DESCRIPTION
[Title of Invention]
BASE STATION, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM,
COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM RECORDING MEDIUM
[Technical Field5 ]
[0001] The present invention relates to a base station, a
communication system including a base station, communication method and
recording medium for recording a program.
10 [Background Art]
[0002] A relay base station of a mobile network defined in 3GPP (3rd
Generation Partnership Project) is connected with a base station via a Un link
and constitutes a cell. The base station containing the relay base station is
referred to as a Donner eNodeB (DeNB). The DeNB transfers data between a
15 core network and the relay base station. The transfer data is sent via an S11
link.
[0003] In general, a mobile network has been cons tituted mainly by
macro base stations. Because the macro base stations each can cover a wide
area, the number of base stations to be installed by a telecommunications
20 carrier has been small. However, with the increase in the number of mobile
terminals frequently connected with the internet such as smart phones, the
necessity for installing a large number of base stations has arisen.
[0004] As a result, there has been increase in the number of
telecommunications carriers who consider installation of a pico base station or
25 a relay base station having a smaller coverage area, in addition to the macro
base stations. Accordingly, the number of cells neighboring to a certain cell
increases, and resultantly, manual creation of a neighbor cell list has become
difficult.
[0005] The neighbor cell list is a list which is referred to at a time of
3
determining a cell to be a movement destination for a mobile terminal present
in the current cell when the mobile terminal is in the idle state. That is, the
neighbor cell list with respect to a certain cell is a list of cells neighboring to
the certain cell. The neighbor cell list is referred to also at a time of a base
station's determining a target cell for handover when a mobile termina5 l
present in its cell is in the RRC (Radio Resource Control) Connected state. In
general, the neighbor cell list is notified within the cell by the base station.
[0006] As a technology for setting a neighbor cell list, for example,
Non-patent Document 1 describes that a certain base station r eceives
10 information relevant to a neighbor cell list from another base station.
[0007] Further, as a document describing a related technology, Patent
Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are mentioned.
[0008] Patent Document 1 discloses a maintenance server and an
optimization terminal, where the former collects information from each base
15 station and sends it to the latter, and then the latter optimizes a neighbor cell
list on the basis of the received information.
[0009] Patent Document 2 discloses a technology related to
optimization of a neighbor cell list at a time of installing a new base station.
First, the newly installed base station sends a notification to neighbor base
20 stations thereof. Each of the base stations having received the notification
sends back a response if its distance from the newly installed base station is
equal to or smaller than a threshold value. The newly installed base station
receives the responses and then creates an optimum neighbor cell list by
listing the neighbor base stations in the order of closeness in distance.
25 [Citation List]
[Patent Literature]
[0010] [Patent Document 1]: Japanese Patent Application Laid -Open
No. 2008-153963.
[Patent Document 2]: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
4
2011-004101.
[Non Patent Literature]
[0011] [Non-patent Document 1]: 3GPP TS36.423 (V10.3.0),
"Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN); X2
application protocol (X2AP)", September 20115 .
[Summary of Invention]
[Technical Problem]
[0012] Now considered is a case where a certain cell A receives a
neighbor cell list from another cell B using the technology described in
10 Non-patent Document 1. The cell A is a cell managed by a base station A
connected to a core network A. In this case, there is a possibility that a
neighbor cell list with respect to the cell B includes even a cell managed by a
base station connected to a core network other than the core network A.
[0013] Accordingly, it may occur that a mobile terminal attempting
15 handover from the cell A performs the handover to a cell managed by a base
station connected to a core network other than the core network A. In such a
case, the time necessary for the handover process becomes longer than that for
handover between cells belonging to the same core network.
[0014] The objective of the present invention is to provide a base
20 station, a communication system, a communication method, and a recording
medium for recording a program, all of which can solve the problem described
above.
[Solution to Problem]
[0015] A base station according to the present invention is
25 characterized by including: a storage means for storing a list of cells
neighboring to a cell managed by the base station, in a manner to correlate
each of the neighboring cells with an identifier for identifying a core network
the neighboring cell belongs to; a reception means for receiving, from a base
station neighboring to the own base station, a list stored by the neighboring
5
base station; and a control means for using the received list as a list with
respect to the cell managed by the own base station.
[0016] A communication system according to the present invention is
characterized by that it is a communication system including a plurality of
base stations, wherein the base stations each include: a storage means fo5 r
storing a list of cells neighboring to a cell managed by the base station, in a
manner to correlate each of the neighboring cells with an identifier for
identifying a core network the neighboring cell belongs to; a reception means
for receiving, from a base station neighboring to the own base station, a list
10 stored by the neighboring base station; and a control means for using the
received list as a list with respect to the cell managed by the own base station.
[0017] A communication method according to the present invention is
characterized by including: receiving a cell list stored in a neighboring base
station, in which cells neighboring to the cell managed by the neighboring
15 base station are each correlated with an identifier for ident ifying a core
network the neighboring cell belongs to; and using the received list as a list
with respect to a cell managed by the own base station.
[0018] A recording medium of a program according to the present
invention is characterized by storing a program for causing a computer to
20 execute: a process of receiving a cell list, stored by a neighboring base station,
in which cells neighboring to a cell managed by the neighboring base station
are each correlated with an identifier for identifying a core ne twork the
neighboring cell belongs to; and a process of using the received list as a list
with respect to a cell managed by the own base station.
25 [Advantageous Effects of Invention]
[0019] It becomes possible to recognize to which core network each
cell included in a neighbor cell list belongs.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0020] [Fig. 1] A diagram showing a configuration according to a first
6
exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 2] A diagram showing an example of a list according to the first
exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 3] A flow chart showing operation according to the first
exemplary embodiment5 .
[Fig. 4] A diagram showing a configuration of a system according to a
second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 5] A diagram showing a configuration of a base station a ccording
to the second exemplary embodiment.
10 [Fig. 6] A diagram showing an example of a neighbor cell list
according to the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 7] A flow chart showing operation according to the second
exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 8] A flow chart showing operation according to the second
15 exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 9] A sequence diagram showing operation according to the
second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 10] A sequence diagram showing operation according to the
second exemplary embodiment.
20 [Fig. 11] A diagram showing a configuration of a system according to
a third exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 12] A diagram showing an example of statistical information
according to the third exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 13] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
25 base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 14A] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 14B] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
7
[Fig. 15] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 16A] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 16B] A diagram showing an example of information sent from 5 a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 17A] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 17B] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
10 base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 18] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 19A] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
15 [Fig. 19B] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 20A] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Fig. 20B] A diagram showing an example of information sent from a
20 base station to a pico base station in the second exemplary embodiment.
[Description of Embodiments]
[0021] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to drawings.
[0022] [First exemplary embodiment]
25 [Configuration]
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a base
station 1000 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. According to Fig. 1, the base station 1000 includes a storage means
1001, a reception means 1002 and a control means 1003. The base station
8
1000 manages a cell.
[0023] The storage means 1001 stores a list of cells (not illustrated in
the diagram) neighboring to the base station 1000. The reception means 1002
receives from a neighbor base station a list stored by the neighbor base station.
The control means 1003 uses the received li st as a list with respect to the cel5 l
managed by the base station 1000.
[0024] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a list 1100 which is
stored by the storage means 1001. The list 1100 stores the neighbor cells in a
manner to correlate each of them with an identifier for identifying a core
10 network the neighbor cell belongs to. In Fig. 2, it is shown, for example, that
the cell #a belongs to a core network identified by an identifier "A".
[0025] [Operation]
Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing a flow of operation according to the
first exemplary embodiment.
15 [0026] First, the reception means 1002 receives from a neighbor base
station a list stored by the neighbor base station (S1001).
[0027] Then, the control means 1003 uses the received list as a list
with respect to the cell managed by the base station 1000 (S1002).
[0028] [Effect]
20 As has been described above, the base station 1000 according to the
first exemplary embodiment uses a list stored by a neighbor base station as a
list with respect to the cel l managed by the base station 1000. The list stores,
for each of the cells, an identifier for identifying a core network the cell
belongs to.
25 [0029] As a result, it becomes possible to recognize to which core
network each of the cells described in the lis t belongs.
[0030] [Second exemplary embodiment]
[System configuration]
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a
9
communication system according to a second exemplary embodiment.
According to Fig. 4, the communication system according to the second
exemplary embodiment includes an MME (Mobility Management Entity) 310,
an S-GW (Saving-Gateway) 320, a base station 330 and a base station 340.
The communication system further includes a relay base station 350, a mobil5 e
terminal 361, a mobile terminal 362, and a mobile terminal 363.
[0031] The base stations 330 and 340 and a pico base station 370 are
connected with the MME 310 and the S-GW 320 via a network. Hereafter,
these base stations are each referred to simply as a base station when they are
10 not particularly distinguished from each other. Similarly, the mobile terminals
361, 362 and 363 are each referred to simply as a mobile terminal when they
are not particularly distinguished from each other.
[0032] In the example shown in Fig. 4, there are three mobile
terminals which are connected to, respectively, the base station 330, the relay
15 base station 350 and the pico base station 370.
[0033] While the communication system shown in Fig. 4 may be
constituted by any type of network, the following description will be given by
taking a network using LTE (Long Term Evolution) as an example.
[0034] First, the MME 310 has a function to send and receive control
20 signals to and from the base stations via an S1-MME link.
[0035] The S-GW 320 has a function to send and receive user data to
and from the base stations via an S1-U link.
[0036] Each of the base stations manages a cell. The base stations may
include a relay base station. In Fig. 4, the base station 340 accommodates the
25 relay base station 350. The base station 340 accommodating the relay base
station 350 is referred to also as a DeNB, as described above. Connections
between the base stations are made via an X2 link.
[0037] Here, the pico base station 370 has the same function as that of
the base station 330, but transmission power and coverage area of the pico
10
base station are both smaller than that of the base station 330.
[0038] The base station 340 and the relay base station 350 are
connected with each other via a Un link. The base station 340 has a function
to transfer data between the relay base station 350, and both of the MME 310
and the S-GW 320. Data transfer between the relay base station 350, and bot5 h
of the MME 310 and the S-GW 320 is made via an S11 link.
[0039] The devices shown in Fig. 4 have a large number of functions
in addition to those described above, but description of their detail functions
will be omitted here.
10 [0040] [Configuration of base station]
Next, a configuration of the base station will be described using Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 shows an example of a configuration of the pico base station 370. Here,
the configuration of Fig. 5 may be applied not only to the pico base station
370 but also similarly to the other base stations; that is, the base stations 330
15 and 340 and the relay base station 350.
[0041] Hereafter, a configuration and operation of the second
exemplary embodiment will be described by taking the pico base station 370
as an example, unless otherwise mentioned. As described just above, the
configuration and operation of the second exemplary embodiment described
20 below are not limited only for the pico base station 370 but may be applied
also to the base stations 330 and 340 and the relay base station 350. The pico
base station 370 may manage a plurality of cells. However, for the sake of
simplicity, the following description will be given assuming that the pico base
station 370 manages only one single cell.
25 [0042] According to Fig. 5, the pico base station 370 includes a
storage unit 371, a reception unit 372, a control unit 373, a selection unit 374
and a measurement unit 375.
[0043] The storage unit 371 stores a list of cells neighboring to the
cell managed by the pico base station 370. The neighbor cell list is a list
11
showing cells to be candidates for a target cell of handover from the pico base
station 370, as described above. The neighbor cell list stored by the storage
unit 371 will be described later in detail.
[0044] The reception unit 372 receives a neighbor cell list held by a
base station neighboring to the cell managed by the pico base station 3705 .
[0045] The control unit 373 uses the neighbor cell list of the other
base station received by the reception unit 372 as a neighbor cell list with
respect to the cell managed by the pico base station 370.
[0046] The selection unit 374 selects a base station from which a
10 neighbor cell list is to be received, on the basis of cell states of respective
neighbor base stations. The selection unit 374 receives the cell states of
neighbor base stations from the neighbor cell list stored in the storage unit
371 or from the measurement unit 375.
[0047] The measurement unit 375 measures information on neighbor
15 cells in terms of their handover frequencies, handover failure rates and the
like, and outputs the information to the selection unit 374 or the storage unit
371.
[0048] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a neighbor cell list
376 stored by the storage unit 371. In Fig. 6, cells #a, #b, #c, #d, #f and #e are
20 listed as neighbor cells. Further in Fig. 6, to each of the cells, correlated is the
identifier (core network ID) of a core network the cell belongs to. For
example, the cell #a belongs to a core network identified by the identifier "A".
Saying more precisely, that the core network ID "A" is correl ated to the cell
#a indicates that a base station managing the cell #a belongs to a core network
25 identified by the identifier "A". It can be considered to use, as the core
network identifier, a core network ID (hereafter, referred to as CN-ID), a
MME ID, a GUMMEI (Globally Unique MME ID), an S-GW ID or the like,
for example. The core network identifier may be any one which enables
identifying to which core network a base station is connected.
12
[0049] Hereafter, to simplify the description, it is assumed tha t a
CN-ID is used as the identifier for identifying a core network in the neighbor
cell list 376. Although only a CN-ID is correlated to each cell in Fig. 6, other
information may also be correlated to each cell. For example, the handover
frequency, handover success rate, handover failure rate, reception quality an5 d
the like for each cell may be stored in a manner to be correlated with the cell.
[0050] [Operation]
Hereinafter, a description will be given of operation according to the
second exemplary embodiment, taking the pico base station 370 as an example,
10 with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing operation of the pico
base station 370.
[0051] First, the selection unit 374 selects another base station from
which a neighbor cell list is to be received (S101). Here, the selection unit 374
selects the base station 330 as the base station from which a neighbor cell list
15 is to be received. The selection unit 374 requests the selected base station 330
to send a neighbor cell list.
[0052] For the request for sending a neighbor cell list made from the
pico base station 370 to the base station 330, a dedicated message may be used.
Alternatively, a message which is not a dedicated one but one described in
20 Non-patent Document 1 such as "X2 SETUP REQUEST" or "eNB
CONFIGURATION UPDATE" may be used. The pico base station 370 may
directly request the base station 330 to send a neighbor cell list, and also may
indirectly make the request via the MME 310 or the like.
[0053] Next, the reception unit 372 receives a neighbor cell list from
25 the selected base station (S102). In S102, a dedicated message may be used
for the sending of a neighbor cell list from the selected base station 330 to the
pico base station 370. Alternatively, a message which is not a dedicated one
but one described in Non-patent Document 1 such as "X2 SETUP
RESPONSE" or "eNB CONFIGURATION UPDATE" may be used.
13
[0054] A method of sending and receiving of a neighbor cell list
between the base stations in S101 and S102 will be described late r in detail.
[0055] When the reception unit 372 has received a neighbor cell list in
S102, the pico base station 370 performs operation shown as S103. The
control unit 373 optimizes the received neighbor cell list (S103). Thi5 s
optimization also will be described later in detail.
[0056] Finally, the control unit 373 uses the optimized neighbor cell
list as a neighbor cell list with respect to the cell managed by the pico base
station 370 (S104).
10 [0057] The above description has been given of an operation flow
shown in Fig. 7 in which S104 is executed after S103. However, use of the
neighbor cell list received in S102 as a neighbor cell list of the own base
station may be started without optimization, that is, without executing S103.
In that case, the optimization process shown as S103 may be performed after
15 S104 periodically or with certain timing.
[0058] The optimization shown as S103 may also be that of simply
eliminating from the neighbor cell list 376 the information on the cell of the
base station having sent the neighbor cell list 376 and on the cell of the pico
base station 370. First, it is assumed that the reception unit 372 of the pico
20 base station 370 received a neighbor cell list with respect to the cell #b from
the base station 330. At that time, the cell #b is not described as a candidate
for a target cell for handover in the neighbor cell list received from the base
station 330. Therefore, the control unit 373 of the pico base station 370 firstly
adds the cell #b to, and eliminates the cell managed by the pico base station
25 370 from, the received neighbor cell list. The pico base station 370 uses thus
created neighbor cell list as the neighbor cell list 376 with respect to the cell
managed by the pico base station 370.
[0059] [Optimization of received neighbor cell list]
Hereinafter, a description will be given of optimization of a received
14
neighbor cell list, with reference to a flow chart shown in Fig. 8.
[0060] Here, the content of operation described below corresponds to
S103 of Fig. 7. However, the operation described below may be performed,
after the series of operation up to S104 is finished, in a case the neighbor cell
list 376 is to be optimized periodically or with certain timing5 .
[0061] For convenience of explanation, the following description will
be given by assuming a target cell of the current process to be a "cell A".
[0062] First, the control unit 373 checks the frequency of handover to
each neighbor cell having occurred from the cell under its management.
10 Concurrently, the control unit 373 checks the content of a measurement report
received from a mobile terminal (S201).
[0063] Here, the measurement report is referred to as a report on the
communication quality of cells around the mobile terminal, which is sent from
the mobile terminal to the base station. More specifically, the mobile terminal
15 measures the communication quality in neighbor cells of the cell within which
it is currently performing communication and, referring to a determination
condition, determines if the measured communication quality satisfies
predetermined communication quality. In that case, the mobile terminal sends
a measurement report expressing the determination result to the base station.
20 Receiving the measurement report, the base station determines, according to
the content of the report, that handover should be performed with respect to
the mobile terminal from the cell within which the mobile terminal is
currently performing communication to another cell of better communication
quality.
25 [0064] Next, the control unit 373 determines whether or not handover
to the cell A contained in the neighbor cell list 376 has occurred during a
predetermined time period. (S202). If handover to the cell A has occurred
during the predetermined time period, the proces s on the cell A is ended.
[0065] After that, if the optimization process has not been performed
15
yet on any cell in the neighbor cell list 376, the control unit 373 may repeat
the series of operation from S201 again.
[0066] If the determination in S202 turns out to be that no handover to
the cell A has occurred during the predetermined time period, operation
shown as S203 is executed. The control unit 373 determines whether or no5 t
the cell A is included within the top two highest reception quality cells in the
measurement report received by the pico base station 370 during a
predetermined period (S203). Here, as an index of the reception quality, RSRP
(Reference Signal Received Power), RSRQ (Reference Signal Received
10 Quality) or the like may be used, for example.
[0067] If the determination in S203 turns out to be that the cell A is
not included in the top two highest reception quality cells, the control unit 373
eliminates the cell A from the neighbor cell list 376 and then ends the process
on the cell A (S205).
15 [0068] If the determination in S203 turns out to be that the cell A is
included in the top two highest reception quality cells, the operation proceeds
to a process shown as S204. The control unit 373 determines whether or not
the CN-ID corresponding to the cell A is the same as the CN-ID of the core
network to which the pico base station 370 is connected (S204). If the
20 determination in S204 turns to be that the CN-ID corresponding to the cell A
is the same as the CN-ID of the core network to which the pico base station
370 is connected, the control unit 373 ends the process without eliminating
the cell A from the neighbor cell list 376.
[0069] If the determination in S204 turns to be that the CN-ID
25 corresponding to the cell A is different from the CN-ID of the core network to
which the pico base station 370 is connected, the control unit 373 eliminates
the cell A from the neighbor cell list 376 (S205).
[0070] Here, any other reference may be adopted as a reference for the
determination of whether or not to eliminate the cell A from the neighbor cell
16
list 376. As such another reference, for example, it can be considered to
determine the necessity or nonnecessity for eliminating the cell A not by
whether or not the cell A is included within the top two highest reception
quality cells but by whether or not it is included within an optional number of
highest reception quality cells. The necessity or nonnecessity for th5 e
elimination may be determined also by whether or not the reception quality in
the cell A is equal to or higher than a threshold value. In that case, the process
may be such that it proceeds to S204 if the reception quality of the cell A is
equal to or higher than the threshold value, and to S205 if the reception
10 quality of the cell A is lower than the threshold value
[0071] In the above description, the control unit 373 determines, in
S204, whether or not the CN-ID corresponding to the cell A is the same as the
CN-ID of the core network to which the pico base station 370 is connected.
However, as already mentioned before, the determination may be made in
15 terms of the MME ID, the GUMMEI or the S-GW ID instead of the CN-ID.
[0072] Further in the above description, the cell A is eliminated, in
S205, from the neighbor cell list if it does not s atisfy the condition of S203 or
that of S204, but any other operation may be performed there. For example,
when the determination result in S202 indicates that handover to the cell A
20 has occurred during the predetermined time period, a process of preferent ially
leaving (not eliminating) the cell A in the neighbor cell list 376 may be
performed. More specifically, a way of such as raising the priority of the cell
A may be considered. The process described just above may be performed also
when the determination result in S204 indicates that the CN-ID corresponding
25 to the cell A is the same as the CN-ID of the core network to which the pico
base station 370 is connected.
[0073] [Method of receiving neighbor cell list]
Next, a description will be given of a method of sending and receiving
of a neighbor cell list performed between the base stations. Operation
17
described below corresponds to S101 and S102 of the flow chart shown in Fig.
7.
[0074] Fig. 9 shows a state of sending and receiving of a neighbor cell
list performed between the pico base station 370 and the base station 330.
[0075] First, the pico base station 370 sends to the base station 335 0
which was selected in S101 a request for sending a neighbor cell list (S111).
A dedicated message may be used for this request for sending a neighbor cell
list. Instead of a dedicated one, a message described in Non-patent Document
1 such as "X2 SETUP REQUEST" and "eNB CONFIGURATION UPDATE"
10 may be used.
[0076] Next, on receiving the request for sending a neighbor c ell list,
the base station 330 sends a neighbor cell list to the pico base station 370
(S112). A dedicated message may be used for this sending of a neighbor cell
list. Instead of a dedicated one, a message described in Non-patent Document
15 1 such as "X2 SETUP RESPONSE" and "eNB CONFIGURATION UPDATE"
may be used.
[0077] An example of information sent from the base station 330 to
the pico base station 370 in S112 is shown in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14.
[0078] Fig. 13 is a diagram obtained by adding a "CN ID" to the
20 information contained in "X2 SETUP RESPONSE" described in Non -patent
Document 1. This CN ID is an identifier for identifying a core network to
which the cell belongs, and the above-mentioned CN-ID, MME ID, GUMMEI,
S-GW ID or the like may be used as the CN ID, for example.
[0079] In Fig. 13, the CN ID may be added in the form of a list. When
25 a base station managing the cell is connected to a plurality of core networks,
identifiers for identifying respective ones of the plurality of core networks are
described in the form of a list in the column "Range" in Fig. 13. In Fig. 13, the
value of CN Ids indicates that a list from 1 to "max no of MMEs", the
maximum number of MME, is provided. Instead of the maximum number of
18
MME, the maximum number of CN ID (maxnoofCNIDs), the maximum
number of S-GW (maxnoofSGWs) or the like may be used for CN Ids.
[0080] Further, as information sent from the base station 330 to the
pico base station 370, "eNB CONFIGURATION UPDATE" described in
Non-patent Document 1 may be used. In that case, similarly to in Fig. 13, th5 e
CN-ID, MME ID, GUMMEI, S-GW ID or the like is added to "eNB
CONFIGURATION UPDATE".
[0081] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the details of "Served Cell
Information" in Fig. 13. Here, while Fig. 14 is divided into two drawings Fig.
10 14A and Fig. 14B for the sake of convenience, Fig. 14A and Fig. 14B together
show the above-mentioned details of information contained in "Served Cell
Information". The following description will be given by referring to the
combination of Fig. 14A and Fig. 14B as Fig. 14. Further, Fig. 16, Fig. 17, Fig.
19 and Fig. 20 described later will be similarly dealt with. The information
15 shown in Fig. 14 is that obtained by adding "Cell Type" to the information
contained in "Served Cell Information" described in Non-patent Document 1.
This Cell Type is information expressing the size of the coverage area of the
cell. If taking the network configuration of Fig. 3 as an example, information
expressing that the coverage area is large is set in cases of the cells of the base
20 stations 330 and 340. On the other hand, information expressing that the
coverage area is small is set in cases of the cells of the pico base station 370
and the relay base station 350.
[0082] In "Served Cell Information" shown in Fig. 14, an identifier for
identifying a core network such as the CN-ID, MME ID, GUMMEI, S-GW ID
25 or the like may be used. Fig. 16A and Fig. 16B are diagrams showing an
example of when the CN ID is added to the "Served Cell Information". As
shown in Fig. 17A and Fig. 17B, the Cell Type and the CN ID may be added
together to the "Served Cell Information".
[0083] In the examples shown in Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, "Presence" of
19
CN ID is set to be "M (Mandatory)", and accordingly the CN ID needs to be
included in that case, but setting with no necessity for the CN ID may be made.
Fig. 19A and Fig. 19B show an example of when the CN ID is set to be
optional instead of "M" in the "Served Cell Information" of Fig. 16. Similarly,
Fig. 20A and Fig. 20B show an example of when the CN ID is set to b5 e
optional instead of "M" in the "Served Cell Information" of Fig. 17.
[0084] In Fig. 9, shown is an example where the pico base station 370
and the base station 330 perform sending and receiving of a neighbor cell list
directly to and from each other. However, as shown in Fig. 10, the sending
10 and receiving of a neighbor cell list may be performed via the MME 310 or the
like. A process flow shown in Fig. 10 is almost the same as that shown in Fig.
9, but is different in that the MME 310 relays a request for sending a neighbor
cell list in S122 and relays a neighbor cell list in S124.
[0085] Thus far, the description has been given of the configuration
15 and operation of when the base station 330 sends a neighbor cell list in
response to a request from the pico base station 370. However, it is also
possible to adopt a configuration in which the base station 330 actively
notifies another base station of a neighbor cell list with respect to the cell
managed by the base station 330 without receiving a request from the pico
20 base station 370.
[0086] For the sending of a neighbor cell list, either a dedicated
message or a message described in Non-patent Document 1 such as "X2
SETUP REQUEST", "eNB CONFIGURATION UPDATE" or the like may be
used.
25 [0087] Fig. 15 is a diagram obtained by adding one of identifiers for
identifying a core network, CN ID, to "X2 SETUP REQUEST" described in
Non-patent Document 1. Besides the CN ID, the MME ID, GUMMEI, S-GW
ID or the like may also be used as the identifier for identifying a core network.
Also when "eNB CONFIGURATION UPDATE" is used, it is only necessary
20
to add an identifier for identifying a core network such as the CN ID,
similarly to in Fig. 15.
[0088] Similarly to in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20, the CN ID may be set to be
optional instead of Mandatory also in "X2 SETUP REQUEST" and "eNB
CONFIGURATION UPDATE". Fig. 18 is a diagram showing an example o5 f
when the CN ID is set to be optional instead of M in "X2 SETUP REQUEST"
of Fig. 15. Also when "eNB CONFIGURATION UPDATE" is used, the CN ID
may be set to be optional in the same way as in Fig. 18.
[0089] [effect]
10 As has been described above, the base station according to the second
exemplary embodiment uses a list held by a neighbor base station, as a
neighbor cell list with respect to the cell managed by the own base station.
The neighbor cell list stores an identifier (CN-ID) for identifying a core
network to which each of the cells in the list belongs.
15 [0090] Accordingly, it becomes possible to recognize to which core
network each of the cells described in the neighbor cell list belongs.
[0091] It thus becomes possible to preferentially leave in the neighbor
cell list the cell of a base station connected to the same core network. As a
result, it becomes possible to raise the possibility of handover of a mobile
20 terminal to the cell of a base station connected to the same core network when
the mobile terminal attempts to execute handover with reference to the
neighbor cell list.
[0092] In general, when change of core network occurs during a
handover process, the time necessary for such a handover process becomes
25 longer than that necessary for handover within the same core network.
Therefore, according to the second exemplary embodiment, it becomes
possible to reduce the time necessary for a handover process of a mobile
terminal because a cell belonging to the same core network can preferentially
be left in the neighbor cell list.
21
[0093] [third exemplary embodiment]
Next, a third exemplary embodiment will be described. In the third
exemplary embodiment, a description will be given of S101 in the flow chart
of Fig. 7, that is, a method of selecting a base station from which a neighbor
cell list is to be received. The third exemplary embodiment may b5 e
implemented in proper combination with the first and the second exemplary
embodiments. Here, the configuration of each base station is the same as that
in the second exemplary embodiment, and accordingly its description will be
omitted.
10 [0094] [operation]
Fig. 11 is a diagram showing relationships of cells of the base station
330, the base station 340, the relay base station 350, the pico base station 370
and a pico base station 380 with the mobile terminals 361 and 362. Illustration
of the MME 301 and the S-GW 302 is omitted there for the sake of simplicity.
15 Although each of the base stations may comprise a plurality of cells, it is
assumed in the example shown in Fig. 11 that each of them comprises only
one cell.
[0095] In the example shown in Fig. 11, the mobile terminal 361 and
the pico base stations 370 and 380 are contained in the cell of the base station
20 330. Similarly, the mobile terminal 362, the relay base station 350 and the
pico base station 380 are contained in the cell of the base station 340.
[0096] As already described before, the coverage area of the relay
base station 350 and that of the pico base stations 370 and 380 are all smaller
than that of the base stations 330 and 340. Accordingly, the number of cells to
25 be listed in a neighbor cell list held by those base stations necessarily
becomes small.
[0097] In this respect, in the third exemplary embodiment, a base
station having a smaller coverage area, such as a pico base station and a relay
base station, receives a neighbor cell list from a base station having a larger
22
coverage area and uses the received neighbor cell list as its own one.
[0098] For example, the pico base station 370 receives a neighbor cell
list from the base station 330 having the cell containing the pico base station
370. Similarly, the relay base station 350 receives a neighbor cell list from the
base station 340 having the cell containing the relay base station 350. Th5 e
pico base station 380 contained in both the cell of the base station 330 and
that of the base station 340 selects either of the base stations 330 and 340 as a
base station from which a neighbor cell list is to be received, and then
receives a neighbor cell list from thus selected base station.
10 [0099] Here, the method used by the pico base stations 370 and 380
for receiving a neighbor cell list from the base stations 330 and 340,
respectively, is almost the same as that of Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 described in the
second exemplary embodiment, and accordingly its description will be
omitted.
15 [0100] However, when a base station having received a request for
sending a neighbor cell list sends the neighbor cell list to a base station having
sent the request, that is, for example, in S112 of Fig. 9, and in S123 and S124
of Fig. 10, information on the coverage area needs to be included in the
sending.
20 [0101] [Operation of pico base station]
Hereinafter, a description will be specifically given of operation of the
pico base station 370 up to its receiving a neighbor cell list with respect to the
cell it manages. The pico base stat ion 380 performs the same operation, and
accordingly its description will be omitted.
25 [0102] First, by cell planning, cells close to the pico base station 3 70
in distance are inputted, on the basis of geographical information or the like,
as initial values of the neighbor cell list of the pico base station 370.
[0103] On each of the cells included in the initial neighbor cell list,
the measurement unit 375 measures the handover frequency and the handover
23
failure rate as statistical information. The statis tical information measured by
the measurement unit 375 is stored in a table such as shown in Fig. 12.
[0104] In Fig. 12, the handover frequency and handover failure rate
for each of the neighbor cells are included as statistical information. In Fig.
12, the cells are listed in descending order of handover frequency. Othe5 r
information such as the handover success rate may be used as the statistical
information.
[0105] Next, referring to the table of Fig. 12, the selection unit 374
determines a cell containing, or overlapping most with, the cell held by the
10 pico base station 370. For example, the pico base station 370 selects a cell
with the highest handover frequency and also with a handover failure rate
smaller than a threshold value. If assuming the threshold value of handover
failure rate to be 10%, a cell to be selected by the pico base station 370 is the
cell #b.
15 [0106] The selection unit 374 sends the base station 330 managing the
selected cell #b a request for sending a neighbor cell list, via an X2 link or an
S1 link.
[0107] The base station 330 sends the neighbor cell list with respect to
the cell #b to the pico base station 370. At that time, the base station 330
20 sends also information expressing the size of its coverage area. This
information may be an identifier specific to the base station or an identifier
expressing the type of the base station, such as a pico base station and a relay
base station.
[0108] Accordingly, when a cell with respect to which a request for
25 sending a neighbor cell list received is the cell of a pico base station or a relay
base station, the cell's having a small coverage area is to be notified at the
time of sending a neighbor cell list.
[0109] In that case, the pico base station 370 having received a
neighbor cell list may determine not to use the received neighbor cell list. It is
24
because the number of cells neighboring to a cell having a small coverage area
is small, and accordingly some neighbor cells to be listed may be missed in
setting of a neighbor cell list at the pico base station 370.
[0110] If the pico base station 370 does not use a neighbor cell list
with respect to the cell of the pico base station 380 or of the relay base statio5 n
350, the pico base station 370 performs the following operation. From among
cells in a list of statistical information about neighbor cells of the cell
managed by the pico base station 370, the pico base station 370 sends a
request for sending a neighbor cell list sequentially in descending order of
10 priority. The pico base station 370 repeats the operation until it receives a
neighbor cell list from any cell other than both the pico base station 380 and
the relay base station 350.
[0111] [Operation of relay base station]
Next, operation of the relay base station 350 up to its re ceiving a
15 neighbor cell list will be described specifically.
[0112] The relay base station 350 selects a DeNB connected to the
relay base station 350. In the examples in Fig. 4 and Fig. 11, the base station
340 is selected.
[0113] The relay base station 350 requests the base station 340 to send
20 a neighbor cell list, via a Un link. The wireless base station 3 40 sends a
neighbor cell list to the relay base station 350.
[0114] The third exemplary embodiment has been described above,
taking a pico base station and a relay base station as examples. However, the
configurations and operations of the third exemplary embodiment may be
25 applied also to a base station which is neither a pico base station nor a relay
base station, for example, the base stations 330 and 340. For example, it is
possible at the base station 330 to receive a neighbor cell list from the base
station 340 and use the received neighbor cell list as a neighbor cell list with
respect to the cell managed by the own base station. Similarly, the
25
configurations and operations according to the third exemplary embodiment
may be applied also to a femto base station whose coverage area is further
smaller than that of a pico base station and of a relay base station.
[0115] [Effect]
As has been described above, the base station according to the thir5 d
exemplary embodiment uses a list held by a neighbor base station as a
neighbor cell list with respect to the cell managed by the own base station,
similarly to in the second exemplary embodiment. The neighbor cell list stores
an identifier (CN-ID) for identifying a core network to which each of the cells
10 belongs.
[0116] Accordingly, it becomes possible to recognize to which core
network each of the cells described in the neighbor cell list belongs.
[0117] Consequently, it becomes possible to preferentially leave in the
neighbor cell list the cell of a base station connected to the same core network.
15 As a result, it becomes possible to raise the possibility of handover of a
mobile terminal to the cell of a base station connected to the same core
network when the mobile terminal attempts to perform handover with
reference to the neighbor cell list.
[0118] In general, when change of core network occurs during a
20 handover process, the time necessary for such a handover process becomes
longer than that necessary for handover within the same core network.
Therefore, according to the third exemplary embodiment, it becomes possible
to reduce the time necessary for a handover process of a mobile terminal
because a cell belonging to the same core network can preferentially be left in
25 the neighbor cell list.
[0119] The present invention has been described above with reference
to the exemplary embodiments, but it is not limited to the above -described
exemplary embodiments. To the configurations and details of the present
invention, various changes and modifications understandable to those who
26
skilled in the art may be made within the scope of the present invention.
[0120] Further, with regard to the base station, pico base station and
relay base station according to the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments,
the functions they have may be implemented by hardware, and also by a
computer and a program executed on the computer5 .
The program is provided in a manner to be recorded in a recording
medium such as a magnetic disk and a semiconductor memory, and is read
into the computer at a time of start -up or the like of the computer. Thus
controlling operation of the computer, the computer is caused to function as
10 the base station, pico base station and relay base station in each of the
exemplary embodiments and is accordingly caused to execute the
above-described processes.
[0121] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-006324, filed on January
15 16, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
[0122] Part or the whole of the above-described exemplary
embodiments may be described as, but not limited to, the following
supplementary notes.
20 [0123] (supplementary note 1)
A base station comprising:
a storage means for storing a list of cells neighboring to a cell
managed by the base station in a manner to correlate each of the neighbor
cells with an identifier for identifying a core network the neighbor cell
25 belongs to;
a reception means for receiving, from a base station neighboring to the
own base station, a list stored by the neighbor base station; and
a control means for using the received list as a list with respect to the
cell managed by the own base station.
27
[0124] (supplementary note 2)
The base station according to supplementary note 1, wherein
the control means optimizes the received list and uses the optimized
list as the list with respect to the cell managed by the own base station.
[0125] (supplementary note 35 )
The base station according to supplementary notes 1 or 2, wherein
the control means performs the list optimization by eliminating from
the list a cell to which no handover has been executed during a pr edetermined
time period, from among cells included in the list.
10 [0126] (supplementary note 4)
The base station according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3,
wherein
the control means eliminates from the list a cell included in the list, on
the basis of the reception quality during a predetermined time period of the
15 cells included in the list.
[0127] (supplementary note 5)
The base station according to supplementary note 4, wherein
the control means eliminates, from among the cells included in the list,
a cell whose place in a ranking in terms of the reception quality is equal to or
20 lower than a certain place.
[0128] (supplementary note 6)
The base station according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 5,
wherein
the control means, referring to the identifiers, further eliminates from
25 the list a cell belonging to a different core network from that of the cell
managed by the own base station, from among the cells included in the list.
[0129] (supplementary note 7)
The base station according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 6,
wherein
28
the control means, referring to the identifiers, further performs the
optimization in a manner to preferentially leave in the list a cell belonging to
the same core network as that of the cell managed by the own base station,
from among the cells included in the list.
[0130] (supplementary note 85 )
The base station according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 7,
wherein
the control means, referring to the identifiers, further performs the
optimization in a manner to raise the degree of priority, within the list, of a
10 cell belonging to the same core network as that of the cell managed by the
own base station, from among the cells included in the list.
[0131] (supplementary note 9)
The base station according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 8,
wherein
15 the control means performs the list optimization by eliminating a cell
managed by the base station having sent the received list and a cell managed
by the own base station.
[0132] (supplementary note 10)
The base station according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 9,
20 the base station further comprising
a selection means for selecting a base station from which the list is to
be received.
[0133] (supplementary note 11)
The base station according to supplementary note 10, wherein
25 the selection means selects a base station from which the list is to be
received, on the basis of the handover frequency of cells managed by the
neighbor base stations.
[0134] (supplementary note 12)
The base station according to supplementary notes 10 or 11, wherein
29
the selection means selects a base station from which the list is to be
received, on the basis of the handover success rate of cells managed by the
neighbor base stations.
[0135] (supplementary note 13)
The base station according to any one of supplementary notes 10 to 125 ,
wherein
the selection means selects a base station from which the list is to be
received, on the basis of the handover failure rate of cells managed by the
neighbor base stations.
10 [0136] (supplementary note 14)
A communication system comprising a plurality of base stations,
wherein the base stations each comprise:
a storage means for storing a list of cells neighboring to a cell
managed by the base station in a manner to correlate each of the neighbor
15 cells with an identifier for identifying a core network the neighbor cell
belongs to;
a reception means for receiving, from a base station neighboring to the
own base station, a list stored by the neighbor base station; and
a control means for using the received list as a list with respect to the
20 cell managed by the own base station.
[0137] (supplementary note 15)
The communication system according to supplementary note 14,
wherein
the control means optimizes the received list and uses the optimized
25 list as the list with respect to the cell managed by the own base station.
[0138] (supplementary note 16)
The communication system according to supplementary notes 14 or 15,
wherein
the control means performs the list optimization by eliminating from
30
the list a cell to which no handover has been executed during a predetermined
time period, from among cells included in the list.
[0139] (supplementary note 17)
The communication system according to any one of supplementary
notes 14 to 17, wherei5 n
the control means eliminates from the list a cell included in the list, on
the basis of the reception quality during a predetermined time period of the
cells included in the list.
[0140] (supplementary note 18)
10 The communication system according to supplementary note 17,
wherein
the control means eliminates, from among the cells included in the list,
a cell whose place in a ranking in terms of the reception quality is equal to or
lower than a certain place.
15 [0141] (supplementary note 19)
The communication system according to any one of supplementary
notes 14 to 18, wherein
the control means, referring to the identifiers, further eliminates from
the list a cell belonging to a different core network from that of the cell
20 managed by the own base station, from among the cells included in the list.
[0142] (supplementary note 20)
The communication system according to any one of supplementary
notes 14 to 19, wherein
the control means, referring to the identifiers, further performs the
25 optimization in a manner to preferentially leave in the list a cell belonging to
the same core network as that of the cell managed by the own base station,
from among the cells included in the list.
[0143] (supplementary note 21)
The communication system according to any one of supplementary
31
notes 14 to 20, wherein
the control means, referring to the identifiers, further performs the
optimization in a manner to raise the degree of priority, within the list, of a
cell belonging to the same core network as that of the cell managed by the
own base station, from among the cells included in the list5 .
[0144] (supplementary note 22)
The communication system according to any one of supplementary
notes 14 to 21, wherein
the control means performs the list optimization by eliminating a cell
10 managed by the base station having sent the received list and a cell managed
by the own base station.
[0145] (supplementary note 23)
The communication system according to any one of supplementary
notes 14 to 22, wherein
15 the base station further comprises a selection means for selecting a
base station from which the list is to be received.
[0146] (supplementary note 24)
The communication system according to supplementary note 23,
wherein
20 the selection means selects a base station from which the list is to be
received, on the basis of the handover frequency of cells managed by the
neighbor base stations.
[0147] (supplementary note 25)
The communication system according to supplementary notes 23 or 24,
25 wherein
the selection means selects a base station from which the list is to be
received, on the basis of the handover success rate of cells managed by the
neighbor base stations.
[0148] (supplementary note 26)
32
The communication system according to any one of supplementary
notes 23 to 25, wherein
the selection means selects a base station from which the list is to be
received, on the basis of the handover failure rate of cells managed by the
neighbor base stations5 .
[0149] (supplementary note 27)
A communication method comprising:
receiving a cell list stored by a neighbor base station, in which cells
neighboring to a cell managed by the neighbor base station are each correlated
10 with an identifier for identifying a core network the neighbor cell belongs to;
and
using the received list as a list with respect to a cell managed by the
own base station.
[0150] (supplementary note 28)
15 The communication method according to supplementary note 27,
which comprises
optimizing the received list, and using the optimiz ed list as a list with
respect to the cell managed by the own base station.
[0151] (supplementary note 29)
20 The communication method according to supplementary notes 27 or
28, which comprises
performing the list optimization by eliminating from the list a cell to
which no handover has been executed during a predetermined time period,
from among cells included in the list.
25 [0152] (supplementary note 30)
The communication method according to any one of supplementary
notes 27 to 29, which comprises
eliminating a cell included in the list from the list, on the basis of the
reception quality during a predetermined time period of the cells included in
33
the list.
[0153] (supplementary note 31)
The communication method according to supplementary note 30,
which comprises
eliminating a cell whose place in a ranking in terms of the receptio5 n
quality is equal to or lower than a certain place, from among the cells included
in the list.
[0154] (supplementary note 32)
The communication method according to any one of supplementary
10 notes 27 to 31, which comprises
eliminating from the list a cell belonging to a different core network
from that of the cell managed by the own base station, from among the cells
included in the list, with reference to the identifiers.
[0155] (supplementary note 33)
15 The communication method according to any one of supplementary
notes 27 to 32, which comprises
performing the optimization in a manner to preferentially leave in the
list a cell belonging to the same core network as that of the cell managed by
the own base station, from among the cells included in the list , with reference
20 to the identifiers.
[0156] (supplementary note 34)
The communication method according to any one of supplementary
notes 27 to 33, which comprises
performing the optimization in a manner to raise the degree of priority,
25 within the list, of a cell belonging to the same core network as that of the cell
managed by the own base station, from among the cells included in the list ,
with reference to the identifiers.
[0157] (supplementary note 35)
The communication method according to any one of supplementary
34
notes 27 to 34, which comprises
performing the list optimization by eliminating a cell managed by the
base station having sent the received list and a cell managed by the own base
station.
[0158] (supplementary note 365 )
The communication method according to any one of supplementary
notes 27 to 35, which comprises
selecting a base station from which the list is to be received.
[0159] (supplementary note 37)
10 The communication method according to supplementary note 36,
which comprises
selecting a base station from which the list is to be received, on the
basis of the handover frequency of cells managed by the neighbor base
stations.
15 [0160] (supplementary note 38)
The communication method according to supplementary notes 36 or
37, which comprises
selecting a base station from which the list is to be received, on the
basis of the handover success rate of cells managed by the neighbor base
20 stations.
[0161] (supplementary note 39)
The communication method according to any one of supplementary
notes 36 to 38, which comprises
selecting a base station from which the list is to be received, on the
25 basis of the handover failure rate of cells managed by the neighbor base
stations.
[0162] (supplementary note 40)
A program for causing a computer to execute:
a process of receiving a cell list stored by a neighbor base station, in
35
which cells neighboring to a cell managed by the neighbor base station are
each correlated with an identifier for identifying a core network the neighbor
cell belongs to; and
a process of using the received list as a list with respect to a cell
managed by the own base station5 .
[0163] (supplementary note 41)
The program according to supplementary note 40, which comprises
a process of optimizing the received list and using the optimized list
as a list with respect to a cell managed by the own base station.
10 [0164] (supplementary note 42)
The program according to supplementary notes 40 or 41, which
comprises
a process of performing the list optimization by eliminating from the
list a cell to which no handover has been executed during a predetermined
15 time period, from among cells included in the list.
[0165] (supplementary note 43)
The program according to any one of supplementary notes 40 to 42,
which comprises
a process of eliminating a cell included in the list from the list, on the
20 basis of the reception quality during a predetermined time period of the cells
included in the list.
[0166] (supplementary note 44)
The program according to supplementary note 43, which comprises
a process of eliminating a cell whose place in a ranking in terms of the
25 reception quality is equal to or lower than a certain place, from among the
cells included in the list.
[0167] (supplementary note 45)
The program according to any one of supplementary notes 40 to 44,
which comprises
36
a process of eliminating from the list a cell belonging to a different
core network from that of the cell managed by the own base station, from
among the cells included in the list , with reference to the identifiers .
[0168] (supplementary note 46)
The program according to any one of supplementary notes 40 to 455 ,
which comprises
a process of performing the optimization in a manner to preferentially
leave in the list a cell belonging to the same core network as that of the cell
managed by the own base station, from among the cells included in the list ,
10 with reference to the identifiers.
[0169] (supplementary note 47)
The program according to any one of supplementary notes 40 to 46,
which comprises
a process of performing the optimization in a manner to raise the
15 degree of priority, within the list, of a cell belonging to the same core network
as that of the cell managed by the own base station, from among the cells
included in the list, with reference to the identifiers.
[0170] (supplementary note 48)
The program according to any one of supplementary notes 40 to 47,
20 which comprises
a process of performing the list optimization by eliminating a cell
managed by the base station having sent the received list and a cell managed
by the own base station.
[0171] (supplementary note 49)
25 The program according to any one of supplementary notes 40 to 48,
which comprises
a process of selecting a base station from which the list is to be
received.
[0172] (supplementary note 50)
37
The program according to supplementary note 49, which comprises
a process of selecting a base station from which the list is to be
received, on the basis of the handover frequency of cells managed by the
neighbor base stations.
[0173] (supplementary note 515 )
The program according to supplementary notes 49 or 50, which
comprises
a process of selecting a base station from which the lis t is to be
received, on the basis of the handover success rate of cells managed by the
10 neighbor base stations.
[0174] (supplementary note 52)
The program according to any one of supplementary notes 49 to 51,
which comprises
a process of selecting a base station from which the list is to be
15 received, on the basis of the handover failure rate of cells managed by the
neighbor base stations.
[Reference Signs List]
[0175] 301 MME
20 302 S-GW
303, 304, 1000 base station
305 relay base station
306 mobile terminal
307, 308 pico base station
25 1001 list
1002 reception means
1003 control means
3071 storage unit
3072 reception unit
38
3073 control unit
3074 selection unit
3075 measurement unit
39
WE CLAIM:
[Claim 1] A base station comprising:
storage means for storing a list of cells neighboring to a cell managed
by the base station in a manner to correlate each of the neighbor cells with an
identifier for identifying a core network the neighbor cell belongs to5 ;
reception means for receiving, from a base station neighboring to the
own base station, a list stored by the neighbor base station; and
control means for using the received list as a list with respect to a cell
managed by the own base station.
10
[Claim 2] The base station according to claim 1, wherein
the control means optimizes the received list and uses the optimized
list as a list with respect to the cell managed by the own base station.
15 [Claim 3] The base station according to claims 1 or 2, wherein
the control means performs the list optimization by eliminating from
the list a cell to which no handover has been executed during a predetermined
time period, from among cells included in the list.
20 [Claim 4] The base station according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein
the control means eliminates from the list a cell included in the list, on
the basis of the reception quality during a predetermined time period of the
cells included in the list.
25
[Claim 5] The base station according to claim 4, wherein
the control means eliminates, from among the cells included in the list,
a cell whose place in a ranking in terms of the reception quality is equal to or
lower than a certain place.
40
[Claim 6] The base station according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
wherein
the control means, referring to the identifiers, further eliminates from
the list a cell belonging to a different core network from that of the cel5 l
managed by the own base station, from among the cells included in the list.
[Claim 7] The base station according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein
10 the control means, referring to the identifiers, further performs the
optimization in a manner to preferentially leave in the list a cell belonging to
the same core network as that of the cell managed by the own base station,
from among the cells included in the list.
15 [Claim 8] A communication system comprising a plurality of base
stations, wherein
the base stations each comprise:
storage means for storing a list of cells neighboring to a cell managed
by the base station in a manner to correlate each of the neighbor cells with an
20 identifier for identifying a core network the neighbor cell belongs to;
reception means for receiving, from a base station neighboring to the
own base station, a list stored by the neighbor base station; and
control means for using the received list as a list with respect to the
cell managed by the own base station.
25
[Claim 9] A communication method comprising:
receiving a cell list stored by a neighbor base station, in which cells
neighboring to a cell managed by the neighbor base station are each correlated
with an identifier for identifying a core network the neighbor cell belongs to;
41
and
using the received list as a list with respect to a cell managed by the
own base station.
[Claim 10] A recording medium storing a program for causing 5 a
computer to execute:
a process of receiving a cell list stored by a neighbor base station, in
which cells neighboring to a cell managed by the neighbor base station are
each correlated with an identifier for identifying a core network the neighbor
10 cell belongs to; and
a process of using the received list as a list with respect to a cell
managed by the own base station.