WO2014154296A1 - Procédé et appareil pour acheminer des paquets jusqu'à un nœud b avec une grande cellule ou un nœud avec une petite cellule - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil pour acheminer des paquets jusqu'à un nœud b avec une grande cellule ou un nœud avec une petite cellule Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014154296A1
WO2014154296A1 PCT/EP2013/056757 EP2013056757W WO2014154296A1 WO 2014154296 A1 WO2014154296 A1 WO 2014154296A1 EP 2013056757 W EP2013056757 W EP 2013056757W WO 2014154296 A1 WO2014154296 A1 WO 2014154296A1
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Prior art keywords
cell
information
data
enb
macro
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PCT/EP2013/056757
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English (en)
Inventor
Antti Anton Toskala
Harri Kalevi Holma
Esa Markus Metsala
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Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy
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Priority to PCT/EP2013/056757 priority Critical patent/WO2014154296A1/fr
Publication of WO2014154296A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014154296A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W40/00—Communication routing or communication path finding
    • H04W40/34—Modification of an existing route
    • H04W40/36—Modification of an existing route due to handover
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/04—Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus and in particular but not exclusively to methods and apparatus for use where there are larger and smaller- cells in a communication network.
  • a communication system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more nodes such as fixed or mobile devices, machine-type terminals, access nodes such as base stations, servers and so on.
  • a communication system and compatible communicating entities typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various entities associated with the system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved.
  • the standards, specifications and related protocols can define the manner how devices shall communicate, how various aspects of communications shall be implemented and how devices for use in the system shall be configured.
  • a user can access the communication system by means of an appropriate communication device.
  • a communication device of a user is often referred to as user equipment (UE) or terminal.
  • UE user equipment
  • a communication device is provided with an appropriate signal receiving and transmitting arrangement for enabling communications with other parties.
  • a device such as a user equipment is used for enabling receiving and transmission of communications such as speech and content data.
  • Wireless systems include public land mobile networks (PLMN) such as cellular networks, satellite based communication systems and different wireless local networks, for example wireless local area networks (WLAN).
  • PLMN public land mobile networks
  • WLAN wireless local area networks
  • a communication device provides a transceiver station that can communicate with another communication device such as e.g. a base station of an access network and/or another user equipment.
  • the two directions of communications between a base station and communication devices of users have been conventionally referred to as downlink and uplink.
  • Downlink (DL) can be understood as the direction from the base station to the communication device and uplink (UL) the direction from the communication device to the base station.
  • Some systems may have a number of small-cells overlying larger or macro-cells.
  • the small-cells may share the same carrier with the macro-cell or use different carriers.
  • a method comprising: receiving information at an apparatus configured to communicate with a large-cell and at least one small-cell at least partially overlapping with said large-cell; and routing data received at said apparatus from a network entity to at least one of said large cell and said at least one small cell, in dependence on said received information.
  • said method comprises updating a routing table.
  • routing table is stored in said apparatus.
  • said updating a routing table comprises updating internet protocol address information stored in said routing table.
  • said received information comprises an instruction for said apparatus to route said data to a base station of said at least one small cell, without sending said data to a base station of said large cell.
  • said information is received in an advert.
  • said information is received in an open shortest path first advert.
  • said address information comprises at least one of outgoing interface information and next-hop address information.
  • said method comprises re-routing a pre-existing data-stream.
  • said re-routing comprises re-routing an internet protocol tunnel.
  • said information is received at said apparatus in response to at least one of: user equipment mobility; cell-load; user activity; transport card loading at a base station in the large cell.
  • said information is received from a base station in the large cell.
  • said apparatus comprises one of a router and a switch.
  • a computer program comprising computer executable instructions which when run on one or more processors perform the method described above.
  • an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive information; and route data received at said apparatus from a network entity to at least one of a large cell and at least one small cell partially overlapping with said large cell, in dependence on said received information.
  • said apparatus being configured to update a routing table.
  • routing table is stored in said apparatus.
  • said apparatus being configured to update internet protocol address information stored in said routing table.
  • said received information comprises an instruction for said apparatus to route said data to a base station of said at least one small cell, without sending said data to a base station of said large cell.
  • said apparatus is configured to receive said information in an advert.
  • said apparatus is configured to receive said information in an open shortest path first advert.
  • said address information comprises at least one of outgoing interface information and next-hop address information.
  • Preferably said apparatus is configured to re-route a pre-existing data-stream.
  • said re-routing comprises re-routing an internet protocol tunnel.
  • said apparatus is configured to receive said information in response to at least one of: user equipment mobility; cell-load; user activity; transport card loading at a base station in the large cell.
  • said apparatus is configured to receive said information from a base station in the large cell.
  • said apparatus comprises one of a router and a switch.
  • an apparatus comprising means for receiving information; and means for routing data received at said apparatus from a network entity to at least one of a large cell and at least one small cell partially overlapping with said large cell, in dependence on said received information.
  • said apparatus comprises means for updating a routing table.
  • said apparatus comprises means for storing said routing table.
  • said apparatus comprises means for updating internet protocol address information stored in said routing table.
  • said received information comprises an instruction for said apparatus to route said data to a base station of said at least one small cell, without sending said data to a base station of said large cell.
  • said apparatus comprises means for receiving said information in an advert.
  • said apparatus comprises means for receiving said information in an open shortest path first advert.
  • said address information comprises at least one of outgoing interface information and next-hop address information.
  • said apparatus comprises means for re-routing a pre-existing data- stream.
  • said re-routing comprises re-routing an internet protocol tunnel.
  • said apparatus comprises means for receiving said information in response to at least one of: user equipment mobility; cell-load; user activity; transport card loading at a base station in the large cell.
  • said apparatus comprises means for receiving said information from a base station in the large cell.
  • said apparatus comprises one of a router and a switch.
  • a method comprising sending information from a first apparatus to a second apparatus configured to communicate with a large-cell and at least one small-cell at least partially overlapping with said large-cell; said sent information comprising information for use by said second apparatus for routing data from a network entity to at least one of said large cell and said at least one small cell, in dependence on said sent information.
  • said method comprises sending information for updating a routing table.
  • routing table is stored in said second apparatus.
  • said sent information comprises information for updating internet protocol address information stored in said routing table.
  • said sent information comprises an instruction for said second apparatus to route said data to a base station of said at least one small cell, without sending said data to a base station of said large cell.
  • Preferably said information is sent in an advert.
  • Preferably said information is sent in an open shortest path first advert.
  • said address information comprises at least one of outgoing interface information and next-hop address information.
  • Preferably said method comprises sending information for re-routing a pre-existing data-stream.
  • said re-routing comprises re-routing an internet protocol tunnel.
  • Preferably said information is sent to said second apparatus in response to at least one of: user equipment mobility; cell-load; user activity; transport card loading at a base station in the large cell.
  • said information is sent from a base station in the large cell.
  • said second apparatus comprises one of a router and a switch.
  • a computer program comprising computer executable instructions which when run on one or more processors perform the method described above.
  • an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: send information to a second apparatus configured to communicate with a large-cell and at least one small-cell at least partially overlapping with said large-cell; said sent information comprising information for use by said second apparatus for routing data from a network entity to at least one of said large cell and said at least one small cell, in dependence on said sent information.
  • said apparatus is configured to send information for updating a routing table.
  • said routing table is stored in said second apparatus.
  • said sent information comprises information for updating internet protocol address information stored in said routing table.
  • said apparatus is configured to send information comprising an instruction for said second apparatus to route said data to a base station of said at least one small cell, without sending said data to a base station of said large cell.
  • said apparatus is configured to send said information in an advert.
  • Preferably said information is sent in an open shortest path first advert.
  • said address information comprises at least one of outgoing interface information and next-hop address information.
  • Preferably said apparatus is configured to send information for re-routing a preexisting data-stream.
  • said re-routing comprises re-routing an internet protocol tunnel.
  • said apparatus is configured to send said information to said second apparatus in response to at least one of: user equipment mobility; cell-load; user activity; transport card loading at a base station in the large cell.
  • said information is sent from a base station in the large cell.
  • said second apparatus comprises one of a router and a switch.
  • an apparatus comprising means for sending information to a second apparatus configured to communicate with a large-cell and at least one small-cell at least partially overlapping with said large-cell; said sent information comprising information for use by said second apparatus for routing data from a network entity to at least one of said large cell and said at least one small cell, in dependence on said sent information.
  • said apparatus is configured to send information for updating a routing table.
  • said routing table is stored in said second apparatus.
  • said sent information comprises information for updating internet protocol address information stored in said routing table.
  • said apparatus is configured to send information comprising an instruction for said second apparatus to route said data to a base station of said at least one small cell, without sending said data to a base station of said large cell.
  • said apparatus is configured to send said information in an advert.
  • Preferably said information is sent in an open shortest path first advert.
  • said address information comprises at least one of outgoing interface information and next-hop address information.
  • said apparatus is configured to send information for re-routing a preexisting data-stream.
  • said re-routing comprises re-routing an internet protocol tunnel.
  • said apparatus is configured to send said information to said second apparatus in response to at least one of: user equipment mobility; cell-load; user activity; transport card loading at a base station in the large cell.
  • Preferably said information is sent from a base station in the large cell.
  • said second apparatus comprises one of a router and a switch.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system comprising a base station and a plurality of communication devices
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile communication device according to some embodiments
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a control apparatus according to some embodiments
  • Figure 4 schematically illustrates a high speed user equipment moving through a macro-cell
  • Figure 5 shows certain elements of a communication network
  • Figure 6 shows an alternative example of certain elements of a communication network according to an embodiment
  • Figure 7 shows a modified version of the embodiment of Figure 6;
  • Figure 8 shows certain elements of a communication system according to another embodiment
  • Figure 9 shows certain elements of a communication system according to another embodiment
  • Figure 10 shows certain elements of a communication system according to another embodiment.
  • a wireless communication system mobile communication devices or user equipment (UE) 102, 103, 105 are provided wireless access via at least one base station or similar wireless transmitting and/or receiving node or point.
  • UE user equipment
  • FIG. 1 an example of two overlapping access systems or radio service areas of a cellular system 100 and 1 10 and three smaller radio service areas 1 15, 1 17 and 1 1 9 provided by base stations 106, 107, 1 16, 1 18 and 1 20 are shown.
  • Each mobile communication device and base station may have one or more radio channels open at the same time and may send signals to and/or receive signals from more than one source.
  • the radio service area borders or edges are schematically shown for illustration purposes only in Figure 1 . It shall also be understood that the sizes and shapes of radio service areas may vary considerably from the shapes of Figure 1 .
  • a base station site can provide one or more cells.
  • a base station can also provide a plurality of sectors, for example three radio sectors, each sector providing a cell or a subarea of a cell. All sectors within a cell may be served by the same base station.
  • Base stations are typically controlled by at least one appropriate controller apparatus so as to enable operation thereof and management of mobile communication devices in communication with the base stations.
  • control apparatus 108 and 109 is shown to control the respective macro level base stations 106 and 107.
  • the control apparatus of a base station can be interconnected with other control entities.
  • the control apparatus is typically provided with memory capacity and at least one data processor.
  • the control apparatus and functions may be distributed between a plurality of control units. In some systems, the control apparatus may additionally or alternatively be provided in a radio network controller.
  • LTE systems may however be considered to have a so-called "flat" architecture, without the provision of RNCs; rather the (e)NB is coupled to a serving gateway (S- GW) and/or mobility management entity (MME), which entities may also be pooled meaning that a plurality of these nodes may serve a plurality (set) of (e)NBs.
  • S- GW serving gateway
  • MME mobility management entity
  • Each UE is served by only one MME and/or S-GW at a time and the (e)NB keeps track of current association.
  • base stations 106 and 107 are shown as connected to a wider communications network 1 1 3 via gateway 1 1 2.
  • a further gateway function may be provided to connect to another network.
  • the smaller base stations 1 16, 1 18 and 120 may also be connected to the network 1 13, for example by a separate gateway function and/or via the controllers of the macro level stations.
  • stations 1 16 and 1 18 are connected via a gateway 1 1 1 whilst station 120 connects via the controller apparatus 1 08.
  • the smaller stations may not be provided.
  • a possible mobile communication device will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 2 showing a schematic, partially sectioned view of a communication device 102.
  • a communication device is often referred to as user equipment (UE) or terminal.
  • An appropriate mobile communication device may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals.
  • Non- limiting examples include a mobile station (MS) or mobile device such as a mobile phone or what is known as a 'smart phone', a computer provided with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facility, personal data assistant (PDA) provided with wireless communication capabilities, or any combinations of these or the like.
  • a mobile communication device may provide, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and so on.
  • Non-limiting examples of these services include two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services or simply an access to a data communications network system, such as the Internet. Users may also be provided broadcast or multicast data.
  • Non-limiting examples of the content include downloads, television and radio programs, videos, advertisements, various alerts and other information.
  • the mobile device 102 may receive signals over an air interface 207 via appropriate apparatus for receiving and may transmit signals via appropriate apparatus for transmitting radio signals.
  • transceiver apparatus is designated schematically by block 206.
  • the transceiver apparatus 206 may be provided for example by means of a radio part and associated antenna arrangement.
  • the antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the mobile device.
  • a wireless communication device can be provided with a Multiple Input / Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna system.
  • MIMO arrangements as such are known. MIMO systems use multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver along with advanced digital signal processing to improve link quality and capacity.
  • multiple antennas can be provided, for example at base stations and mobile stations, and the transceiver apparatus 206 of Figure 2 can provide a plurality of antenna ports. More data can be received and/or sent where there are more antenna elements.
  • a station may comprise an array of multiple antennas. Signalling and muting patterns can be associated with TX antenna numbers or port numbers of MIMO arrangements.
  • a mobile device is typically provided with at least one data processing entity 201 , at least one memory 202 and other possible components 203 for use in software and hardware aided execution of tasks it is designed to perform, including control of access to and communications with access systems and other communication devices.
  • the data processing, storage and other relevant control apparatus can be provided on an appropriate circuit board and/or in chipsets. This feature is denoted by reference 204.
  • the user may control the operation of the mobile device by means of a suitable user interface such as key pad 205, voice commands, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof or the like.
  • a display 208, a speaker and a microphone can be also provided.
  • a mobile communication device may comprise appropriate connectors (either wired or wireless) to other devices and/or for connecting external accessories, for example hands-free equipment, thereto.
  • Figure 3 shows an example of a control apparatus for a communication system, for example to be coupled to and/or for controlling a station of an access system, such as a base station.
  • base stations comprise a separate control apparatus.
  • the control apparatus can be another network element such as a radio network controller.
  • each base station may have such a control apparatus as well as a control apparatus being provided in a radio network controller.
  • the control apparatus 1 09 can be arranged to provide control on communications in the service area of the system.
  • the control apparatus 109 comprises at least one memory 301 , at least one data processing unit 302, 303 and an input/output interface 304. Via the interface the control apparatus can be coupled to a receiver and a transmitter of the base station. For example the control apparatus 109 can be configured to execute an appropriate software code to provide the control functions.
  • the communication devices 1 02, 1 03, 1 05 may access the communication system based on various access techniques, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), or wideband CDMA (WCDMA).
  • CDMA code division multiple access
  • WCDMA wideband CDMA
  • Other non-limiting examples comprise time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA) and various schemes thereof such as the interleaved frequency division multiple access (IFDMA), single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), space division multiple access (SDMA) and so on.
  • TDMA time division multiple access
  • FDMA frequency division multiple access
  • IFDMA interleaved frequency division multiple access
  • SC-FDMA single carrier frequency division multiple access
  • OFDMA orthogonal frequency division multiple access
  • SDMA space division multiple access
  • LTE Long-term evolution
  • UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
  • LTE- A LTE Advanced
  • E-UTRAN Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network
  • Base stations of such systems are known as evolved or enhanced Node Bs (eNBs) and may provide E-UTRAN features such as user plane Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control/Physical layer protocol (RLC/M AC/PHY) and control plane Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol terminations towards the communication devices.
  • E-UTRAN features such as user plane Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control/Physical layer protocol (RLC/M AC/PHY) and control plane Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol terminations towards the communication devices.
  • RLC/M AC/PHY Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control/Physical layer protocol
  • RRC Radio Resource Control
  • Other examples of radio access system include those provided by base stations of systems that are based on technologies such as wireless local area network (WLAN) and/or WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access).
  • WLAN wireless local area network
  • WiMax Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
  • mobility state estimation MSE of a UE be used to improve the performance of a HetNet system where there is movement of a UE.
  • One option which has been considered is to update the MSE event count by different values that depend on the cell type.
  • the eNB may for example carry out MSE or have MSE information and thus will have information about the mobility of UEs.
  • one or more lower power and/or interference modes may be provided.
  • a lower power mode may be achieved by one or more of reducing the number of signals transmitted, reducing the number of different frequencies used, changing the power with which signals are transmitted, switching off one or more components, putting one or more components into a lower power mode such as a standby mode and reducing the amount of time for which the base station is in an active mode.
  • a lower power mode may be a sleep or dormant mode.
  • dynamic sleep/active mode transitions for small-cells may be an effective way for energy saving.
  • a sleep mode or dormant mode for small-cells could be reflected in a diverse number of ways.
  • a small-cell in sleep or dormant mode could turn off its transmission totally, or only transmit a discovery signal or a cell identification signal, or only transmit one or some reference signal, or transmit some signals infrequently etc. It should be appreciated that any of the described embodiments can be applied to any lower power or interference mode.
  • a dynamic sleep/active mode transition scheme based on user activity detection may be used with small- cells. If an active UE is detected in the coverage area of a small-cell, that small-cell may switch from sleep to active mode and activate its pilot signal transmission. In one approach detection based on interference over thermal (loT) may be used to detect uplink transmissions. In another approach detection of uplink reference signals (UL RS) may be used by the small-cell for the detection of uplink transmissions.
  • LoT interference over thermal
  • UL RS uplink reference signals
  • inter-frequency small-cell discovery is that an inter-frequency small- cell can transmit a discovery signal in macro frequency layer to facilitate small-cell discovery for a UE which is in the macro-cell without frequent inter-frequency measurement. This is where the macro-cell and the small-cell use different frequencies.
  • Some embodiments are used where a relatively fast moving user equipment passes through a HetNet environment where a number of small-cells are deployed within the coverage of a macro-cell, as shown in Figure 4.
  • a macro-cell 400 is served by a macro base station 401 . Overlying the macro-cell 400 are, in this example, four small-cells.
  • the first small-cell 402 is served by a base station 403.
  • the second small-cell 404 is served by a base station 405.
  • the third small-cell 406 is served by base station 407
  • the fourth small-cell 408 is served by base station 409.
  • the four small-cells are within the coverage area of the macro-cell 400.
  • One or more of the small-cells 403, 405, 407 and 409 may be only partially in the coverage area of the macro-cell 400, and may be also in the coverage area of another macro-cell (not shown).
  • a user equipment 410 is in a vehicle which travels through the macro-cell 400 relatively fast. It should be appreciated that the number of small-cells shown in Figure 4 is by way of example only and in other embodiments fewer or more than four small-cells may be provided which at least partially overlap the macro-cell.
  • FIG. 5 shows another network scenario.
  • a macro-cell 500 is controlled by a macro-eNB 502.
  • Pico-cells 504 and 506 are located within macro-cell 500.
  • Pico-cell 504 is controlled by pico-eNB 508, and pico-cell 506 is controlled by pico- eNB 510.
  • the macro-cell 500 generally operate on a frequency F1 , however pico- cell 51 0 provides a dedicated carrier on frequency F2.
  • Pico-cell 504 provides a co-channel area 51 1 and an extended coverage area 512 with Range Extension (RE). and Enhanced Inter-cell Interference-Coordination (elCIC).
  • RE is a handover parameter modification to push the cell range for the co- channel small-cell.
  • Region 514 of macro-cell 506 provides an area with inter-site carrier aggregation.
  • the inter-site carrier aggregation can use both the F1 (macro) and F2 (pico) frequencies together.
  • the physical connection from the macro-eNB 502 to pico-NodeBs 508 and 510 may comprise fibre optic cables, copper cables, or microwave radio.
  • a user equipment 516 is located in pico-cell 504.
  • User equipment 516 communicates with macro-eNB 502 on carrier 518.
  • the UE 516 communicates with pico-NodeB 508 on carrier 520.
  • a user equipment 522 is located in pico-cell 506.
  • User equipment 522 communicates with macro-eNB 502 on a carrier 524.
  • the user equipment 522 communicates with the pico-NodeB 510 on carrier 526.
  • Carriers 524 and 526 are aggregated.
  • the term “macro-cell” may also be used interchangeably with the term “large-cell” or "larger-cell”.
  • the term “pico-cell” may be used interchangeably with the terms "micro-cell", or "small-cell” or "smaller-cell”.
  • a large cell is larger than a small or pico-cell, and that a small or pico-cell is smaller than a large cell.
  • entities comprising the system shown in Figure 5 are by way of example only, and that in other embodiments the macro-cell 500 may be of a different size (larger or smaller), and that there may be any number of small-cells within the macro-cell 500. Each small- cell may also be larger or smaller than as shown in Figure 5. Each small-cell may be fully contained within the macro-cell 500, or may partially overlap with the macro-cell 500.
  • each small-cell may have only a limited coverage area.
  • each small-cell may only be visible for a moving user or user equipment for a short time instant.
  • macro-assisted small-cells may be provided, where the macro-cell(s) provide a role in the connection between the small-cell and the user equipment. This role may comprise duties such as traffic routing and scheduling.
  • the macro-cell may also act as a backup solution if the small-cell connection is lost when a radio link failure (RLF) occurs between the user equipment and the small-cell.
  • RLF radio link failure
  • the macro-cell processing capacity may experience congestion with large traffic volumes.
  • HW hardware
  • processing capacity for example a transport card in the macro base station
  • Increasing the processing capacity of the macro- cell to account for the possibility of additional future small-cells may increase initial implementation costs.
  • FIG. 6 shows an example of a system architecture in which a large-cell (macro- cell 602) and a small-cell (pico-cell 604) may operate.
  • the system is shown generally at 600.
  • the macro-cell 602 is controlled by macro-eNB 604.
  • Pico-cell 604, which is controlled by pico-eNB 606, resides within macro-cell 602.
  • Positioned between the macro-eNB 604 and the pico-eNB 606 is a site-switch, or routing or switching apparatus, 608.
  • the site-switch 608 can arrange connectivity between eNB and a mobility management entity (MME) 610 on an S1 -MME interface 612.
  • MME mobility management entity
  • S-GW serving gateway
  • the macro-eNB 604 can communicate with the site router 608 on interfaces 618 and 620.
  • One or more of the interfaces 618 and 620 may be an X2 interface.
  • the pico-eNB 606 communicates with the site router 608 on interfaces 622 and 624.
  • One or more of the interfaces 622 and 624 maybe an X2 interface.
  • the pico-eNB 606 can communicate with a user equipment 626 located in pico-cell 604, via interface 628.
  • the data which is destined for UE 626 may always be sent to macro-eNB 604 first, before being sent to pico-eNB 606 via site router 608. This may be the case irrespective of the load on the macro-eNB 604.
  • the MME 610 can communicate with S-GW 614 via interface 630.
  • Figure 7 shows an embodiment. Those elements which operate in the same manner as described in Figure 6 are not described in detail again. In the embodiment of Figure 7 the pico-eNB 606' can communicate bi-directionally with site router 608' on interfaces 622' and 624'.
  • One or both of the interfaces 622' and 624' may be X2 interfaces.
  • one or more of downlink data destined for the pico-eNB 606', and uplink data sent from the pico-eNB 606', can be sent via site router 608' without that data being sent to the macro-eNB.
  • the site router 608' may in some embodiments receive a message from another entity informing the site router 608' to direct data destined for pico-eNB 606' directly to the pico-eNB 606', without first sending that data to macro-eNB 603'.
  • the information comprising the instruction to the site router 608' to send subsequent data directly to the pico-eNB 604' may be received from the macro- eNB 603'.
  • the instruction may be received from another network entity, such as the MME 610 or the S-GW 614.
  • this information is sent to the site router 608' before the data destined for the pico-eNB 606' is sent. Therefore when this data is received at the site router 608', it knows to forward it directly to pico-eNB 606', rather than forwarding it to macro-eNB 603' first.
  • a pre-existing data-stream can be modified so that it can be sent directly from site router 608' to pico-eNB 606'.
  • a data-stream may already be in flow, for example operating in the manner as shown in Figure 6 where it is sent to the macro-eNB 603 before being forwarded to the pico-eNB 606.
  • the site router 608 may receive information instructing the site router to direct that data-stream directly to pico-eNB 606, without first sending it to macro-eNB 603. This information may be received from macro-eNB 603. Alternatively this instruction may be received from another network entity, such as MME 610 or S-GW 614. Following the receipt of this information the site router 608 will begin re-directing that data-stream directly to pico-eNB 606', as per the embodiment of Figure 7.
  • the information may include an instruction to the site router 608 to send a certain proportion of data from the data-stream directly to pico-eNB 606', and to allow the remainder of the data-stream to be first sent to macro-eNB 603 prior to re-routing.to pico-eNB 606'.
  • the portion of the data stream may be defined at the granularity of the IP address that is used for the amount of bearers terminated to that IP address.
  • the decision to offload data from the macro-eNB 603 may be as a function of data volume. Additionally or alternatively, if it is determined that the data-stream is associated with a relatively static user who is likely to be camped on the pico-eNB 604 for a prolonged period, then this may also be a reason for offloading data responsibility from the macro-eNB 603. Other reasons for offloading data responsibility from the macro-eNB include user activity and transport card loading at the macro-eNB. This decision or determination may be made in the macro-eNB 603. Alternatively it may be made in any other network entity.
  • the entire internet protocol traffic tunnel may be moved.
  • the destination IP address of the Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers may be moved so that it no longer terminates in the macro-eNB 603, but rather terminates in the pico-eNB 606.
  • the site switch 608 may comprise a routing table, forwarding table, a MAC address filtering table, or some other construct that can forward packets based on IP or MAC addresses, or on information based on IP addresses, such as Multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) labels.
  • MPLS Multi-protocol label switching
  • some embodiments comprise a way of moving the IP address, and then informing the site switch of how the IP address can be reached in its new location so that all the bearers related to the specific IP address can be forwarded to the correct destination.
  • the IP address may be an IPv4 or IPv6 address.
  • the forwarding/filtering table instructs the site switch about where the destination address resides, and allows the related data-streams of certain end users to be forwarded to either the macro or pico-eNB.
  • the modification of the IP address need not be made known to the core network. Therefore the process may be transparent to the core network.
  • radio network signalling (on the X2 interface) between the macro and the small-cell triggers the respective route updates.
  • This method may work with any routing protocol, with static routes that are tracked by some detection method such as ICMP or BFD as examples, or with Ethernet switches and gratuitous ARPs.
  • the site routers such as site router 608 may have a large capacity in comparison with an individual macro-cell transport card. For example the site router may have a capacity in the region of 60 Gbits. The site router may therefore have better capacity than the macro-cell for handling the traffic.
  • balancing of the macro-cell load may be achieved with dynamic moving of the small-cell traffic termination point, should the macro-cell become congested. Accordingly in some embodiments the macro-cell does not have to be dimensioned to handle the small-cell traffic. This effect may be increased where there are a number of small-cells operating with the macro-cell.
  • Figures 6 and 7 show use of a site router 608 and 608' respectively for routing information from the network to the macro-eNB 603 (or 603') and the pico-eNB 606 (or 606').
  • a switch may be used in place of a router.
  • the switch may be an Ethernet switch.
  • the macro-eNB may signal this to the pico-eNB by a radio network signalling message of the form "all users served by the IP address designated shall be moved to the pico-eNB". For example this message could be sent directly from macro-eNB 603' to pico-eNB 606' on an X2 interface. Following this signalling the IP address of the macro-eNB related to those users is moved to the pico-eNB. In embodiments this means that the macro-eNB no longer responds to that IP address or receives/sends IP packets with this address, and the pico-eNB now responds to this IP address and receives/sends packets with this address.
  • This signalling message can be used to instruct to move user plane, control plane or both between the macro and pico cells.
  • the procedure may differ according to whether an IP router is used or whether an ethernet switch is used. Where an IP router is used this may be used in conjunction with routing protocol in the eNBs or with no routing protocol.
  • Figure 8 considers a situation where an IP router 808 is used with routing protocol. The router 808 is connected to pico-eNB 806 and macro-eNB 803.
  • the router 808 is also connected to MME 810 and SGW 814 via node 809 which could be e.g. another router.
  • Router 808 comprises addresses IP2, IP4 and IP5 as network interface IP addresses.
  • the network interface with address IP4 of router 808 connects to network interface with address IP3 of pico-eNB 806.
  • Pico-eNB 806 further comprises application (virtual) IP addresses IP12 and IP33.
  • the network interface with address IP2 of router 808 is connected to network interface with address IP1 of macro-eNB 803.
  • Macro-eNB 803 further comprises application IP addresses IP1 1 , IP12 and IP1 3.
  • IP addresses are in this example allocated to the network interfaces as IP addresses IP1 , IP2, IP3, IP4 and IP5, and in addition application (virtual) IP addresses IP1 1 , IP12, IP13 are configured in the macro-eNB and application (virtual) IP addresses IP12 and IP33 are configured in the pico-eNB.
  • the application addresses are used as source and/or destination addresses for the following traffic types:
  • IP12 (shaded), as an application address for the S1 -U, is configured to both the macro-eNB 803 and pico-eNB (806), but it is active at one time only in either one, as instructed by the radio network signalling over X2.
  • S1 -MME is terminated to macro-eNB 803.
  • X2C messages are carried between IP addresses IP13 and IP33.
  • Router 808 is used as the interconnecting element, and OSPF routing protocol is operated in the macro-eNB 803, router 808, and pico-eNB 806. Paths to all destination addresses may be learned via OSPF advertisements.
  • OSPF may inform the router how to reach this destination in its new location. After an update of the routing table (and the active forwarding table of the router) in 808, packets will be delivered to the correct destination.
  • Router 808 may receive data from MME 810 and SGW 814, via node 809.
  • the router 808 comprises an address or routing table as explained earlier, which is used for determining the destination of the received data.
  • the above describes one possible implementation to illustrate the principle.
  • the number of IP addresses may of course differ. In some embodiments there may be no need for application addresses, as the applications may e.g. use different network interface addresses.
  • VLANs may optionally be configured for the Ethernet interfaces.
  • the network interfaces may in general be any interface suitable for IP packets. Instead of OSPF, some other routing protocol may be used.
  • a routing protocol is provided for the macro-eNB 803 and the pico e-NB 806, and at the IP router 808.
  • OSPF pico- eNB 806 may advertise an IP address that has been moved from macro-eNB 803, and similarly macro-eNB 803 may advertise the new status. This advertisement may be visible to everyone within the OSPF area.
  • the OSPF area would for example encompass pico-eNBs, the site router, the macro-eNB 803, router 809, and potentially even other macro-eNBs.
  • Information regarding the destination networks may be advertised by OSPF by link state advertisements.
  • the IP router 808 When the IP router 808 has updated this information in its routing table and its active forwarding table, it starts routing packets to the pico-eNB 806. Accordingly users served via this IP address are now served by the pico-eNB 806. Accordingly the pico-eNB 806 and the macro-eNB 803 actively source OSPF advertisement messages which are then transmitted to the whole OSPF area by every OSPF router in the area.
  • OSPF OSPF
  • other routing protocols e.g. RIP, IS-IS or other protocols may be used, with differences in the way the networks are informed of and learned by the router 808.
  • IPv6 transport there are differences in the details of the operation, e. g. the routing protocol needs to support IPv6, e. g.
  • embodiments may provide the capability to move the termination point at least for the user plane traffic coming from SGW (814).
  • the control plane traffic coming from MME (81 0) may not have such a large volume, and therefore moving the control plane traffic may not be necessary.
  • either only user plane or both user plane and control plane traffic could be moved to go directly to the pico-eNB (and then to go back directly to macro-eNB).
  • the control plane is moved, similarly the IP address related to that traffic type shall be instructed to be moved by the radio network signalling X2C message, and then the IP address shall be advertised similarly as described for the user plane.
  • Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment in which a router 908 is used with no routing protocol.
  • the router 908 being connected to pico-eNB 906 and macro-eNB 903.
  • the application addresses of the user plane are tracked e.g. by internet control message protocol (ICMP) or bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) between the macro-eNB 903 and the router 908, and between the pico-eNB 906 and the router 908.
  • ICMP internet control message protocol
  • BFD bidirectional forwarding detection
  • the IP router 908 detects by the detection method (BFD, ICMP, etc) that the specific destination is no longer reachable and withdraws the corresponding route from its routing table.
  • the router 908 may then detect by the detection method (BFD, ICMP, etc) that the specific destination is reachable via another path, and installs this route to its routing table. After the detection and withdrawal/installation of routes, the packets will again reach the correct destination.
  • the detection method BFD, ICMP, etc
  • IPv4 transport the principle described is valid for IPv6 transport as well, with differences in details of the protocols required.
  • FIG. 1 0 shows an alternative embodiment in which a switch 1 008 is used in place of router 808 and 908.
  • the switch 1008 may be an L2 Ethernet switch.
  • the switch 1008 is in communication with the network via MME 1010 and SGW 1014 (and node 1009, which would typically be a router).
  • the switch 1 008 is also in communication with pico-eNB 1006 and macro-eNB 1003.
  • the pico-eNB 1006 may send gratuitous address resolution protocol (ARP) messages and subsequently the IP layer elements receiving this (such as e. g. the IP router 1009 of Figure 1 0) learn the MAC address of the IP address of the pico-eNB in question.
  • ARP gratuitous address resolution protocol
  • Ethernet frames to be sent over the bridged network can now be constructed with the correct MAC address.
  • the Ethernet switch may bridge Ethernet frames using e.g. standard IEEE802.1 D / IEEE802.1 Q bridging with unknown unicast and broadcast frame flooding, MAC address learning, and a MAC address filtering table.
  • VLAN-aware bridging may optionally be used if so wished e.g. by configuring one VLAN for the S1 -U and another one for the X2C.
  • Ethernet switching there may be no requirement for any routing protocol, but instead it may be sufficient that the gratuitous ARP is sent by the pico-eNB 1006.
  • gratuitous ARP is sent by the pico-eNB 1006.
  • IPv6 transport the principle remains the same, however e.g. instead of ARP, IPv6 ICMPv6 protocols are used for neighbour discovery, and the Ethernet switch may need to bridge frames with the Ethertype allocated for IPv6.
  • case 1 a router with a routing protocol
  • case 2) a router with static routes
  • case 3 an Ethernet switch
  • site switch implementation that all can support optimization of the traffic flow between macro and pico eNBs.
  • site switch technologies such as MPLS
  • MPLS may also be used in the site switch, and in general any technology where forwarding packets can be done based on IP destination addresses in the packets.
  • Different implementations of the site switch are beneficial as the implementation can thus be better suited to the particular needs, and for example in dependence on the technology an operator prefers to use for the site switches.
  • an Ethernet switch may yield a low cost implementation
  • an IP router with routing protocol may be more flexible and offer further functionality and also better isolation of the traffic types.
  • the base stations or pico and macro-eNBs may comprise the features of a control apparatus as described with respect to Figure 3.
  • the eNB may comprise memory means in the form of a memory 301 , processing means in the form of processing units 302 and 303, and radio or transceiver means connected to input/output interface 304.
  • the data processors may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), gate level circuits and processors based on multi core processor architecture, as non limiting examples.
  • the data processing may be distributed across several data processing modules.
  • a data processor may be provided by means of, for example, at least one chip. Appropriate memory capacity can also be provided in the relevant devices.
  • the memory or memories may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory.
  • the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the invention may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the invention is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.
  • the software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD and the data variants thereof, CD.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé consistant : à recevoir des informations d'un appareil configuré pour communiquer avec une grande cellule et au moins une petite cellule qui recouvre au moins partiellement ladite grande cellule ; et à acheminer des données reçues au dit appareil, d'une entité de réseau à ladite grande cellule et/ou à ladite petite cellule, sur la base desdites informations reçues.
PCT/EP2013/056757 2013-03-28 2013-03-28 Procédé et appareil pour acheminer des paquets jusqu'à un nœud b avec une grande cellule ou un nœud avec une petite cellule WO2014154296A1 (fr)

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PCT/EP2013/056757 WO2014154296A1 (fr) 2013-03-28 2013-03-28 Procédé et appareil pour acheminer des paquets jusqu'à un nœud b avec une grande cellule ou un nœud avec une petite cellule

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PCT/EP2013/056757 WO2014154296A1 (fr) 2013-03-28 2013-03-28 Procédé et appareil pour acheminer des paquets jusqu'à un nœud b avec une grande cellule ou un nœud avec une petite cellule

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2209348A1 (fr) * 2009-01-14 2010-07-21 Nokia Siemens Networks OY Accès à un réseau simplifié
WO2012168535A1 (fr) * 2011-06-10 2012-12-13 Nokia Corporation Agrégation de porteuses

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2209348A1 (fr) * 2009-01-14 2010-07-21 Nokia Siemens Networks OY Accès à un réseau simplifié
WO2012168535A1 (fr) * 2011-06-10 2012-12-13 Nokia Corporation Agrégation de porteuses

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC: "HeNBs and X2 interface", 3GPP DRAFT; R3-082476 (X2 FOR HNBS), 3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (3GPP), MOBILE COMPETENCE CENTRE ; 650, ROUTE DES LUCIOLES ; F-06921 SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS CEDEX ; FRANCE, no. Prague, Czech Republic; 20080924, 24 September 2008 (2008-09-24), XP050323765 *

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