MXPA06004937A - Method and system for providing intelligent remote access to wireless transmit/receive units - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for providing intelligent remote access to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs). A translator is provided in base stations so that system controllers may issue application level network management protocol messages to base stations. The messages are transmitted by the translator to a medium access control (MAC) messaging protocol and forwarded to WTRUs. Information provided by WTRUs to base stations is translated from a MAC protocol to an application level network management protocol so that the information may be accessed by system controllers using application level network management protocols.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM TO PROVIDE SMART REMOTE ACCESS TO WIRELESS TRANSMISSION / RECEPTION UNITS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to wireless communication systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for providing remote access to wireless transmit / receive units so that network management functions can be efficiently communicated to and from WTRUs.

BACKGROUND Initially with reference to Figure 1, a conventional wireless communication system 100 is shown. System 100 includes at least one wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU) 102, at least one base station 104, and at least one controller system 106 for controlling and in any other way managing communications within the system 100. Typically, the functionality of the system is divided into modules called layers to simplify and separate the tasks associated with data transmission. Therefore, for clarity, a sample protocol stack 108 is also shown in Figure 1. In the protocol stack 108, the highest level is the application layer 112. The application layer 112 is the layer where procedures of two entities communicate with each other. Below the application layer 112 is the transport layer 114, which provides logical communication between two communicated entities so that, from the perspective of the application, this if the two entities are directly connected to each other. There are two dominant transport layer protocols; transmission control protocol (TCP) and protocol for user datagrams (ÜDP). Beneath the transport layer 114 is the network layer 116. The network layer 116 encapsulates datagrams from the transport layer 114 and encapsulates them in packets and routes them through a network to their respective destinations using the protocol. Internet (IP). These packages are often referred to as IP packets. Below the network layer 116 are the data link layer 118 and the physical layer 120 where the task of moving IP packets between individual links is carried out. The protocols implemented in link 118 and physical layer 120 may vary according to the type of link that is crossed (e.g., by wire or wireless). Here, simply for convenience, reference is made jointly to protocols implemented in link layer 118 and physical layer 120 as medium access control message (MAC) protocols. It should be noted that the use of the term MAC message protocols does not limit and may include all types of layer channels. link including, but not limited to, point-to-point and broadcasting channels. A system controller 106 typically communicates with a base station 104 related to network management functions that use some type of application-level network management protocol implemented in the application layer 112. Since the communications are established in the application layer 112, there is a considerable amount of data exchanged between the controller 106 and the base station 104 dedicated solely to management. Since communications between the system controller 106 and the base station 104 are typically performed at a cable interface with a large amount of bandwidth, communication of management functions in the application layer 112 is typically not a problem. In addition, both entities typically use and support the relevant application level protocol. The communication of network management functions in the application layer 112, however, is often complicated or impossible to implement between a base station and a WTRU 102. As an initial problem, the application level protocols tend to be relatively complex and they require functionality in each layer of the protocol stack 108 and significant amounts of data to be exchanged in the air. For example, when an application-level network management protocol is used, each message 122 (which also shown in Figure 1) is encapsulated with a UDP or TCP datagram 124, which is encapsulated within an IP 126 packet within a MAC 128 frame. Therefore, communication of management functions to and from a WTRU using a protocol Application-level network management is a very inefficient use of bandwidth. Furthermore, even when such inefficient use of bandwidth can be tolerated, WTRUs often do not implement application-level software to perform network management functions, whereby such communications become impossible. Therefore, it would be convenient to provide a method and system with which to efficiently communicate network management functions to and from WTRUs.

THE INVENTION The present invention is a method and system for providing intelligent remote access to wireless transmission / reception units (WTRUs). A translator is provided in base stations so that system controllers can issue application level network management protocol messages to base stations. The messages are translated by the translator to a message access control protocol (MAC) and forwarded to WTRUs. The information provided by WTRUs to base stations is translated from a MAC protocol to an application level network management protocol. way that information can be accessed through system controllers using application-level network management protocols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of a conventional wireless communication system, protocol stack and encapsulated application layer message. Figure 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 is a block diagram of a wireless network type 802.11. Figure 4 is a block diagram of a base station, a WTRU and a network management station of the 802.11 type wireless network shown in Figure 3, where the network management functions are communicated to and from a network.

WTRU according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a flow diagram of a method where a system controller can obtain parameters from a WTRU according to the present invention. Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a method where a system controller can update or otherwise change parameters of a WTRU according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Herein, a base station includes, but is not limited to, a Node B, an access point, a site controller or any other interface device in a wireless environment that provides WTRUs with wireless access. to a network with which the base station is associated. Herein, a WTRU includes, but is not limited to, a user equipment, a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment. WTRUs include personal communication devices, such as telephones, video telephones, and Internet ready telephones that have network connections, and portable personal computing devices, such as PDAs and laptops with wireless modems that have similar network capabilities. Herein, a system controller includes a radio network controller (RNC), a network management station (NMS), or any other type of controller to carry out system control features in a wireless communication system . The use of MAC message protocols in an air interface between a base station and a WTRU is much more efficient than using application-level network management protocols, as described in the background section. In addition, the use of protocols of MAC message since these use the physical and data link layers where the information of interest for the system controller is located. To explain in more detail, the type of information related to the management of WTRUs that is of interest to a site controller includes realization, configuration and failure reportof WTRU. For example, the performance parameters may include a reception / transmission packet error rate, the configuration parameters may include a preferred service provider of the WTRU, and the failure reportparameters may include a number of authentication attempts failed. Since these items are available in the physical and data link layers, the present invention uses MAC message protocols between base stations and WTRUs and application level network management protocols between the controllers and the base stations. In addition, a translator is provided in base stations so that the system controllers have direct access to the WTRU. By way of example, with reference to Figure 2, a system 200 accordto the present invention is shown. The system 200 includes at least one WTRU 202, at least one base station 204 and at least one system controller 206. In this embodiment, a translator 208 is provided in the base station 204. The translator 208 is configured to translate in both directions between level network management protocols of application and MAC message protocols. In one embodiment, when the WTRU 202 begins to operate within the coverage area provided by the base station 204, the base station 204 uses a MAC message protocol to obtain (i.e., request and receive) the configurations and / or parameters ( referred to collectively hereinafter as "parameters") of the WTRU 202, which may include any information within the WTRU 202 that is relevant to network management. The parameters are translated by the translator 208 from a MAC message protocol to an application level network management protocol and stored in a database 210 in the base station 204. The system controller 206 can then access the parameters of the WTRU 202 as desired from the base station 204, using an application level network management protocol. The base station 204 is preferably configured to periodically query the WTRU 202 about the parameters, to avoid outdated data in its database 210. In another embodiment, the system controller 206 may not only read the parameters of the WTRU 202, but also write in them. In this embodiment, the system controller 206 can transmit updated parameters to the WTRU 202 by sending a message using an application-level network management protocol to the base station 204. Then, upon receipt of the parameters updated by the base station 204, the translator 208 translates them into the MAC message protocol format and forwards the translated parameters to the WTRU 202. The WTRU 202 then updates its parameters respectively. The system controller 206 may also use this mode to send messages (via base station 204) to the WTRU 202 ordering it to re-inform the base station 204, which will forward the report to the system controller 206, when they occur certain cases. To provide a more specific example of how the present invention can be implemented in an 802.11 type network, reference is made to Figures 3 and 4. It should be noted that although the network shown in Figure 3 is referred to as a "type 802.11 network", the system can be any type of network of the 802 network family that includes, but is not limited to, wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless personal area networks (WPANs), wireless metropolitan area networks (WMANs), etc. In the Figure 3, a schematic block diagram of a wireless network 300 is shown. The wireless network 300 comprises a network management station (NMS) 306, a plurality of base stations 314, 316, and a plurality of WTRU 312, 318. WTRU 312, 318 are grouped with their respective base stations 314, 316. These groupings are commonly referred to as basic service sets (BSSs) 320, 322. A plurality of BSS 320, 322 are connected through a system of distribution (DS) 324, where a plurality of BSSs are commonly referred to as extended service set (ESS). The base stations 314, 316 are preferably connected to the NMS 306 in a network 319. Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a block diagram of a WTRU 312, a base station 314, and a NMS 306 in a network 300 of Figure 3. The NMS 306 communicates network management information to and from the base station 314 using an application-level network management protocol. Merely by way of example, the application level network management protocol that is displayed in this mode is the simple network management protocol (SNMP), but any application level protocol, private or any other protocol can be used. An example of another type of application-level network management protocol that can be used is the extensible markup language (XML) protocol. The NMS 306 can transmit SNMP messages through an SNMP 400 port. It should be noted that with respect to the transport level, both TCP and UDP can be used, as desired. The parameters that are of interest for an NMS 306 in an 802.11 type network are conserved in a management information base (MIB). Typically, in 802.11 type networks, base stations and WTRUs each preserve a MIB where their respective parameters are stored. For example, in the present invention, the base station 314 includes a base of data 402 where a MIB is conserved for the same base station (ie, MIBbase station) • Additionally, the base station 314 includes a database 404 where a MIB of all the WTRUs associated with the base station 314 is conserved (i.e. , MIBWTRÜS) • As explained above, the base station 314 also includes a translator 406 to translate in both directions between SNMP and a MAC message protocol. In this mode, the MAC message protocol is preferably a message protocol 802. llk. The message protocol 802. llk is a physical layer protocol / data link layer that communicates parameters from a WTRU 312 to a base station 314. In order for the NMS 306 to obtain MIB information regarding a base station 314, the NMS 306 simply sends a request using SNMP (that is, a Get message (obtain) SNMP) and the base station 314 receives the request and responds as required. Therefore, in the present invention, the base station 314 preferably periodically obtains the WTRU MIB 312 using 802. llk messages and stores it in a 404 database so that the WTRU MIBs are available in the station. base 314. Note that the MIB can be translated into SNMP at the request of base station 314 to store in translated format or the MIB can be translated when an NMS 306 requests it. In any case, the MIB is transmitted to NMS 306 in a format SNMP. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the base station 314 does not periodically obtain the WTRU MIBs and instead obtains the WTRU 312 MIB when the NMS 306 requests it. To obtain the parameters of WTRU 312, the NMS 306 requests the parameters using an SNMP message through its SNMP port 400. In SNMP, said request can be referred to as a Get message, as indicated above. Base station 314 receives the request on its SNMP port 408 and provides the parameters of WTRU 312 to NMS 306 in SNMP format. When the MIBs are stored in a 404 database in SNMP format, the MIB for WTRU 312 is simply transmitted to the NMS 306. When the MIBs are stored in message format 802. llk, the MIB for WTRU 312 is translated by the translator 406 and then sent to the NMS 306. The MIBs are preferably provided from the base station 314 to the NMS 306 using the SNMP ports 408, 400. As noted above, if the WTRU 312 MIB is old (ie, it has been in database 404 for a predetermined period of time), the base station 314 will obtain a new MIB from WTRU 312. In another embodiment of the present invention, the NMS 306 may send an SNMP message to a base station 314 requesting that certain captures of WTRU 312 for which WTRU 312 will inform when certain cases occur. The NMS 306 sends an SNMP message (ie, a message Trap (capture) SNMP) to a base station 314 for a particular WTRU 312. The base station 314 receives the SNMP message through the SNMP port 408. The translator 406 in the base station 314 translates the SNMP message to a message 802. llk. Then, the base station 314 transmits the message 802. llk to request the particular WTRU 312 to report the capture condition to the base station 314 when the drive case has occurred. Once the case is actually produced, the WTRU 312 sends a message 802. llk to the base station 314. The translator 406 of the base station 314 then translates the message to SNMP and sends it to the NMS 306. As described herein , the NMS 306 can set WTRU 312 MIB parameters by sending an SNMP message to the base station 314, where the base station translates the updated parameters to 802. llk and forwards the updated parameters to the WTRU 312. However, the NMS 306 can , in certain circumstances, to want to interface directly with the WTRU 312. Therefore, in another embodiment, the NMS 306 is configured to transmit and receive SNMP messages to and from a WTRU SNMP agent such that the MIB parameters of the WTRU 312 can be established through an SNMP message (Set) standard sent by air. Although this signaling is transmitted using SNMP messages by air, this is typically low volume signaling, and, therefore, the adverse effects are not substantial.

In addition, configuration of WTRU 312 MIB configuration parameters using SNMP by air can be optimized using the teachings of the present invention. For example, by configuring parameters and / or certain actuators using the translator of the present invention, WTRUs can be configured to return to certain default configurations based on certain cases. More specifically, a WTRU 312 can be configured to return to a default configuration, for example, when it returns to its residence network. This can be used to eliminate the need for low volume SNMP signaling together for the purpose of configuring WTRU parameters. Alternatively, the parameters can be set using the translator and a combination of MAC level and application level messages, as described above. The base station components 314 described herein are preferably implemented in a single integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). However, the components can also be easily implemented in multiple separate integrated circuits. Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a flow chart of a method 600 wherein a system controller can obtain parameters from a WTRU. The method 600 starting at step 602 when a WTRU enters an area of coverage of a wireless communication system. Then, in step 604, a base station associated with the WTRU requests the parameters of the WTRU using a MAC message protocol. Next, in step 606, the WTRU transmits the parameters to the base station using a MAC message protocol. The base station translates the parameters from the MAC message protocol into an application level management protocol (step 608) and stores the translation parameters (step 610). The translated parameters are preferably stored in a database that resides in or is otherwise associated with the base station. As noted in the above, steps 604 to 610 may be repeated as necessary to maintain a recent data set. Once the translated parameters are stored in a base station, the controller can obtain them from the base station as necessary using any type of application-level network management protocol. It is noted that, in a further embodiment, the translation stage can be activated once a current request for the parameters is received. In this case, the parameters are stored in a MAC message format. Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a flow chart of a method 700 where a system controller can update or otherwise change parameters of a WTRU. In this mode, the system controller has written access to the parameters of the WTRU. He method 700 is started with step 702 where a system controller issues a request using an application-level network management protocol to update parameters of a WTRU (s). The updated parameters are preferably sent with the request. In step 704, the request is received at the base station and translated into the MAC message protocol format. The base station then forwards the request to the WTRU in step 706. The WTRU then updates its parameters according to the request in step 708. The method 700 can also be used to set captures in WTRUs, where WTRUs perform certain actions when certain cases occur, as explained above. It is important to note that the present invention can be implemented in any type of wireless communication system. As an example, the present invention can be implemented in WMAN, WPAN, WLAN, GSM, TDSCDMA, CDMA2000, UMTS-FDD, UMTS-TDD or any other type of wireless communication system. In addition, although the features and elements of the present invention are described in the preferred embodiment in particular combinations, each feature or element may be used alone or in various combinations with or without other features and elements of the present invention.

Claims (25)

1. CLAIMS 1. Method for communicating information between network entities in a wireless communication system comprising at least one base station, at least one system controller, and at least one wireless transmission / reception unit (WTRU), the method characterized in that it comprises: communicating network management information for a system controller and WTRU between the system controller and a base station, using an application-level network management protocol; and communicating said network management information between the base station and the WTRU using a MAC message protocol. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the base station translates between the application-level network management protocol and the MAC message protocol. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the application-level network management protocol is a simple network management protocol (SNMP). Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the system controller issues an SNMP (Get) message to obtain network management information from a WTRU. "5. Method of compliance with claim 4, characterized in that the base station responds to the controller l of the system after searching for the network management information requested from a database at the base station, where the network management information for the WTRU is stored after it has been obtained by the base station from the WTRU using a protocol of MAC message. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the MAC message protocol is 802. llk. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the system controller issues an SNMP message (Trap) to establish at least one parameter of the WTRU. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the base station translates the SNMP message (Trap) to a message 802. llk and transmits the translated message to the WTRU. Method according to claim 3, further characterized by comprising the step of transmitting a message from the system controller directly to the WTRU to establish at least one parameter in the WTRU. 10. Method of compliance according to claim 9, characterized in that based on said message, the WTRU is configured to automatically establish at least one parameter to a predetermined value when a predetermined event occurs. 11. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the network management protocol of level of application is the extensible markup language (XML). 12. Wireless network characterized in that it comprises: a system controller configured to send and receive network management information using an application-level network management protocol message; a plurality of wireless transmit / receive units (WTRUs) configured to send and receive network management information using a MAC message protocol; and a base station configured to facilitate communication between the controller. of system and WTRUs where the system controller uses the application-level network management protocol message and the WTRUs use the MAC message protocol. 13. Network according to claim 12, characterized in that the base station further comprises a translator to move back and forth between the application-level network management protocol and the MAC message protocol. Network according to claim 12, characterized in that the application-level network management protocol is the simple network management protocol (SNMP). Network according to claim 14, characterized in that the system controller issues an SNMP (Get) message to obtain a management information base (MIB) from a WTRU. 16. Network according to claim 15, characterized in that the SNMP (GET) message is sent to a base station and the base station translates the SNMP message (GET) to a MAC message protocol format and returns the SNMP (GET) message to the WTRU. Network according to claim 16, characterized in that the WTRU sends its MIB to the base station in the MAC message protocol format and the base station translates the MIB to SNMP and sends the transferred MIB to the system controller. Network according to claim 15, characterized in that the base station is configured to periodically obtain the MIB of the WTRUs associated with the base station and store them in the memory. Network according to claim 18, characterized in that the MIBs are stored in the transferred format and the base station is configured to respond to the SNMP messages (GET) by selecting the appropriate MIB stored in the memory and sending it to the system controller. Network according to claim 19, characterized in that the base station is configured to request MIBs from WTRUs whose MIBs have been stored in the memory of the base station for more than a certain period of time. 21. Network according to claim 14, characterized in that the system controller issues a message SNMP to set at least one parameter of at least one WTRU. 22. Network according to claim 14, characterized in that the SNMP message is translated by the base station and sent to at least one WTRU and the WTRU establishes at least one parameter according to the SNMP message. Network according to claim 21, characterized in that the SNMP message is sent directly to the WTRU. 24. Network according to claim 21, characterized in that the SNMP message instructs the WTRU to set certain parameters of the WTRU to default values, where a predetermined case occurs in the WTRU. Network according to claim 12, characterized in that the application-level network management protocol is extensible markup language (XML).