KR20110072478A - Appratus and method of providing machine type communication service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and an apparatus for serving the MTC(Machine Type Communication) service are provided to minimize the influence for the resource allocation of a mobile station using the existing network. CONSTITUTION: A priority alarm detector(710) detects whether the priority alarm message is necessary or not. A MTC controller(720) is connected the priority alarm detector. The MTC controller receives the uplink assignment message including the uplink resource allocated from network. The MTC controller transmits MTC data to the priority alarm message or the other MTC category to the network by using the uplink resource.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PROVIDING MACHINE TYPE COMMUNICATION SERVICE}

The present invention relates to wireless communications, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing a machine type communication service in a wireless communication system.

Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) is one of the wireless technologies that has been developed based on many subscribers since it was created as one of the means to unify the wireless means of communication in Europe. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is introduced to provide a packet-switched data service in a circuit-switched data service provided by GSM. Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE) provides higher data capacity through additional modulation schemes in GPRS.

Machine to Machine (M2M) communication or Machine Type Communication (MTC) refers to a form of data communication between machines that does not require human interaction. Here, it means that no human interaction is required for the machine for the MTC service, but it does not mean that no human interaction is required for the operation of the machine.

Services that MTC can be applied to can be remote telemetry, and examples of machines to which MTC can be applied include vending machines and meters.

Take the MTC service for the vending machine as an example. The vending machine stores sales information about the quantity or type of goods sold, and then sends the sales information to the vending machine manager through the network during the night with sufficient traffic.

As the capacity of public wireless data networks such as CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GPRS increases, connection charges also decrease. Since MTC can provide sufficient service with relatively low traffic, a scheme for providing a service to a very large number of machines using the network is being developed.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) discloses 3GPP TS 22.368 V1.0.0 (2009-08) reflecting service requirements for MTC in the existing GSM / EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN).

Depending on the nature of the MTC service, the MTC service can cause significant traffic load on the GERAN. This means that services for mobile stations accessing GERAN may be affected by the MTC service.

There is a need for a technique that can reduce network congestion due to MTC services without degrading service to existing mobile stations.

An object of the present invention is to provide an MTC service providing method and apparatus for reducing network congestion.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for allocating resources in consideration of characteristics of MTC traffic.

In one aspect, a wireless device providing a Machine Type Communication (MTC) service is provided. The wireless device includes a priority alarm detector that detects whether transmission of a priority alarm message is necessary, and an MTC controller coupled to the priority alarm detector, wherein the MTC controller is an MTC for transmission of the priority alarm message or another MTC category. Transmitting a channel request message requesting allocation of an uplink resource used for data transmission to a network, receiving an uplink allocation message including the uplink resource allocated from the network, and using the uplink resource MTC data for the priority alarm message or another MTC category is transmitted to the network.

When the channel request message indicates allocation of an uplink resource used for transmission of MTC data for the other MTC category, the MTC controller uses the uplink resource to transmit a resource request message including the other MTC category. Can be sent over the network.

The MTC controller receives a second uplink allocation message including a second uplink resource in response to the resource request message, and MTC data for the other MTC category may be transmitted using the second uplink resource. Can be.

The MTC controller may receive an access rejection message that rejects uplink resource allocation in response to the resource request message.

The access rejection message includes information on a wait timer, and the MTC controller may send a new channel request message to the network after the wait timer expires.

The other MTC category may be one of time control, time tolerance, low data usage and group based.

In another aspect, a method of providing a machine type communication (MTC) service may first transmit a channel request message to a network requesting allocation of an uplink resource used for transmission of an alarm message or transmission of MTC data for another MTC category. And receiving an uplink allocation message including the uplink resource allocated from the network, and transmitting MTC data for the priority alarm message or another MTC category to the network using the uplink resource. do.

By allocating resources according to the traffic characteristics of the MTC device, it is possible to minimize the influence on the resource allocation of the mobile station using the existing network. Therefore, network congestion can be minimized and the network can be operated efficiently.

Machine Type Communication (MTC) (or Machine to Machine) is a form of data communication between machines that does not require human interaction. The MTC service may be characterized by a low data rate, a very large number of communication terminals, and a large service area compared with a general mobile communication service.

The MTC device is an entity for the MTC. The MTC device may be an independent device or may provide MTC service as part of any device.

An MTC server is an entity that communicates with a network and communicates with an MTC device over the network.

An MTC user is a user who uses the services provided by the MTC server.

Hereinafter, the network is exemplarily described as a network based on a GSM / EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), but is not limited thereto, and various other types such as a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) or an Evolved-UTRAN (E-UTRAN). It can be a network based on the method.

A mobile station (MS) refers to a general wireless device provided with a service based on GERAN, and includes a user equipment (UE), a user terminal (UT), a subscriber station (SS), a mobile terminal (MT), and a wireless device. device).

1 is an example of a communication scenario for MTC. The MTC device 10 is connected to the network, GERAN 30, together with the existing mobile station 20. The MTC server 40 receives the information of the MTC device 10 through the GERAN 30, and provides the information to the MTC user 50. The MTC server 40 may be directly connected to the GERAN 40, but may also be connected to the GERAN 40 through an IP (internet protocol).

Hereinafter, uplink means communication from the MTC device 10 or the mobile station 20 to the GERAN 30, and downlink means communication from the GERAN 30 to the MTC device 10 or the mobile station 20. do.

The structure is merely an example, and may be changed in various forms. For example, the MTC device 10 may communicate with another MTC device directly without the MTC server 40.

When the MTC device 10 is disposed in the GERAN 30, the traffic load may be weighted on the GERAN 30 according to the traffic characteristics of the MTC device 10. This may cause a problem that may worsen the service for the existing mobile station 20. Therefore, in order to reduce the traffic load caused by the MTC device 10, it is necessary to flexibly manage resource allocation of the MTC device 10 according to the traffic characteristics of the MTC device 10 and / or the current network congestion.

Traffic characteristics in MTC can be divided into the following categories.

Time controlled: the MTC device may transmit or receive data only in a predefined section. It may not be possible to access the network outside the predefined interval.

Time tolerant: The MTC device may postpone data transmission. If there are not enough resources available, the network may limit the connection of the MTC device and dynamically limit the amount of data that the MTC device can transmit.

Low data usage: The MTC device may send or receive a predefined amount of data.

Group based: used by MTC devices belonging to a specific group. Groups may be defined according to various criteria, such as the same area, the same MTC feature and / or the same MTC user.

Priority alarm message: Used by MTC devices that require an alarm in case of theft, vandalism or other urgent attention. Priority alarms may have precedence over any other category.

A method is now disclosed that can reduce network congestion that may occur between the mobile station 20 and the MTC device 10 when the MTC device 10 is used in connection with the GERAN 30.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an MTC service according to an embodiment of the present invention. In order to request an uplink resource for transmitting uplink data, the MTC device sends a channel request message to the network (S210). The channel request message is used by the MTC device to send a reason for establishing a connection while requesting uplink resources from the network.

As a cause of establishment of a channel request message used by the MTC device, the category of the traffic characteristic may be divided into a category different from that of the first alarm message.

3GPP TS 44.018 V7.9.0 (2007-06) Section 9.1.8 of "Technical Specification Group GSM / EDGE Radio Access Network; Mobile radio interface layer 3 specification; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol (Release 7)" Various reasons for establishment are disclosed.

More specifically, the establishment reason for the MTC device as shown in the following table may be added to the existing channel request message.

Codes According to Establishment cause: bits
8 ... 1 01100x01 originating MTC device for priority alarm message 01100011 originating MTC device for other categories

The code for the establishment reason of Table 1 is merely an example, and those skilled in the art may make various changes such as reusing a code used for another establishment reason of the channel request message or utilizing another reserved code.

In addition, the channel request message may be used as another name such as a packet channel request message in GPRS and an EGPRS packet channel request message in EGPRS.

In this case, it is assumed that the channel request message indicates '01100x01', that is, an alarm message first.

When the network first receives a channel request message indicating an alarm message, the network allocates an uplink resource through an uplink assignment message (S220).

 The MTC device first sends an alarm message to the network using an uplink resource obtained through the uplink allocation message (S230).

When the MTC device detects a negative use or theft by a malicious user, it is necessary to first notify the MTC user through an alarm message. When the network first receives a channel request message indicating an alarm message, the network allocates resources to a corresponding MTC device in preference to a channel request of another MTC device.

Moreover, when the network first receives a channel request message indicating an alarm message, the network directly sends an uplink resource for the priority alarm message to the MTC device without additional signaling. First, since the resource for the alarm message, that is, the amount or duration of the radio resource, may be predetermined, the network directly transmits the predetermined resource to the MTC device through an uplink allocation message.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an MTC service according to another embodiment of the present invention. In order to request an uplink resource for transmitting uplink data, the MTC device sends a channel request message to the network (S310). In this case, the channel request message includes the code '01100011' of Table 1, and the reason for establishing an uplink resource request for MTC data of a category other than an alarm message is established.

The network sends a first uplink assignment message to the MTC device (S320).

The MTC device sends a resource request message by using the first uplink resource included in the first uplink allocation message (S330). The resource request message includes an MTC category field indicating information on a category of MTC data to be sent by the MTC device.

For example, the resource request message may include a 3-bit MTC category field as shown in the following table.

bits Category 000 Time controlled 001 Time tolerant 010 Low data usage 011 Group based 100-110 reserved 111 category not specified

The number of bits in the MTC category field, the type of category, etc. are merely examples.

The network transmits a second uplink assignment message including a second uplink resource for the corresponding MTC category to the MTC device (S340).

 The MTC device sends the MTC data for the corresponding category to the network by using the second uplink resource obtained through the second uplink allocation message (S350).

The network may allocate uplink resources according to traffic characteristics of the MTC device, that is, MTC category requested by the MTC device.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an MTC service according to another embodiment of the present invention. This is an example in which the network rejects an uplink resource allocation request as compared with the embodiment of FIG. 3.

The MTC device first sends a channel request message for establishing a UL resource request for MTC data of another category other than an alarm message to the network (S410).

The network sends an uplink assignment message to the MTC device (S420).

The MTC device sends a resource request message using an uplink resource included in the uplink allocation message (S430). The resource request message includes an MTC category field indicating information on a category of MTC data to be sent by the MTC device.

If there is not enough resources to be allocated to the MTC device in consideration of available resources, traffic load, etc., the network sends an access reject message to the MTC device to reject the resource allocation (S440).

The network may first reject a resource allocation request of the MTC device in consideration of available resources, traffic load, etc. for categories other than an alarm message. Therefore, if the congestion of the network is high, the network can prevent the degradation of the quality of service for the existing mobile station due to the MTC service by rejecting the resource allocation request of the MTC device.

According to the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 4, when the network first receives a channel request for an alarm message, the network first sends an uplink allocation to the MTC device. When receiving a channel request for another category, the network allocates uplink resources to the MTC device or rejects the allocation request through two signaling, namely, first and second uplink allocations.

In an urgent situation called an alarm message, resources are allocated immediately for immediate receipt. However, by allocating resources to other categories of MTC data in consideration of available resources and traffic load, network congestion due to the MTC device can be minimized.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an MTC service according to another embodiment of the present invention. This is an embodiment in a specific category as compared to the embodiment of FIG. 4.

The MTC device first sends a channel request message to the network, which is a reason for establishing an uplink resource request for MTC data of a category other than an alarm message (S510).

The network transmits an uplink allocation message including an uplink resource to the MTC device (S520).

The MTC device sends a resource request message including an MTC category field indicating a 'time control' category using the uplink resource (S530).

The network may send a separate second uplink allocation message if there are available resources or the network congestion is not high. The MTC device may transmit time control MTC data using the uplink allocation included in the second uplink allocation message.

However, in the present embodiment, the network transmits an access rejection message to the MTC device that rejects resource allocation (S540).

The connection rejection message may include information on a wait timer (timer value, timer start time, etc.). The wait timer may be started with the reception of a connection rejection message or may be started after a certain start time. While the standby timer is operating, the MTC device cannot initiate a new channel request and is in a standby state (S550).

When the wait timer is completed, the MTC device may again send a channel request message to the network (S560).

It is necessary to give the MTC device using the time control category a time for the network to send MTC data for the time control category. The network may reduce network congestion by informing the MTC device when to retry a channel request through a connection rejection message.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. This may be done in the MTC device.

The MTC device checks whether the required uplink resource is used for the transmission of the alarm message (S610).

First, if the resource is used for transmission of the alarm message, the channel request message indicating the category of the alarm message is first sent to the network, and an uplink resource is allocated from the network (S620). Then, an alarm message is first sent using the allocated uplink resource (S630).

If the resource is used to transmit MTC data corresponding to another MTC category, the MTC device sends the corresponding MTC category to the network (S650).

It is checked whether an uplink resource is allocated from the network (S660). When the uplink resource is allocated, the corresponding MTC data is transmitted (S670). If uplink resource allocation is rejected, the process starts from step S610 again.

The MTC device is allocated an uplink resource based on its traffic characteristics such as the MTC category. Resources are preferentially allocated to MTC categories that should be guaranteed priority, and resources are allocated to other MTC categories according to circumstances.

Therefore, priority alarm messages that should be guaranteed priority can be reliably sent to the network, and MTC traffic can be adjusted for other categories without affecting network congestion.

7 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless device in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented. The wireless device 700 first includes an alarm detector 710 and an MTC controller 720. The wireless device 700 is a part of the MTC device and may perform an operation of the MTC device in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 6.

First, the alarm detector 710 detects whether a priority alarm message requiring urgent notification to the MTC user such as negative use or theft by a malicious user is required.

The MTC controller 720 communicates with the network, receives uplink resources, and transmits MTC data to the network. It may also receive an indication related to the MTC service from the network. When the MTC controller 720 needs to transmit an alarm message or transmit MTC data for another category, the MTC controller 720 first requests an uplink resource to the network and uses the allocated uplink resource to transmit an alarm message or MTC data. Can be sent over the network.

In the exemplary system described above, the methods are described based on a flowchart as a series of steps or blocks, but the invention is not limited to the order of steps, and certain steps may occur in a different order or concurrently with other steps than those described above. Can be. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the steps shown in the flowcharts are not exclusive and that other steps may be included or one or more steps in the flowcharts may be deleted without affecting the scope of the present invention.

The above-described embodiments include examples of various aspects. While it is not possible to describe every possible combination for expressing various aspects, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other combinations are possible. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention include all alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the following claims.

1 is an example of a communication scenario for MTC.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an MTC service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an MTC service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an MTC service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an MTC service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless device in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented.

Claims (11)

In the wireless device providing a machine type communication (MTC) service, A priority alarm detector for detecting whether a priority alarm message needs to be transmitted; And An MTC controller is connected to the first alarm detector, wherein the MTC controller is Transmitting a channel request message for requesting allocation of an uplink resource used for transmission of the priority alarm message or transmission of MTC data for another MTC category to a network; Receiving an uplink allocation message including the uplink resource allocated from the network, and And transmitting MTC data for the priority alarm message or another MTC category to the network using the uplink resource. The method of claim 1, wherein the MTC controller includes the other MTC category by using the uplink resource when the channel request message indicates allocation of an uplink resource used for transmission of MTC data for the other MTC category. Sending a resource request message to the network. The method of claim 2, wherein the MTC controller receives a second uplink allocation message including a second uplink resource in response to the resource request message, MTC data for the other MTC category is transmitted using the second uplink resource. The wireless device of claim 2, wherein the MTC controller receives an access rejection message that rejects uplink resource allocation in response to the resource request message. 5. The wireless device of claim 4, wherein the connection rejection message includes information about a wait timer and the MTC controller sends a new channel request message to the network after the wait timer expires. 2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the other MTC category is one of time control, time tolerance, low data usage, and group based. In the method of providing a machine type communication (MTC) service, First, a channel request message for requesting allocation of an uplink resource used for transmission of an alarm message or transmission of MTC data for another MTC category is transmitted to a network. Receiving an uplink allocation message including the uplink resource allocated from the network, and And transmitting MTC data for the priority alarm message or another MTC category to the network using the uplink resource. 8. The resource request message of claim 7, wherein when the channel request message indicates allocation of an uplink resource used for transmission of MTC data for the other MTC category, the resource request message includes the other MTC category using the uplink resource. And sending it to the network.  The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a second uplink allocation message including a second uplink resource in response to the resource request message, MTC data for the other MTC category is transmitted using the second uplink resource. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving an access rejection message that rejects uplink resource allocation in response to the resource request message. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the connection rejection message includes information about a wait timer, and further comprising sending a new channel request message to the network after the wait timer expires.

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