RU2280952C2 - Base station configuring method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: configuring base stations.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method can be used to install control and operation channel by default between control and operation center and base station to be configured, asynchronous-transmission IP and its coordinated VCP being installed by default. With data configured for base station mentioned control and operation channel can convey IP address to base station for normal operation by default from configuring data and then install asynchronous-transmission IP channel to this IP address for normal operation. Control center using this control and operation method can configure distant-end base stations. Proposed method can be used for various network configurations such as those of star, chain, and tree type. In addition, provision is made to avoid conflicts between IP addresses while configuring base stations.

EFFECT: facilitated procedure, reduced cost, enlarged functional capabilities.

2 cl, 3 dwg

Description

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a method for configuring devices in wireless communication systems. In particular, it relates to a method for configuring base stations at the far end of a cellular mobile broadband code division multiple access (WCDMA) mobile communication systems.

The current level of technology

With the development of wireless technology, communication networks are becoming more and more complicated and voluminous. As a result, the criteria for maintainability are raised. However, due to the fact that the default channels of the base stations are not defined in the protocols of the third generation wireless networks for communication systems with CDMA, base stations cannot perform auto-configuration, and thus for the base stations it is impossible to perform auto-configuration at the far end, which introduces inconvenience to operation of networks. Currently, to establish supported channels for base stations (NodeB), the following methods are usually used: the first is that maintenance personnel manually configure the associated data on the base stations and base station controllers to configure special control and operation channels to solve the problem initialization of the base station. However, due to the fact that in real applications access devices are usually far from the network, a fatal disadvantage of this method is that it is very difficult to configure the base stations of the near end if the corresponding physical base station is far from the base station controller or this base station is located remote and / or desert area. Further, this method can cause high operating costs because the design of the base stations may not interfere with the design of the associated equipment. In addition, it is inconvenient for failure recovery.

The second method is as follows: during the initial initialization of all base stations, requests are submitted to the control and operation center with the permanent virtual channels (PVCs) (IP) and IP addresses (Internet Protocol addresses) established for manufacturing to obtain formal configuration data. For subsequent initializations, the formally configured PVCs and IP addresses will be used to contact the control and operation center. Given that base stations use the factory default configuration for initiating requests, while in real situations the configuration data is often incorrect or different from the factory configuration data after the base stations were initialized (for example, the master control panel of the base station may borrowed from another site, and therefore the default configuration data is different from that required for this base station), thereby the base stations Unable to contact the control and operation center. If this method is used to initialize multiple base stations at the same time, this can cause a conflict of IP addresses. The third way is that after they are turned on, the base stations request IP addresses from the control and operation center using a specific protocol (for example, bootstrap protocol, VooTP), and then special control and operation channels are established. Or, base stations submit requests to the control and operation center via a user-defined protocol, and then install special control and operation channels according to configuration data issued from the control and operation center. A fatal disadvantage of this method is that determining the MAC address (media access control address) for each base station will be very difficult when the UTRAN selects network configurations of chain type or tree type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for configuring base stations that is easy to use, has a low operating cost, and is suitable for various network configurations.

To solve the above problem, a method for configuring base stations according to this invention includes the following:

(1) determine whether the base station to be configured is connected directly to the Remote Network Controller (UCS) (RNC). If so, a default control and operation channel will be established between the control and operation center and the base station to be configured. The control and operation center configures the data for this base station via the default control and operation channel, and thus the configuration operation ends; otherwise,

(2) to identify the base station (s) of the upper level, which (s) is connected (s) to the USK via the connection channel between the base station and the control and operation center. The default control and operation channel between the control and operation center and the base station to be configured will be established through the base station (s) of the upper level. The control and operation center configures the data for the base station via the default control and operation channel, and thus the configuration operation ends.

In the above step (1), the establishment of a control and operation channel between the control and operation center and the base station further comprises the following steps:

(21) the control and operation center sets the route to USK; and

(22) On this route, the default IP address corresponding to the IPAP channel (Internet protocol for asynchronous transfer mode) by default for the base station is mapped to the port of the base station that connects to the UCS, so that the control and operation channel is established between the center control and operation and base station.

The above step (1) further includes the following steps before completing the configuration operation:

(31) The control and operation center provides the configuration data required by the base station for normal operation to the base station via the control and operation channel; then the base station receives an IP address for normal operation and, according to this IP address, establishes an IPAP channel; and

(32) The route established in the USK by the control and operation center in step (21) is deleted.

In the above step (2), establishing a default control and operation channel between the control and operation center and the base station to be configured through the upper level base stations further comprises the steps of:

(41) Switching the output ports of all top-level base stations to the input ports;

(42) the control and operation center sets the route to USK; and

(43) On this route, the default IP address corresponding to the default IPAP channel of the base station to be configured is mapped to the top-level base station port, which is directly connected to the UCS, so that the control and operation channel is established between the control and operation center and to be configured by the base station.

The above step (2) further includes the following steps before completing the configuration operation:

(31) The control and operation center provides the configuration data required by the base station for normal operation to the base station via the control and operation channel; then the base station receives an IP address for normal operation and, according to this IP address, establishes an IPAP channel; and

(32) the route established by the control and operation center in USK in step (21) is deleted.

This invention can establish control and operation channels between the control and operation center and the base stations to be configured according to the default IPAP channels established during manufacture and the corresponding PVCs. By using the default control and operation channels to configure data for base stations, these base stations can receive IP addresses from the configuration data for normal operation in order to establish IPAP channels for normal operation according to the IP addresses. The present invention can configure the base stations at the far end, i.e. the control and operation center configures data for the base stations at the far end. Further, the present invention is applicable to a variety of network configurations, such as star, chain, and tree networks. Moreover, it can prevent IP address conflicts in the process of configuring base stations. Therefore, the method described in this invention can simplify the configuration of base stations and reduce development and operation costs.

Brief Description of the Drawings

1 shows a flowchart for an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a configuration diagram of a base station directly connected to the USC through the default channel, according to this invention.

Figure 3 is a configuration diagram of a base station that does not have a direct connection to the USK through the default channel, according to this invention.

Embodiments of the invention

The invention is further described with reference to the attached drawings.

This invention is based primarily on the following assumptions. 1. Between the base station and the base station controller, transmission technology in asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) (ATM) is used. 2. A physical connection between the base station and the base station controller is already available.

This invention avoids the complexity of using IP addresses by using default PVCs and default IP addresses. In addition, it solves the problem of establishing control and operation channels in network configurations of the "chain" type and the "tree" type. Since the control and operation center configures the data for base stations via IP routes, it is possible to resolve problems such as the difference between the configuration data for base stations and the configuration data set during production and the conflict of IP addresses when several base stations are initialized at the same time.

1 shows a flowchart for an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, step 1 determines whether the base station to be configured is connected directly to the USC. The base station to be configured includes a newly constructed base station, a base station without configuration data, and a base station with incorrect configuration data for various reasons. If the base station is directly connected to the USK, then in step 9 the control and operation center creates a route to the USK, and in step 10 the control and operation center displays the default IP address corresponding to the IPAP default channel of the base station to the base station port, which is connected to the USC along this route, so that between the control and operation center and the base station to be configured, the default control and operation channel is established. After that, in step 11, the control and operation center issues configuration data to the base station for normal operation through this default control and operation channel. After the configuration data has been sent, the base station obtains the IP address for normal operation from the acquired data and then sets the IPAP channel for normal operation according to the IP address (step 12). Finally, in step 13, the route created by the control and operation center in step 9 is deleted, and thereby the configuration operation ends.

If it is determined in step 1 that the base station to be configured does not have a direct connection to the USK, then in step 2 the upper-level base stations that are connected to the USK via the connection channel between the base station and the control and operation center are identified. Then, in step 3, the output ports of all the top-level base stations switch to the input ports to perform the PVC switching required to establish the control channel and operate by default. In step 4, the control and operation center creates a route to the USK. In step 5, the control and operation center displays the default IP address corresponding to the IPAP channel of the base station to be configured by default to the port of the top-level base station, which directly connects to the USK, so that the control and operation channel is established between the control and operation center and to be configured by the base station. Then, in step 5, the control and operation center sends configuration data to the base station via the above control and operation channel. After the configuration data has been sent, in step 6, the base station obtains the IP address for normal operation from the configuration data and, according to this IP address, sets the IPAP channel for normal operation. Finally, in step 7, the route created in the USK by the control and operation center in step 4 is deleted, and thereby the configuration operation ends.

The invention is further described in embodiments.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of a base station (NodeB), which is directly connected to the USK through the default channel according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows the configuration procedure of the NodeB (1), which is directly connected to the USK. First, before the base station leaves the manufacturer, the default IPAP channel and its agreed PVC are established, i.e. PVC from the interface (Iub interface) between the USK and NodeB to the control module of the base station. Let the IP address be 10.11.121.1; virtual path identifier / virtual channel identifier (VPI / VCI) for the Iub interface - 1/1 (usually the PVC is fixed on port 1 of the RAP in the Iub interface); By default, the IPAP channel and its coordinated PVC will be supported after the base station is correctly configured (in fact, at this time, NodeB has two IPAP objects, one of which is active and the other is backup).

Consider the case of initialization of NodeB (1): due to the fact that the control and operation center knows the connection of NodeB, i.e. what physical port of the UCS corresponds to this NodeB, in the case when the NodeB must be configured, because the data of the NodeB are incorrect and there are no service personnel or available operational means nearby, the control and operation center needs to create a route to the UCB and display the IP address 10.11.121.1 of the location to the appropriate USK port. Thus, between the control and operation center and NodeB (1) a special control and operation channel can be installed. Then the control and operation center configures the correct data for NodeB (1). After NodeB (1) receives an IP address for normal operation from the configuration data - let this IP address be 20.1.2.1 - NodeB (1) establishes an IPAP channel for normal operation according to this IP address, and then the route, created in USK will be deleted. After the NodeB operates normally, the control and operation center communicates with the NodeB (1) through the active IPAP channel. At the same time, NodeB still maintains its backup channel. If the NodeB (1) once again receives the message VPI / VCI = 1/1 on the first RAP port, he believes that the PVC carries the backup IPAP information, and this will be presented to the control unit of the NodeB (1) for processing.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of a base station that does not have a direct connection to the USK through the default channel, according to the present invention. Figure 3 shows the configuration procedure of the NodeB (2), which does not have a direct connection to the USK. As mentioned above, according to the default rules, let the default IP address of NodeB (2) be 10.11.121.1, port 1 of the NodeB RAP (2) is connected to its NodeB (1) top-level base station, and the default VPI / VCI PVC is NodeB (2) is 1/1. Due to the fact that the control and operation center knows the network situation of the entire regional network (RAN), the control and operation center knows the relationship between the NodeB (2) and NodeB (1). Let the port N RAP of the NodeB (1) connects to the port 1 of the RAP NodeB (2), the VPI / VCI of the PVC line between the USK and the NodeB (1) is X / Y, and this line connects to the port M of the RAP NodeB (1), then the control and operation will perform the following switching of the PVC in the NodeB (1): switching (M / X / Y) to (N / 1/1) (the symbol in brackets means: port number (RAP / VPI / VCI number); and the control center During operation and operation, it will create a route to the USK to display the IP address of the destination (10.11.121.1) to the USK port, which is connected to the NodeB (1) .In this case, between the control and operation center and the NodeB (2) I have a special control and operation channel by default. The control and operation center configures the correct data for the NodeB (2). When the NodeB (2) receives the IP address from the configuration data for normal operation - let this IP address be 20.1.2.2 - then according to this IP address, it establishes the IPAP channel for normal operation, after which the route created in the USK is deleted.

If NodeB (3) is configured, then in this case both NodeB (1) and NodeB (2) worked normally and both of them received IP addresses. Let the VPI / VCI of the PVC link between USK and NodeB (1) be X '/ Y', and this line connects to the M 'RAP port of NodeB (1). Port N 'NodeB (1) is connected to port P of NodeB (2) via PVC at VPI / VCI, which is I / J; and port R of NodeB (2) is connected to NodeB (3). According to this arrangement, the VPI / VCI between port R of NodeB (2) and port 1 of NodeB (3) is 1/1. Let the IP address of NodeB (3) be 10.11.121.1, while the control and operation center will perform the following PVC switches in NodeB (2): switch (R / 1/1) to (P / I / J); and he will perform the following PVC switching in NodeB (1): switching (M '/ X' / Y ') to (N' / I / J). At the same time, the control and operation center will create a route to the USK and display the IP address of the destination (10.11.121.1) on the USK port, which connects to NodeB (1). In this case, between the control and operation center and NodeB (3), a special control and operation channel is set by default. Then the control and operation center configures the correct data for the NodeB (3), and the NodeB (3) receives from the above data an IP address, for example, 20.1.2.3, for normal operation. According to this IP address, an IPAP channel is established for the normal operation of NodeV. After that, the route originally created in USK is deleted.

As described above, the method of this invention can be used to establish a control and operation channel for NodeB in any network configurations. When using this control and operating channel, a normal IPAP channel can be set by default to output the correct configuration data.

Note that the above configuration operations can be performed automatically by software developed with the method described in this invention, in the control and operation center.

Claims (5)

1. A method of configuring a base station in a wireless communication system, namely, that (1) determine whether the base station to be configured is connected directly to the remote network controller (USC), if so, set the default control and operation channel between the control and operation center and the base station to be configured, and the control and operation center configures data for this base station on the aforementioned control and operation channel, and thereby complete the configuration operation, if not, (2) identify the base station (s) of the upper level, which (s) is connected (s) to the USK via the connection channel between the base station and the control and operation center, and set the default control and operation channel between the control and operation center and the base station to be configured through the base station (s) of the upper level, while the control and operation center configures data for the base station via the control and operation channel by default, and thereby complete the configuration operation rations. 2. The method for configuring a base station according to claim 1, wherein the establishment of a control and operation channel between the control and operation center and the base station in step (1) further comprises the steps of (21) the control and operation center sets the route to USK, and (22) along this route, the default IP address corresponding to the IPAP channel (Internet protocol for asynchronous transfer mode) by default of the base station is mapped to the port of the base station that connects to the USK, so that the control and operation channel is set between control and operation center and base station. 3. The method for configuring a base station according to claim 2, in which step (1) further includes the following steps before the end of the configuration operation, in which (31) the control and operation center provides the configuration data required by the base station for normal operation to the base station via said control and operation channel, while the base station receives an IP address for normal operation and sets the IPAP channel according to this IP address, and (32) delete the route established in the USK by the control and operation center in step (21). 4. The method for configuring a base station according to claim 1, wherein establishing a default control and operation channel between the control and operation center and the base station to be configured through the upper level base stations in step (2) further comprises steps in which (41) switch the output ports of all the base stations of the upper level to the input ports; (42) the control and operation center sets the route to USK, and (43) the default IP address corresponding to the IPAP channel of the base station to be configured is displayed on this route to the top-level base station port, which is directly connected to the USK, so that the control and operation channel is installed between the control and operation center and to be configured by the base station. 5. The method for configuring a base station according to claim 4, in which step (2) further includes the following steps before the end of the configuration operation, in which (31) the control and operation center provides the configuration data required by the base station for normal operation to the base station via said control and operation channel, while the base station receives an IP address for normal operation and sets the IPAP channel according to this IP address, and (32) delete the route established in the USK by the control and operation center in step (42).

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