to the base station 100 through the first cell C1 selected as the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 as the additional cell SCell, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; C2. &Lt; / RTI &gt;

Of course, in addition to the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 supporting the above-described CA function, many terminals may be connected to the base station apparatus 100 through the first cell C1 or the second cell C2.

The base station apparatus 100 checks the load levels for a plurality of cells, that is, the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 (S20, S21).

That is, the base station apparatus 100 can confirm which of the above-mentioned load levels 0, 1, 2, 3 belongs to the first cell C1 and the second cell C2, respectively. Hereinafter, the case where the first cell C1 is identified as the load level 2 and the second cell C2 is identified as the load level 0 will be described as an embodiment.

Therefore, the base station apparatus 100 can perform the load adjustment among the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 based on the load level 2 of the first cell C1 and the load level 0 of the second cell C2 Identify the specific cell that is required.

As described above, if the first cell C1 is identified as the load level 2 and the second cell C2 is identified as the load level 0, the base station apparatus 100 determines the load level 1, The first cell C1 having the second-order load level 2 will be identified as a specific cell (S30).

The base station apparatus 100 is configured to transmit a plurality of base stations (BSs) that use a communication service through a base cell (PCell) excluding a first cell (C1) requiring load adjustment among a first cell (C1) and a second cell Among the terminals, a terminal connecting the first cell C1 as an additional cell (SCell) is confirmed (S40). That is, among the terminals operating with the CA function, for example, among the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4, the terminals (e.g., terminals 1, 2 and 3) connecting the first cell C1 as an additional cell .

Thereafter, the base station apparatus 100 confirms the service level of the communication service used by the terminals 1, 2, and 3 (S50).

Accordingly, the base station apparatus 100 transmits the first cell C1 to the additional cell (the second cell C1) in accordance with the load level of the specific cell, that is, the load level 2 of the first cell C1 and the service level of the terminals 1, SCell) of the terminals 1, 2, and 3 (S60).

For example, if it is determined in step S60 that the terminal 1 is a specific terminal to be disconnected, the base station apparatus 100 releases the connection between the terminal 1 and the first cell C1 (S70) (C1) is adjusted.

In other words, the base station apparatus 100 instructs the terminal 1 to switch the active state (e.g., the SCell Activation state) of the first cell C1 to the connection ready state (e.g., the SCell Add state) Or releases the connection between the terminal 1 and the first cell C1 by instructing the terminal 1 to release the connection ready state (e.g., the SCell Add state) for the first cell C1 from the terminal 1 (S70 The connection to the first cell C1, that is, the additional cell SCell is terminated in response to a command from the base station apparatus 100, and only the communication via the basic cell PCell, that is, the second cell C2, Service is used (S90).

Hereinafter, an operation method of the base station apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

First, a base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention is a base station capable of providing a communication service utilizing a CA function for a terminal operating in a CA function, and for example, as shown in Fig. 1, The terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 can access the base station apparatus 100 through the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 using the CA function, and use the communication service.

For example, among the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 shown in FIG. 1, terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the base station apparatus 100 through a second cell C2 selected as a base cell (PCell) The terminal 4 is connected to the base station 100 through the first cell C1 as a cell SCell and uses the communication service through the first cell C1 and the second cell C2, The first cell C1 and the second cell C1 are connected to the base station 100 through the first cell C1 selected as the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 as the additional cell SCell, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; C2. &Lt; / RTI &gt;

Of course, in addition to the terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 supporting the above-described CA function, many terminals may be connected to the base station apparatus 100 through the first cell C1 or the second cell C2.

The method of operation of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention may be performed periodically or at the operator's request or immediately after discontinuing the ongoing inactivation process mentioned in the above description of Figure 2, The load level is checked for each of the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 (S100).

That is, the method of operation of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention determines whether each of the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 belongs to which of the above-described load levels 0, 1, .

Here, among the load levels 0, 1, 2 and 3, the load level 3 represents the load with the largest load, the load level 2 represents the load smaller than the load level 3, the load level 1 represents the load smaller than the load level 2, Level 0 represents the smallest load. Therefore, the load level 0 is a load level at which no load adjustment is required, and the load levels 1, 2, and 3 are load levels at which load adjustment is required.

Hereinafter, the case where the first cell C1 is identified as the load level 2 and the second cell C2 is identified as the load level 0 will be described as an embodiment.

The method of operation of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention is a method of operating the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 based on the load level 1 of the first cell C1 and the load level 0 of the second cell C2 C2 to identify a specific cell for which load adjustment is required (S110).

As described above, if the first cell C1 is identified as the load level 2 and the second cell C2 is identified as the load level 0, then the method of operation of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention is a load adjustment The first cell C1 having the required load levels 1, 2 and 3, load level 2 will be identified as a specific cell.

The method of operation of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention may be applied to any one of the first cell C1 and the second cell C2 except for the first cell C1, (S120), a terminal connecting the first cell (C1) as an additional cell (SCell) among a plurality of terminals using the communication service.

That is, in the method of operating the base station 100 according to the present invention, the first cell C1 is connected as an additional cell (SCell) among the terminals operating with the CA function, for example, the terminals 1, 2, (E.g., terminals 1, 2, and 3).

Thereafter, the method of operation of the base station 100 according to the present invention checks the service level of the communication service used by each of the terminals 1, 2, and 3 (S130).

For example, the operation method of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention is based on the QCI transmitted from each CN apparatus (not shown) to each terminal, as mentioned in the description with reference to FIG. 2, The service level of the communication service used by each of the terminals 1, 2, and 3 can be confirmed.

At this time, the service level of the terminal is checked according to the amount of data traffic required by the communication service used by the terminal.

For example, it is assumed that the service level 1 is set, the service level 2 is set for the low-capacity data service, and the service level 3 is set for the high-capacity data service because the VoLTE service is a communication service requiring a smaller amount of data traffic than the low- do.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, description will be given of an embodiment in which service level 2 is confirmed for terminal 1 and terminal 2, and service level 3 is checked for terminal 3.

The operating method of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention is a method of operating the terminals 1, 2 and 3 connecting the load level 2 of the first cell C1 and the first cell C1 as additional cells (SCell) According to the service level, a specific terminal to be disconnected from the terminals 1, 2, 3 connecting the first cell C1 as an additional cell (SCell) can be determined (S140).

More specifically, the operation method of the base station 100 according to the present invention determines a specific service level matching the load level 2 of the first cell C1 .

For example, the base station apparatus 100 may be stored with a matching table that matches the service levels 1, 2, and 3 for the load levels 1, 2, and 3 for which load adjustment is required.

At this time, the load level 3 indicating the largest load among the load levels 1, 2 and 3 and the service level 3 indicating the large capacity data service are matched with the load level 2 indicating the load smaller than the load level 3, A service level 2 representing a service can be matched and a load level 1 representing a load smaller than the load level 2 and a service level 1 representing a VoLTE service requiring the smallest amount of data traffic can be matched.

Thus, the operation method of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention can confirm the service level 2 as a specific service level matched with the load level 2 of the first cell C1 in the above-described matching table.

The operation method of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention is a method of operating a service such as a specific service level, that is, service level 2, among the terminals 1, 2 and 3 connecting the first cell C1 as an additional cell (SCell) Level and the terminal whose service level 1 is lower than the service level 2 is identified as the specific terminal to be disconnected.

As described above, if the service level 2 is confirmed for the terminal 1 and the terminal 3, and the service level 3 is confirmed for the terminal 3, the operation method of the base station 100 according to the present invention is a method for operating a specific service level, The terminal 1 or 2 having the same service level as the level 2 will be determined as the specific terminal to be disconnected.

The method of operation of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention releases the connection between the specific terminal, e.g., the terminal 1, 2 and the first cell C1 determined in step S140, so that the load of the first cell C1 is adjusted .

More specifically, the method of operating the base station 100 according to the present invention may be such that the connection between one specific terminal and the first cell C1 is established when the specific terminal determined in step S140 is one You can turn it off.

If the specific terminal determined in step S140 is two or more, the method of operating the base station 100 according to the present invention disconnects two or more specific terminals sequentially from the first cell C1 in a predetermined order (S150 , The load of the first cell C1 can be adjusted.

For example, if the UEs 1 and 2 have different service levels, the method of operation of the base station 100 according to the present invention may be configured such that, in step S150, The connection with the first cell C1 can be released sequentially.

Alternatively, if the terminals 1 and 2 have the same service level 2 as described above, the operation method of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention may be configured such that connection and connection with the first cell C1 in the terminals 1 and 2 The connection with the first cell C1 can be released sequentially from the terminal having a long time.

Alternatively, if the terminals 1 and 2 have the same service level 2 and the connection holding time with the first cell C1 is the same, the method of operation of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention is performed in step S150, The connection with the first cell C1 can be released sequentially.

The method of operation of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention is a method for sequentially disconnecting the terminals 1 and 2 from the first cell C1 in step S150 as described above, The load level is checked for each of the cell C1 and the second cell C2.

The method of operation of the base station 100 according to the present invention is a method in which the load level of the first cell C1 is changed (for example, 3) during the process of disconnecting the terminals 1 and 2 sequentially from the first cell C1 - > 2) (S160 Yes), the connection cancellation process in progress in step S150 is interrupted (S180).

For example, if the load level of the first cell C1 is changed from 3 to the load level 2 before disconnecting the terminal 1 from the first cell C1 and disconnecting the terminal 2 from the first cell C1 , The operation method of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention can interrupt the on-going disconnect procedure without disconnecting the terminal 2 from the first cell C1.

Accordingly, the operation method of the base station apparatus 100 according to the present invention will repeat the above-described operation of the present invention by entering the above-described step S100 immediately after stopping the connection release process in progress.

Meanwhile, the method of operating the base station 100 according to the present invention is a method in which the load level of the first cell C1 is changed (for example, 3) during the process of disconnecting the terminals 1 and 2 sequentially from the first cell C1 - > 2) (S160 No), if all the terminals 1 and 2 are disconnected (S170), the load adjustment for the first cell C1 determined to require the current load adjustment is terminated, , The above-described operation of the present invention will be repeated by starting the above-described step S100.

As described above, the operation method of the base station apparatus according to the present invention can reduce the overall load of the base station apparatus, which is increased due to the CA function, while minimizing deterioration of service quality on the terminal side.

The method of operating the base station according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a program command that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and constructed for the present invention or may be available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magnetic media such as floppy disks; Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

According to the operation method of the base station apparatus and the base station apparatus according to the present invention, since the overall load of the base station apparatus that increases due to the CA function is reduced while minimizing the deterioration of the service quality on the terminal side, It is an invention that is industrially applicable because it is not only the use for technology but also the possibility of commercialization or operation of the applied device is sufficient as well as practically and practically possible.

100: base station device
110: cell check unit 120:
130: terminal determination unit 140:
150: Service Level Verification Unit

Claims (11)

A cell identifying unit for identifying a specific cell for which load adjustment is required among the plurality of cells based on a plurality of cell-specific load levels;
A terminal confirmation unit for identifying a terminal connecting the specific cell as an additional cell among a plurality of terminals using a communication service through any one of the plurality of cells except for the specific cell;
A terminal determination unit for determining a specific terminal to be disconnected among terminals connected to the specific cell as additional cells according to a load level of the specific cell; And
And disconnecting the connection between the specific terminal and the specific cell so that the load of the specific cell is adjusted. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a service level checking unit for checking the service level of the communication service used by the terminal connected as the additional cell as the specific cell,
The terminal determination unit may determine,
And determines the specific terminal to be disconnected according to the load level of the specific cell and the service level of the terminal connecting the specific cell as an additional cell. 3. The method of claim 2,
The service level of the terminal is determined according to the amount of data traffic required by the communication service used by the terminal,
The terminal determination unit may determine,
And a service level lower than the specific service level among the terminals connected to the particular cell as an additional cell, the service level being the same as the specific service level, And determines the identified terminal as the specific terminal to be disconnected. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the amount of data traffic associated with a service level lower than the particular service level is less than the amount of data traffic associated with the particular service level. 5. The method of claim 4,
The connection releasing portion,
And when the specific terminal has two or more terminals, disconnects the specific cell from the terminal having a lower service level sequentially among the two or more specific terminals. The method of claim 3,
The connection releasing portion,
If the number of the specific terminals of the same service level is two or more, a terminal having a longer connection holding time with respect to the specific cell among the at least two specific terminals is sequentially connected, or sequentially from other terminals And sequentially releases the connection with the specific cell from the terminal having a larger number of terminals. A cell checking step of checking a specific cell requiring load adjustment among the plurality of cells based on a plurality of cell-specific load levels;
Identifying a terminal connected to the specific cell as an additional cell among a plurality of terminals using a communication service through any one of the plurality of cells except the specific cell;
A service level checking step of checking a service level of the communication service used by a terminal connected to the specific cell as an additional cell;
Determining a specific terminal to be disconnected among terminals connected to the specific cell as additional cells according to the load level of the specific cell and the service level of the terminal connecting the specific cell as an additional cell; And
And disconnecting the connection between the specific terminal and the specific cell to adjust the load of the specific cell. 8. The method of claim 7,
The service level of the terminal is determined according to the amount of data traffic required by the communication service used by the terminal,
The terminal determination step may include:
And a service level lower than the specific service level among the terminals connected to the particular cell as an additional cell, the service level being the same as the specific service level, And determines the identified terminal as the specific terminal to be disconnected. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the amount of data traffic associated with a service level lower than the particular service level is less than the amount of data traffic associated with the particular service level. 10. The method of claim 9,
The disconnection step may include:
And when the specific terminal has two or more terminals, disconnects the specific cell from the terminal having a lower service level sequentially among the two or more specific terminals. 9. The method of claim 8,
The disconnection step may include:
If the number of the specific terminals of the same service level is two or more, a terminal having a longer connection holding time with respect to the specific cell among the at least two specific terminals is sequentially connected, or sequentially from other terminals And disconnects the connection with the specific cell sequentially from the terminal having a large number of terminals.

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