1. A mobile communication system comprising: a plurality of radio base stations that each transmit a setting request including ident ification information of the radio base station itself and grou5 p identification information ident ifying a group to which the radio base station belongs; a gateway apparatus that is connected to the plurality of radio base stations, the gateway apparatus associating, upon receipt of the setting request, the 10 identification information and the group ident ification information included in the setting request with each other and storing as distribution destination information; and a switching center that transmits, to the gateway apparatus , a distribution request including group identification information of a group being a target to 15 distribute an emergency early warning, wherein the gateway apparatus specifies, upon receipt of the distribution request, at least one of the radio base stations that is associated with the group ident ification information included in the distribut ion request out of the distribution destination information, 20 the gateway apparatus transfers the distribution request to the specified radio base station, and the radio base station distributes, when the distribution reques t has been transferred from the gateway apparatus, the emergency early warning to a subordinate cell. 25

2. The mobile communication system according to Claim 1, wherein the setting request is at least one of a request for the radio base station to set a connection with the gateway apparatus and a request for updating the distribution destination information. 30

3. The mobile communication system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the radio base stations each have distribution area information ident ifying an area to which the emergency early warning is distributed, the radio base stations each transmi t , to the gateway apparatus, the set ting 34 request including the distribution area information as the group identification information, and the gateway apparatus specifies, when the group identification information included in the distribution request is the distribution area information, at least one of the radio base stations that is associated with the distribution are5 a information included in the distribut ion request out of the distribution destination information.

4. The mobi le communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, 10 wherein the group is a group to which part of the plurality of radio base stat ions belonging to a location registrat ion area belongs.

5. The mobile communication system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the radio base stations each transmi t , to the gateway apparatus, the set ting 15 request including identification information of a location registrat ion area to which the radio base station belongs as the group identificat ion information, and the gateway apparatus specifies, when the group identification information included in the distribution request is the ident ification information of the location registration area, at leas t one of the radio base stat ions that is associated with the 20 identification information of the location registration area included in the distribution request out of the distribution destination information.

6. The mobile communication system according t o Claim 5, wherein the switching center externally receives the distribution request including 25 the identification information of the locat ion registration area in addition to the group identification information, when the group ident ification information included in the received distribution request is not the identification information of the location registration area, the switching center transmits , to the gateway apparatus , the 30 distribution request including the identification information of the locat ion registration area in addition to the group ident ification information, and the gateway apparatus specifies at least one of the radio base stations that is associated with the identification information of the location registration area included in the distribution request out of the distribution destination information. 35

7. The mobi le communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the mobile communication system is of an LTE (Long Term Evolution) scheme. 5

8. A mobile communication method comprising: transmitting, by each of a plurality of radio base stations connected to a gateway apparatus, a setting request including identification information of the radio base station itself and group identification information identifying a g roup to 10 which the radio base station belongs to the gateway apparatus; associating, by the gateway apparatus, upon receipt of the setting request, the identification information and the group identification information included in the set ting request wi th each other, and storing as distribution destination information; 15 transmitting, by a swi tching center, to the gateway apparatus, a distribution request including group identification information of a group being a target to distribute an emergency early warning; specifying, by the gateway apparatus, upon receipt of the distribution request, at least one of the radio base stat ions that is associated with the group 20 identification information included in the distribution request out of the distribution destination information, and transferring the distribution request to the specified radio base stat ion; and distributing, by the radio base station, the emergency early warning to a subordinate cell when the distribution request has been transferred from the 25 gateway apparatus.

9. A gateway apparatus that is connected to a plurality of radio base stations, the gateway apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving, from each of the plurality of radio base 30 stations, a setting request including identificat ion information of the radio base station itself and group identification information identifying a group to which the radio base station belongs; storing means for associating, upon receipt of the setting request, the identification information and the group ident ification information included in the 36 setting request with each other and storing as distribution destination information; and transferring means for specifying, upon receipt of the distribution request including the group ident ification informa tion of a group being a target to distribute an emergency early warning from a switching center, at least one of th5 e radio base stations that is associated with the group identification information included in the distribution request out of the distributi on destination information, and transferring the distribution request to the specified radio base stat ion. 10 10. A radio base station that is connected to a gateway apparatus, the radio base stat ion comprising: transmitting means for transmi tting, to the gateway apparatus, a setting request including identification information of the radio base station itself and group identification information ident ifying a group to which the radio base 15 station belongs, so as to cause the gateway apparatus to associate the identification information and the group ident ification informat ion with each other and to store as distribut ion destination information; and distributing means for distributing an emergency early warning to a subordinate cell, in response to the gateway apparatus: receiving a distribution 20 request including group identification information of a group being a target to distribute the emergency early warning from a switching center; specifying the identification information of the radio base station itself associated wi th the group identification information included in the distribution request out of the distribution destination information; and transferring the distribution request.

DESCRIPTION
MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, MOBILE COMMUNICATION
METHOD, GATEWAY APPARATUS, AND RADIO BASE STATION
Technical Fiel5 d
[0001]
The present invention relates to a mobile communicat ion system, a mobile
communicat ion method, a gateway apparatus, and a radio base station. In
particular, the present invention relates to a mobile communicat ion system, a
10 mobile communicat ion method, a gateway apparatus, and a radio base station, for
distributing emergency early warnings.
Background Art
[0002]
15 A mobile communication system of the LTE (Long Term Evolut ion) scheme
is used for distributing emergency early warnings of the ETWS (Earthquake and
Tsunami Warning System) scheme or the like.
[0003]
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique relating to a mobile
20 communicat ion method in which a radio base station transmits, in response to an
emergency information transmission request from a switching center MME,
emergency information to subordinate cel ls . In particular, in the mobile
communicat ion method according to Patent Literature 1, when the radio base
station has failed to transmit report information to al l the subordinate cells, the
25 radio base station reports the fai lure to the switching center.
[0004]
Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique of reporting, to a switching center,
any one of identificat ion information pieces of different length of a radio base
station in accordance with the operating mode of the radio base station . Further,
30 Patent Literature 2 discloses the case in which a gateway apparatus is present
between the switching center MME and the radio base station eNB.
Citation List
Patent Literature
3
[0005]
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 2010-178322
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 2011-97545 3
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0006]
10 Here, when the gateway apparatus described above has received an
emergency early warning request , the gateway apparatus transfers the emergency
early warning request to all the subordinate radio base stations. Thus, there
arises a problem that a process delay occurs. This is because the gateway
apparatus lacks any mechanism of specifying the distribution destination radio
15 base stat ion.
[0007]
For example, in the case where hundreds of thousands of radio base stations
are connected to the gateway apparatus, even when the number of radio base
stations to which an emergency early warning is essential ly to be transferred is
20 about a hundred, the gateway apparatus transfers the emergency early warning
request to all the hundreds of thousands of radio base stations . Accordingly, even
though most of the radio base stat ions do not ultimately distribute the emergency
early warning to the subordinate cells, the burden of the transferring process to
such radio base stations becomes great . Therefore, a delay occurs in transfer ring
25 the emergency early warning to the radio base stat ions to which the emergency
early warning is essentially to be transferred, which may spoil the intent of the
emergency early warning.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in conside rat ion of the foregoing
30 problem, and an object thereof is to provide a mobile communication system, a
mobile communicat ion method, a gateway apparatus, and a radio base station, for
the gateway apparatus to properly specify the radio base station to which an
emergency early warning is to be transferred.
4
Solution to Problem
[0009]
A first exemplary aspect of the present invention is a mobile
communicat ion system including:
a plurality of radio base stations that each transmit a setting reques5 t
including ident ification information of the radio base station itself and group
identification information ident ifying a group to which the radio base station
belongs;
a gateway apparatus that is connected to the plurality of radio base stations,
10 the gateway apparatus associating, upon receipt of the setting request, the
identification information and the group ident ification information included in the
setting request with each other and storing as distribution destination information;
and
a switching center that transmits, to the gateway apparatus, a distribution
15 request including group identification information of a group being a target to
distribute an emergency early warning, wher ein
the gateway apparatus specifies, upon receipt of the distribution request, at
least one of the radio base stations that is associated with the group ident ification
information included in the distribut ion request out of the distribution destination
20 information,
the gateway apparatus transfers the distribution request to the specified
radio base station, and
the radio base station distributes, when the distribution request has been
transferred from the gateway apparatus, the emergency early warning to a
25 subordinate cell.
[0010]
A second exemplary aspect of the present invention is a s mobile
communicat ion method including:
transmitting, by each of a plurality of radio base stations connected to a
30 gateway apparatus, a setting request including identif ication information of the
radio base station itself and group identification information identifying a group to
which the radio base station belongs to the gateway apparatus;
associating, by the gateway apparatus, upon receipt of the setting request,
the identification information and the group identification information included in
5
the set ting request wi th each other, and storing as distribution destination
information;
transmitting, by a swi tching center, to the gateway apparatus, a distribution
request including group identification information of a group being a target to
distribute an emergency early warning5 ;
specifying, by the gateway apparatus, upon receipt of the distribution
request, at least one of the radio base stat ions that is associated wit h the group
identification information included in the distribution request out of the
distribution destination information, and transferring the distribution request to
10 the specified radio base stat ion; and
distributing, by the radio base station, the emergency early warning to a
subordinate cell when the distribution request has been transferred from the
gateway apparatus.
[0011]
15 A third exemplary aspect of the present invent ion is a gateway apparatus
that is connected to a plural ity of radio base stat i ons, the gateway apparatus
including:
receiving means for receiving, from each of the plurality of radio base
stations, a setting request including identification information of the radio base
20 station itself and group identification information identifyin g a group to which the
radio base station belongs;
storing means for associating, upon receipt of the setting request, the
identification information and the group ident ification information included in the
setting request with each other and storing as distribution destination information;
25 and
transferring means for specifying, upon receipt of the distribution request
including the group ident ification information of a group being a target to
distribute an emergency early warning from a switching center, at least one of the
radio base stations that is associated with the group identification information
30 included in the distribution request out of the distribution destination information,
and transferring the distribution request to the specified radio bas e stat ion.
[0012]
A forth exemplary aspect of the present invent ion is a radio base station
that is connected to a gateway apparatus, the radio base station including:
6
transmitting means for transmi tting, to the gateway apparatus, a setting
request including identification information of the radio base station itself and
group identification information ident ifying a group to which the radio base
station belongs, so as to cause the gateway apparatus to associate the identification
information and the group ident ification informat ion with each other and to stor5 e
as distribut ion destination information; and
distributing means for distributing an emergency early warning to a
subordinate cell, in response to the gateway apparatus: receiving a distribution
request including group identification information of a group being a target to
10 distribute the emergency early warning from a switching center; specifying the
identification information of the radio base station itself associated wi th the group
identification information included in the distribution request out of the
distribution destination information; and transferring the distribution request.
15 Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0013]
The present invention has been made in considerat ion of the foregoing
problem, and the present invention is capable of providing a mobile
communicat ion system, a mobile communication method, a gateway apparatus , and
20 a radio base station, for the gateway apparatus to properly specify the radio base
station to which an emergency early warning is to be transferred, thereby
prevent ing any delay in a process of distributing the emergency early warning.
Brief Description of Drawings
25 [0014]
[Fig. 1]
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a mobile communicat ion
system according to a first embodiment of the present invention ;
[Fig. 2]
30 Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the radio base station
according to the first embodiment of the present invention ;
[Fig. 3]
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the structur e of the gateway apparatus
according to the first embodiment of the present invention ;
7
[Fig. 4]
Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of a mobi le communication
method according to the first embodiment of the present invention ;
[Fig. 5]
Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of a mobile communicat io5 n
system according to a second embodiment of the present invention ;
[Fig. 6]
Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of the HeNB according to
the second embodiment of the present invent ion;
10 [Fig. 7]
Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of the HeNB-GW according
to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 8]
Fig. 8 is a table for describing parameters of an S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
15 WARNING REQUEST according to a related art;
[Fig. 9]
Fig. 9 is a table for describing a Warning Area List according to the related
art ;
[Fig. 10]
20 Fig. 10 is a table showing an example of parameters of the S1AP S1 SETUP
REQUEST according to the second embodiment of the present invention ;
[Fig. 11]
Fig. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of an Emergency Area ID
registration process by the S1 SETUP REQUEST according to the second
25 embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 12]
Fig. 12 is a table showing an example of parameters of the S1AP ENB
CONFIGURATION UPDATE according to the second embodiment of the present
invention;
30 [Fig. 13]
Fig. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of an Emergency Area ID
registration process by the ENB CONFIGURATION UPDATE according to the
second embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 14]
8
Fig. 14 is a table for describing parameters of a SBc -AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST according to the related art;
[Fig. 15]
Fig. 15 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of emergency early warning
distribution by the WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST according to th5 e
second embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 16]
Fig. 16 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of a Tracking Area ID
registration process by the S1 SETUP REQUEST according to the third
10 embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 17]
Fig. 17 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of emergency early warning
distribution by the WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST according to the
third embodiment of the present invention;
15 [Fig. 18]
Fig. 18 is a table for describing parameters of a SBc-AP STOP WARNING
REQUEST according to the related art;
[Fig. 19]
Fig. 19 is a table showing an example of parameters of the S1AP
20 WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST according to the fourth embodiment of
the present invention; and
[Fig. 20]
Fig. 20 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of emergency early warning
distribution by the WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST according to the
25 fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Description of Embodiments
[0015]
In the following, specif ic embodiments to which the present invention is
30 appl ied will be described in detail wi th reference to the drawings . Throughout
the drawings, identical elements are denoted by identical reference signs, and
repet itive descriptions will be omitted as neces sary for the sake of clari ty.
[0016]

9
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a mobile communicat ion
system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention . The mobi le
communicat ion system 100 includes radio base stat ions 111, 112, ··· and 11n (n
being a natural number equal to or greater than 2), a gateway apparatus 120, and a
switching center 130. It is assumed that the mobile communication system 100 i5 s
capable of distributing emergency early warnings about a natural disaster or the
like to prescribed mobile stations (not shown).
[0017]
Each of the radio base stations 111 to 11n is connected to the gateway
10 apparatus 120. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the radio base
station 111 according to the first embodiment of the present invention . Note that,
since the radio base stations 112 to 11n are structured similarly to the radio base
station 111, i llustration and description thereof are omitted.
[0018]
15 The radio base stat ion 111 includes a transmitter unit 1111 and a distributor
unit 1112. The transmitter unit 1111 transmits, to the gateway apparatus 120, a
setting request which includes identification information of the radio base station
111 itself and group ident ification information identifying the group to which the
radio base station 111 belongs . The distributor unit 1112 distributes, when an
20 emergency early warning distribution request has been transferred from the
gateway apparatus 120, an emergency early warning to subordinate cells.
[0019]
A descript ion is given referring back to Fig. 1 . The gateway apparatus
120 is connected to the n-pieces of radio base stat ions 111 to 11n and to the
25 switching center 130. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the
gateway apparatus 120 according to the first embodiment of the present invention .
The gateway apparatus 120 includes a receiver unit 122, a memory uni t 123, and a
transfer unit 124.
[0020]
30 The receiver unit 122 receives the setting request from each of the ra dio
base stat ions 111 to 11n. When the receiver unit 122 has received a setting
request, the memory unit 123 associates identificat ion informat ion and group
identification information included in the setting request with each other, and
stores the same as distribution destination information 121. When the transfer
10
unit 124 has received an emergency early warning distribut ion request from the
switching center 130, which will be described later, the transfer unit 124 specifies
at least one radio base station associated with the group identification information
included in the distribution request out of the distribution destination information
121, and transfers the distribution request to the specified radio base stat ion5 .
[0021]
Referring back to Fig. 1, the switching center 130 transmits, to the gateway
apparatus 120, the distribution request including the group identificat ion
information of a group being assigned to distribute an emergency early warning.
10 [0022]
Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of a mobi le communication
method according to the first embodiment of the present invention . Firstly, each
of the radio base stat ions 111 to 11n transmits, to the gateway apparatus 120, a
setting request including the identification information of itse lf and group
15 identification information (S11). Next, when the gateway apparatus 120 has
received the setting request , the gateway apparatus 120 associates the
identification information of the radio base station and the group identification
information included in the setting request with each other, and stores the same as
distribution destination information (S12).
20 [0023]
Thereafter, the swi tching center 130 transmits, to the gateway apparatus
120, an emergency early warning distribution request includin g the group
identification information of a group being assigned to distribute an emergency
early warning (S13). When the gateway apparatus 120 has received the
25 distribution request , the gateway apparatus 120 specifies at least one radio base
station associated with the group identification information included in the
distribution request , out of the distribution destination information 121 (S14).
Then, the gateway apparatus 120 transfers, to the specified radio base station, the
emergency early warning distribution request (S15).
30 [0024]
Thereafter, the radio base station to which the distribution request has been
transferred distributes the emergency early warning to the subordinate cell s (S16).
[0025]
In this manner, the mobile communication system 100 according to the first
11
embodiment of the present invention previously stores, in the gateway apparatus
120, the identification information of each radio base station and the group
identification information that may be included in an emergency early warni ng
distribution request in association wi th each other. Accordingly, when the
gateway apparatus 120 has received an emergency early warning distributio5 n
request, the gateway apparatus 120 can properly specify the radio base stat ion
being assigned to distribute, based on the group identification information
included in the distribution request . In other words, the gateway apparatus 120
can narrow the distribution-assigned radio base stations to the minimum required
10 number.
[0026]
Hence, the gateway apparatus 120 can transfer the distribution request only
to the radio base station to which the distribution request should be essentially
transferred. That is, a distribution request is not transferred to a radio base
15 station that does not ultimately required to distribute. Thus, a delay in the
process of distributing the emergency early warning can be prevented.
[0027]

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of a mobile communicat ion
20 system 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The
mobile communicat ion system 200 is one example of the mobile communication
system 100 according to the first embodiment described above . Further, it is
assumed that the mobile communication system 200 is of the LT E (Long Term
Evolution) scheme. However, the communication scheme is not limited thereto .
25 Still further, in the second embodiment, it is assumed that distribution area
information that identify the area in which emergency early warnings are
distributed is used as the group identificat ion information. Accordingly, in the
following, a description will be given of an example where an Emergency Area ID
is used as the distribution area informat ion. Note that , the distribution area
30 information is not limited thereto.
[0028]
The mobile communication system 200 includes HeNBs (Home eNodeBs)
211 to 214, a HeNB-GW (Home eNodeB GateWay) 220, an MME (Mobile
Management Enti ty) 230, and a CBC (Cell Broadcast Center) 240.
12
[0029]
The HeNBs 211 to 214 are one example of the radio base stations 111 to
11n described above, and they should be two or more in number. That is, the
HeNBs 211 to 214 are connected to the HeNB-GW 220. Further, here, the HeNB
211 and the HeNB 212 retains therein Emergency Area IDs 251 and 252 in dicativ5 e
of "1". Still further, the HeNB 213 retains therein an Emergency Area ID 253
indicative of "2". Still further, the HeNB 214 retains therein an Emergency Area
ID 254 indicative of "3".
[0030]
10 Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of the HeNB 211 according
to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that, since the HeNBs
212 to 214 are structured similarly to the HeNB 211, illustrat ion and descript ion
thereof are omitted.
[0031]
15 The HeNB 211 includes a transmi tter unit 2111, a receiver unit 2112, a
distributor unit 2113, and a memory unit 2114 . The memory unit 2114 is a
memory device that stores the Emergency Area ID 251 and a HeNB ID 261. Here,
the HeNB ID 261 is the identification information of the HeNB 211 . As the
HeNB ID 261, the Global eNB ID or the like can be used, for example.
20 [0032]
The transmitter unit 2111 reads the Emergency Area ID 251 and the HeNB
ID 261 from the memory unit 2114, and includes them in a setting request and
transmits the same to the HeNB-GW 220. The receiver unit 2112 receives an
emergency early warning distribution request transferred from the HeNB-GW 220.
25 The distributor unit 2113 distributes the emergency early warning to subordinate
cells.
[0033]
The description is given referring back to Fig. 5. The HeNB-GW 220 is
one example of the gateway apparatus 120 described above. The HeNB-GW 220
30 is connected to the HeNBs 211 to 214 and to the MME 230. Further, the
HeNB-GW 220 stores therein distribution destination information 221.
[0034]
Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of the HeNB-GW 220
according to the second embodiment of the present invention . The HeNB-GW
13
220 includes a call control unit 222 and a data management uni t 223. Here, the
call control unit 222 includes the funct ion of the receiver unit 122 and the transfer
unit 124 described above. Further, the data management unit 223 includes the
function of the memory unit 123 described above.
[00355 ]
The call control unit 222 receives, from each of the HeNBs 211 to 214, a
setting request including the HeNB ID of each HeNB and the Emergency Area ID
of each HeNB. Further, when the cal l control unit 222 has received a setting
request, the data management unit 223 associates a HeNB ID 225 and an
10 Emergency Area ID 224 included in the set ting request with each other, and stores
the same as the distribution destination information 221.
[0036]
Further, when the group identification information included in the
distribution request having received from the MME 230 is the Emergency Area ID,
15 the call control unit 222 specifies, out of the distribution destination information
221, at least one HeNB ID 225 associated with the Emergency Area ID 224
included in the distribution request, and transfers the distribut ion request to the
HeNB corresponding to the specified HeNB ID 225.
[0037]
20 The description is given referring back to Fig. 5 . The MME 230 is one
example of the switching center 130 described above . Further, the CBC 240 is a
message distribution station that transmits an emergency early warning
distribution request to the MME 230. It is assumed that the MME 230 and the
CBC 240 are capable of including, as the distribution target to be included in a
25 distribution request , the Emergency Area ID or the like. Note that , since other
structure of the MME 230 and the CBC 240 can be realized by known elements,
illustration and description thereof are omitted.
[0038]
Here, a description will be given of a problem that may arise wi th the
30 existing LTE wireless communication system. Fig. 8 is a table for describing
parameters of an S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST in the LTE. A
Warning Area List in Fig. 8 is one example of the area with which the
above-described group identification information of a group being target to
distribute an emergency early warning is designated. Fig. 9 is a breakdown of the
14
Warning Area List . As shown in Fig. 9, to the Warning Area List, only one of a
Cell ID, a Tracking Area ID (hereinafter referred to as the "TAI"), and the
Emergency Area ID can be set.
[0039]
Accordingly, in the case where the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNIN5 G
REQUEST is used for distributing an emergency early warning in the existing LTE
wireless communication system, the Emergency Area ID may be set to the Warning
Area List . In this case, the HeGW having received the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST cannot specify the HeNB being the distribution destinat ion,
10 and transfers the distribut ion request to every subordinate HeNB. Accordingly,
consequently the transfer process is carried out also on the HeNB not being
assigned to distribute, whereby the process may possibly delay.
[0040]
Accordingly, the mobile communication system 200 according to the
15 second embodiment of the present invention uses the Emergency Area ID as the
group identification information. First ly, the HeNBs 211 to 214 being the radio
base stat ions include, in a setting request to the HeNB-GW 220 being the gateway
apparatus, a HeNB ID being the identification information of each radio base
station and an Emergency Area ID as the group ident ification informat ion.
20 [0041]
Here, the setting request may be at least one of a request for the radio base
station to set a connection with the gateway apparatus, and a request for updating
distribution destination information. Alternat ively, the setting request may be
realized with both of such setting requests.
25 [0042]
Then, firstly, a description will be given of the case where the setting
request is a request for the radio base stat ion to set a connection with the gateway
apparatus. An example of such a setting request may be the S1AP S1 SETUP
REQUEST defined in 36.413 V10.3.0 of the 3GPP.
30 [0043]
Fig. 10 is a table showing an example of parameters of the S1AP S1 SETUP
REQUEST according to the second embodiment of the present invention . Fig. 10
shows that the Emergency Area ID is added to the bottom row.
[0044]
15
Fig. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of an Emergency Area ID
registration process by the S1 SETUP REQUEST according to the second
embodiment of the present invention. Note that , though the process of the HeNB
211 is representatively described in the fol lowing, the same holds true for the
HeNBs 212 to 2145 .
[0045]
Firstly, the HeNB 211 is activated (S201). Then, the transmitter unit 2111
of the HeNB 211 transmits an S1 SETUP REQUEST to the HeNB-GW 220 (S202).
At this time, the transmitter unit 2111 transmits the S1 SETUP REQUEST
10 including the Emergency Area ID 251 and the HeNB ID 261.
[0046]
Subsequently, the cal l control unit 222 of the HeNB-GW 220 extracts the
HeNB ID and the Emergency Area ID from the S1 SETUP REQUEST received from
the HeNB 211. Then, the call control uni t 222 associates the HeNB ID and the
15 Emergency Area ID with each other and stores the same as the distribution
destination information 221 in the data management unit 223 (S203). Thereafter,
the call control unit 222 transmi ts an S1 SETUP RESPONSE to the HeNB 211
(S204).
[0047]
20 Next, a descript ion will be given of the case where the setting request is a
request for updat ing the distribution dest ination informat ion. An example of such
a setting request may be the S1AP ENB CONFIGURATION UPDATE defined in
36.413 V10.3.0 of the 3GPP.
[0048]
25 Fig. 12 is a table showing an example of parameters of the S1AP ENB
CONFIGURATION UPDATE according to the second embodiment of the present
invention. Fig. 12 shows that the Emergency Area ID is added to the lower row.
[0049]
Fig. 13 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of an Emergency Area ID
30 registration process by the ENB CONFIGURATION UPDATE according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0050]
Firstly, the HeNB 211 updates the Emergency Area ID (S211). That is, the
HeNB 211 updates the Emergency Area ID 251 in the memory unit 2114 to other
16
value.
[0051]
Then, the transmitter unit 2111 of the HeNB 211 transmits an ENB
CONFIGURATION UPDATE to the HeNB-GW 220 (S212). At this t ime, the
transmitter unit 2111 transmits the ENB CONFIGURATION UPDATE includin5 g
the updated Emergency Area ID 251 and the HeNB ID 261.
[0052]
Subsequently, the cal l control unit 222 of the HeNB-GW 220 extracts the
HeNB ID and the updated Emergency Area ID from the ENB CONFIGURATION
10 UPDATE received from the HeNB 211. Then, the call control unit 222 associates
the HeNB ID and the updated Emergency Area ID with each other, a nd stores the
same as the distribution destination information 221 in the data management unit
223 (S213). Thereafter, the call control unit 222 transmits an ENB
CONFIGURATION UPDATE ACKNOWLEDGE to the HeNB 211 (S214).
15 [0053]
In this manner, according to the second embodiment , in a setting request
from the HeNB 211 or the l ike being the radio base stat ion to the HeNB-GW 220
being the gateway apparatus, the HeNB ID being the ident ification information of
the radio base station and the Emergency Area ID as the group identification
20 information are included. Then, the HeNB-GW 220 associates the HeNB ID 225
and the Emergency Area ID 224 with each other, and stores the same as the
distribution destination information 221 in the data management uni t 223. Thus,
from then on, when a WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST is issued as an
emergency early warning distribution request from the CBC 240 and the MME 230,
25 if the Emergency Area ID is set to the Warning Area List, the HeNB-GW 220 can
properly specify the HeNB being assigned to distribute by the set Emergency Area
ID.
[0054]
Subsequently, a description will be given of an emergency early warning
30 distribution request from the CBC 240. Fig. 14 is a table for describing
parameters of a SBc-AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST in the LTE.
As shown in Fig. 14, the Warning Area List is included as a parameter, as in Fig. 9.
[0055]
Fig. 15 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of emergency early warning
17
distribution by the WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST according to the
second embodiment of the present invention. Note that , it is assumed that ,
following the process shown in Fig. 11 or 13, the HeNB-GW 220 already retains
the distribution destination information in which the HeNB IDs and the Emergency
Area IDs are associated wi th each other5 .
[0056]
Firstly, the CBC 240 transmits an SBc WRITE-REPLACE WARNING
REQUEST to the MME 230 (S221). At this time, the CBC 240 sets "1" as the
Emergency Area ID to the Warning Area List, and includes the same in the SBc
10 WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST. Note that, the operation of the CBC
240 is as defined in TS29.168 V10.0.0 of the 3GPP.
[0057]
Next, the MME 230 specifies the destination HeNB-GW 220 based on the
SBc WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST received from the CBC 240 (S222).
15 Then, the MME 230 transmits an S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST
to the specified HeNB-GW 220 (S223). At this time, the Emergency Area ID
indicative of "1" is set to the Warning Area List of the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST.
[0058]
20 Subsequently, the cal l control unit 222 of the HeNB-GW 220 extracts the
Emergency Area ID from the Warning Area List of the received S1AP
WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST. Then, the call control unit 222
specifies the HeNB ID associated with the Emergency Area ID out of the
distribution destination information 221 in the data management uni t 223 (S224).
25 Here, since the Emergency Area ID is "1", the HeNBs 211 and 212 are specified in
Fig. 5.
[0059]
Thereafter, the HeNB-GW 220 transmits the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST only to the HeNBs 211 and 212 (S225). Then, the HeNBs
30 211 and 212 distribute an emergency early warning to their respective subordinate
cells, based on the received S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST
(S226).
[0060]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, the HeNB-GW
18
220 previously registers the combinations of the HeNB IDs and the Emergency
Area IDs from the HeNBs 211 to 214. Accordingly, when the Emergency Area ID
is set to the Warning Area List, a proper HeNB can be specified based on the
Emergency Area ID. That is, the transfer destination of the S1AP
WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST can be narrowed to a specified part 5 of
the plurality of HeNBs subordinate to the HeNB-GW 220. Hence, transfer to
excessive HeNBs can be prevented. That is, it becomes possible to suppress
transmission of unnecessary messages, and to prevent a delay in an emergency
early warning distribution process.
10 [0061]
In other words, according to the second embodiment , since the transmission
destination of the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST message is
limited based on the Emergency Area ID reported from the HeNB, transmission of
unnecessary messages can be prevented and effective use of the network can be
15 achieved.
[0062]
Further, according to the second embodiment, by narrowing the
transmission destinat ions of a message, the processing time required at the
HeNB-GW becomes also short, and hence quick report ing of an ETWS message to
20 the HeNB is achieved. Accordingly, an emergency early warning can be more
quickly reported to the users.
[0063]

As shown in Fig. 9, in the case where the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
25 WARNING REQUEST is used for distributing an emergency early warning in the
existing LTE wireless communication system, in some cases, the TAI (Tracking
Area ID) is set to the Warning Area List.
[0064]
Accordingly, in a third embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed
30 that , as the group identification information, the identification information of a
location registration area to which a radio base station itself belongs is used. In
the fol lowing, a description will be given of the case where the TAI is used as the
location registration area. Note that the location registrat ion area is not limi ted
thereto.
19
[0065]
The radio base station according to the third embodiment includes the
identification information of a location registration area to which the radio base
station itself belongs as the group ident ification information in a setting request ,
and transmits the same to the gateway apparatus. The gateway apparatu5 s
according to the third embodiment specifies, when the group identification
information included in a distribution request is the locat ion registration area
identification information, at least one radio base station associated with the
location registration area identification informat ion included in the distribution
10 request out of the distribution destination information . Note that, since the
structure of the mobi le communication system according to the third embodiment
of the present invention is similar to that shown in Fig. 5, illustrat ion and
description thereof are omitted.
[0066]
15 Fig. 16 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of a Tracking Area ID
registration process by the S1 SETUP REQUEST according to the third
embodiment of the present invention. Firstly, the HeNB 211 is activated (S231).
Then, the transmitter unit 2111 of the HeNB 211 transmits a n S1 SETUP
REQUEST to the HeNB-GW 220 (S232). Here, the transmitter unit 2111
20 transmits the S1 SETUP REQUEST including the TAI and the HeNB ID 261.
[0067]
Subsequently, the cal l control unit 222 of the HeNB-GW 220 extracts the
HeNB ID and the TAI from the S1 SETUP REQUEST received from the HeNB 211 .
Then, the call control unit 222 associates the HeNB ID and the TAI with e ach other,
25 and stores the same as the distribution destination information 221 in the data
management unit 223 (S233). Thereafter, the call control unit 222 transmi ts an
S1 SETUP RESPONSE to the HeNB 211 (S234).
[0068]
Note that, since the same holds true for the case where the setting request is
30 an ENB CONFIGURATION UPDATE, a specific description thereof is omi tted.
[0069]
Fig. 17 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of emergency early warning
distribution by the WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST according to the
third embodiment of the present invention. Here, it is assumed that the HeNB 211
20
in Fig. 5 belongs to a TAI "X"; the HeNBs 212 and 213 belong to a TAI "Y"; and
the HeNB 214 belongs to a TAI "Z" . Note that , it is assumed that, following the
process shown in Fig. 16, the HeNB-GW 220 already retains the distribution
destination information in which the HeNB IDs and the TAIs are associated with
each other5 .
[0070]
Firstly, the CBC 240 transmits an SBc WRITE-REPLACE WARNING
REQUEST to the MME 230 (S241). At this time, the CBC 240 sets the TAI "Y"
to the Warning Area List and includes the same in the SBc WRITE-REPLACE
10 WARNING REQUEST. Note that the operat ion of the CBC 240 is as defined in
TS29.168 V10.0.0 of the 3GPP.
[0071]
Next, the MME 230 specif ies the destination HeNB-GW 220 based on the
SBc WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST received from the CBC 240 (S242).
15 Then, the MME 230 transmits an S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST
to the specified HeNB-GW 220 (S243). At this time, the TAI "Y" is set to the
Warning Area List of the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST.
[0072]
Subsequently, the cal l control unit 222 of the HeNB-GW 220 extracts the
20 TAI from the Warning Area List of the received S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST. Then, the call control unit 222 specifies the HeNB ID
associated with the TAI out of the distribution destination information 221 in the
data management uni t 223 (S244). Here, because of the TAI "Y", the HeNBs 212
and 213 are specified in Fig. 5.
25 [0073]
Thereafter, the HeNB-GW 220 transmits the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST only to the HeNBs 212 and 213 (S245). Then, the HeNBs
212 and 213 distribute an emergency early warning to their respective subordinate
cells based on the received S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST
30 (S246).
[0074]
As described above, according to the third embodiment , the effect similar
to that achieved according to the second embodiment can be achieved by using the
TAI as the group identificat ion information.
21
[0075]

As shown in Fig. 14 described above, the SBc-AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST is reported from the CBC 240 to the MME 230 . This
includes therein a List of TAIs . The same holds true for a SBc-AP STO5 P
WARNING REQUEST (Fig. 18). Accordingly, the MME 230 specifies the
distribution-assigned eNB using the List of TAIs. This is explicit from the
description "The Tracking Area ID list is only used by the MME. The MME uses
it for selecting which eNodeBs to forward the Write -Replace Warning Request
10 message to." in TS23.401 V10.3.0 of the 3GPP.
[0076]
Here, to the Warning Area List appearing in Figs. 14 and 18, only one of
the Cell ID, the TAI and the Emergency Area ID is set as shown in Fig. 9 . Further,
to the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST transmi tted from the MME
15 230 to the HeNB-GW 220, as shown in Fig. 8, the Warning Area List set to the
SBc-AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST is set as it is.
[0077]
Here, as in the third embodiment, it is assumed that the HeNB-GW 220
previously retains the distribution destination information in which the HeNB IDs
20 and and the TAIs are associated with each other. Here, in the case where the
Emergency Area ID is set to the Warning Area List, the HeNB-GW 220 cannot
properly specify the HeNB to be the transfer destination.
[0078]
Accordingly, in the fourth embodiment, the MME 230 further adds, in
25 addi tion to the Warning Area List, the List of TAIs included in the SBc -AP
WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST to the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST.
[0079]
That is, the switching center according to the fourth embodiment receives
30 from an external source a distribution request which includes the location
registration area identificat ion information, in addition to the group identification
information. Then, when the group ident ification information included in the
received distribution request is not the location registration area identification
information, the switching center includes the location registrat ion area
22
identification information in addition to the group identificat ion informat ion, and
transmits the same as the distribution request to the gateway apparatus.
Thereafter, the gateway apparatus specifies at least one radio base station
associated with the location registration area identification information included in
the distribution request, out of the distribution destination information5 .
[0080]
Fig. 19 is a table showing an example of parameters of the S1AP
WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST according to the fourth embodiment of
the present invention. That is, in addition to the Warning Area List, the List of
10 TAIs can be set . Thus, the HeNB-GW 220 can efficiently transmit an S1AP
WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST message to the HeNBs.
[0081]
Fig. 20 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of emergency early warning
distribution by the WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST according to the
15 fourth embodiment of the present invention. Here, similarly to Fig. 17, it is
assumed that, following the process shown in Fig. 16, the HeNB-GW 220 already
retains the distribution destination information i n which the HeNB IDs and the
TAIs are associated with each other.
[0082]
20 Firstly, the CBC 240 transmits an SBc WRITE-REPLACE WARNING
REQUEST to the MME 230 (S251). At this time, the CBC 240 sets the
Emergency Area ID "3" to the Warning Area List and sets the TAI "Z" to the List of
TAIs, and includes the same in the SBc WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST.
[0083]
25 Next, the MME 230 extracts the List of TAIs from the SBc
WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST received from the CBC 240, and
specifies the destinat ion HeNB-GW 220 based on the REQUEST (S252). Then,
the MME 230 transmits an S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST to the
specified HeNB-GW 220 (S253). At this time, the HeNB-GW 220 adds the
30 extracted List of TAIs (TAI "Z") to the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING
REQUEST. Note that, to the Warning Area List, the Emergency Area ID "3" has
been set .
[0084]
Subsequently, the cal l control unit 222 of the HeNB-GW 220 extracts the
23
Emergency Area ID "3" from the Warning Area List of the received S1AP
WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST. Also, the cal l control uni t 222
extracts the List of TAIs (TAI "Z") of the received S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST. Then, the call control unit 222 specifies the HeNB ID
associated with the TAI out of the distribution destination information (S254)5 .
Here, because of the TAI "Z", the HeNB 214 is specified in Fig. 5 . Note that,
since the HeNB 214 also corresponds to the Emergency Area ID "3", consequently
a proper HeNB is specified.
[0085]
10 Thereafter, the HeNB-GW 220 transmits the S1AP WRITE-REPLACE
WARNING REQUEST only to the HeNB 214 (S255). Then, the HeNB 214
distributes an emergency early warning to each of the subordinate cells based on
the received S1AP WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST (S256).
[0086]
15
In the foregoing second to fourth embodiments, the description has been
given of the case where an emergency early warning is distributed from the CBC,
that is, the case where a "WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST" is transmitted
therefrom. Accordingly, in the fol lowing, a description wi ll be given of the case
20 where already cont inuing emergency early warning distribution is stopped.
[0087]
Firstly, the CBC transmits information for cancelling (stopping) already
cont inuing emergency early warning distribution . This information is, for
example, a "STOP WARNING REQUEST" message (see 3GPP TS 29.168) .
25 Similarly to the "WRITE-REPLACE WARNING REQUEST", this message
includes information for select ing an eNB or a HeNB-GW.
[0088]
Next, the MME receives the information for cancel ling (stopping) the
already continuing emergency early warning distribution . Upon receipt , the
30 MME selects an eNB or a HeNB-GW for transmission, using the List of TAIs
included in the information. Thereafter, the MME transmits, to the HeNB-GW,
the information for cancelling (stopping) the already continuing emergency early
warning distribut ion. This information is, for example, a "KILL REQUEST"
message (see 3GPP TS 36.413).
24
[0089]
Subsequently, the cal l control unit of the HeNB-GW acquires, from the data
management unit , information on a HeNB corresponding to the Emergency Area ID
set to the Warning Area List.
[00905 ]
Thereafter, the call control unit of the HeNB-GW selects a proper HeNB
based on the informat ion acquired from the data management unit . The
HeNB-GW transmits, to the proper HeNB, the information for cancelling
(stopping) the already continuing emergency early warning distribut ion (for
10 example, the "KILL REQUEST" message).
[0091]
In this manner, i t becomes possible for the HeNB-GW to transmit, to only a
proper HeNB, information for cancelling (stopping) already continuing emergency
early warning distribution (for example, the "KILL REQUEST" message) .
15 Accordingly, similarly to the first to fourth embodiments, a distribution request
will not be transferred to any radio base station not consequently required to
perform distribution. Therefore, a delay in an emergency early warning
distribution process can be prevented.
[0092]
20 From the foregoing, the structures of the second to fourth embodiments can
each be replaced by the structure of stopping already continuing emergency early
warning distribut ion described above. That is, it is also possible to apply, to an
existing mobile communication system, only the function of stopping distribution .
Alternatively, it is also possible to add the function of stopping distribution to the
25 structure of the second to fourth embodiments.
[0093]
Note that, in the case where an Emergency Area ID covers a narrower range
than a TAI, that is, in the case where the distribution area information is a group to
which part of a plural ity of radio base stations belonging to a location registration
30 area belongs, the number of transfer destinations can be reduced as compared to
the case where transfer is carried out based on the TAI, and hence the effect of the
second embodiment becomes more pronounced.
[0094]
Note that , the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention can be
25
also applied to the CMAS (Commercial Mobile Alert System).
[0095]
Further, the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention can be
referred to as methods of realizing filtering ETWS messages by the HeNB-GW. It
becomes possible to carry out filtering such that a WRITE-REPLACE WARNIN5 G
REQUEST message is transmitted only to a proper HeNB.
[0096]
Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment s described
above, and it goes wi thout saying that various changes can be made within the
10 scope not depart ing from the gist of the present invention which has been already
described above. For example, in the embodiment s described above, though the
present invention has been described as hardware structure s, the present invention
is not limited thereto. In connection with the present invention, respective
processes of the radio base stat ion, the gateway apparatus , and the switching center
15 can be realized by causing separate CPUs (Central Processing Units) to execute
computer programs.
[0097]
In such an example, the program can be stored using various types of
non-transitory computer readable media (non-transitory computer readable media)
20 and supplied to a computer. The non-transitory computer readable media include
various types of tangible storage media (tangible storage media). Exemplary
non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic recording media (for
example, flexible disks, magnet ic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto -optical
recording media (for example, magneto-optical discs), CD-ROMs (Read Only
25 Memories), CD-Rs, CD-R/Ws, DVDs (Digi tal Versatile Discs), BDs (Blu-ray
(registered trademark) Discs), semiconductor memories (for example, mask ROMs,
PROMs (Programmable ROMs), EPROMs (Erasable PROMs), flash ROMs, RAMs
(Random Access Memories)). Further, the program may be supplied to a
computer by various types of transitory computer readable media (transitory
30 computer readable media). Exemplary transitory computer readable media
include electric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The
transitory computer readable medium can supply such a program to a computer via
wired communication path such as an electrical wire and an optical fiber, or via a
wireless communication path.
26
[0098]
Part of or all the foregoing embodiments can be described as in the
following appendixes, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0099]
(Supplementary Note 15 )
A mobile communication system comprising:
a plurality of radio base stations that each transmit a setting request
including ident ification information of the radio base station itself and group
identification information ident ifying a group to which the radio base station
10 belongs;
a gateway apparatus that is connected to the plurality of radio base stations,
the gateway apparatus associating, upon receipt of the setting request, the
identification information and the group ident ification information included in the
setting request with each other and storing as distribution destination information;
15 and
a switching center that transmits, to the gateway apparatus, a distribution
request including group identification information of a group being a target to
distribute an emergency early warning, wherein
the gateway apparatus specifies, upon receipt of the distribution request, at
20 least one of the radio base stations that is associated with the group ident ificati on
information included in the distribut ion request out of the distribution destination
information,
the gateway apparatus transfers the distribution request to the specified
radio base station, and
25 the radio base station distributes, when the distributi on request has been
transferred from the gateway apparatus, the emergency early warning to a
subordinate cell.
[0100]
(Supplementary Note 2)
30 The mobile communication system according to Supplementary Note 1,
wherein the setting request is at least one of a request for the radio base station to
set a connection with the gateway apparatus and a request for updat ing the
distribution destination information.
[0101]
27
(Supplementary Note 3)
The mobile communication system according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2,
wherein
the radio base stations each have distribution area information ident ifying
an area to which the emergency early warning is distributed5 ,
the radio base stations each transmi t, to the gateway apparatus, the set ting
request including the distribution area information as the group identification
information, and
the gateway apparatus specifies, when the group identification information
10 included in the distribution request is the distribution area information, at least
one of the radio base stations that is associated with the distribution area
information included in the distribut ion request out of the distribution destination
information.
[0102]
15 (Supplementary Note 4)
The mobile communication system according to any one of Supplementary
Notes 1 to 3, wherein the group is a group to which part of the plurality of radio
base stat ions belonging to a location registration area belongs.
[0103]
20 (Supplementary Note 5)
The mobile communication system according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2,
wherein
the radio base stations each transmi t, to the gateway apparatus, the set ting
request including identification information of a location registrat ion area to
25 which the radio base station belongs as the group identificat ion information, and
the gateway apparatus specifies, when the group identification information
included in the distribution request is the ident ification information of the location
registration area, at least one of the radio base stat ions that is associated with the
identification information of the location registration area included in the
30 distribution request out of the distribution destination information.
[0104]
(Supplementary Note 6)
The mobile communication system according to Supplementary Note 5,
wherein
28
the switching center externally receives the distribution request including
the identification information of the locat ion registration area in addition to the
group identification information,
when the group ident ification information included in the received
distribution request is not the identification information of the locatio5 n
registration area, the switching center transmits, to the gateway apparatus, the
distribution request including the identification information of the location
registration area in addition to the group ident ification information, and
the gateway apparatus specifies at least one of the radio base stations that
10 is associated with the identification information of the location registration area
included in the distribution request out of the distribution d estination information.
[0105]
(Supplementary Note 7)
The mobile communication system according to any one of Supplementary
15 Notes 1 to 6, wherein the mobile communication system is of an LTE (Long Term
Evolution) scheme.
[0106]
(Supplementary Note 8)
A mobile communication method comprising:
20 transmitting, by each of a plurality of radio base stations connected to a
gateway apparatus, a setting request including identification information of the
radio base station itself and group identification informa tion identifying a group to
which the radio base station belongs to the gateway apparatus;
associating, by the gateway apparatus, upon receipt of the setting request,
25 the identification information and the group identification information included in
the set ting request wi th each other, and storing as distribution destination
information;
transmitting, by a swi tching center, to the gateway apparatus, a distribution
request including group identification information of a group being a target to
30 distribute an emergency early warning;
specifying, by the gateway apparatus, upon receipt of the distribution
request, at least one of the radio base stat ions that is associated with the group
identification information included in the distribution request out of th e
distribution destination information, and transferring the distribution request to
29
the specified radio base stat ion; and
distributing, by the radio base station, the emergency early warning to a
subordinate cell when the distribution request has been tr ansferred from the
gateway apparatus.
[01075 ]
(Supplementary Note 9)
A gateway apparatus that is connected to a plural ity of radio base stat ions,
the gateway apparatus comprising:
receiving means for receiving, from each of the plurality of radio base
10 stations, a setting request including identification information of the radio base
station itself and group identification information identifying a group to which the
radio base station belongs;
storing means for associating, upon receipt of the setting re quest, the
identification information and the group ident ification information included in the
15 setting request with each other and storing as distribution destination information;
and
transferring means for specifying, upon receipt of the distribution req uest
including the group ident ification information of a group being a target to
distribute an emergency early warning from a switching center, at least one of the
20 radio base stations that is associated with the group identification information
included in the distribution request out of the distribution destination information,
and transferring the distribution request to the specified radio base stat ion.
[0108]
(Supplementary Note 10)
25 A radio base station that is connected to a gateway apparatus, the ra dio
base stat ion comprising:
transmitting means for transmi tting, to the gateway apparatus, a setting
request including identification information of the radio base station itself and
group identification information ident ifying a group to which the radio base
30 station belongs, so as to cause the gateway apparatus to associate the identification
information and the group ident ification informat ion with each other and to store
as distribut ion destination information; and
distributing means for distributing an emergency early warning to a
subordinate cell, in response to the gateway apparatus: receiving a distribution
30
request including group identification information of a group being a target to
distribute the emergency early warning from a switching center; specifying the
identification information of the radio base station itself associated wi th the group
identification information included in the distribution request out of the
distribution destination information; and transferring the distribution request 5 .
[0109]
(Supplementary Note 11)
A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a control program
for controll ing a gateway apparatus connected to a plurality of radio base stations,
10 the control program causing the radio base stat ion to execute:
a receiving process of receiving, from each of the plurality of radio base
stations, a setting request including identification information of the radio base
station itself and group identification information identifying a group to which the
radio base station belongs;
15 a storing process of associat ing, upon receipt of the setting request , the
identification information and the group ident ification information included in the
setting request with each other and storing as distribution destination informati on;
and
a transferring process of specifying, upon receipt of the distribut ion request
20 including the group ident ification information of a group being a target to
distribute an emergency early warning from a switching center, at least one of the
radio base stations that is associated with the group identification information
included in the distribution request out of the distribution destination information,
and transferring the distribution request to the specified radio base stat ion.
25 [0110]
(Supplementary Note 12)
A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a control program
for controll ing a radio base station connected to a gateway apparatus, the control
program causing the radio base station to execute:
30 a transmission process of transmitt ing, to the gateway apparatus , a setting
request including identification information of the radio base station itself and
group identification information ident ifying a group to which the gateway
apparatus belongs, so as to cause the gateway apparatus to associate the
identification information and the group ident ification information with each other
31
and to store as distribution destination information; and
a distribution process of distributing an emergency early warning to a
subordinate cell, in response to the gateway apparatus: receiving a distribution
request including group identification information of a group being a target to
distribute the emergency early warning from a switching center; specifying th5 e
identification information of the radio base station itself associated wi th the group
identification information included in the distribution request out of the
distribution destination information; and transferring the distribution request.
[0111]
10 In the foregoing, though the present invention has been described with
reference to the embodiment s, the present invention is not limited thereby. The
structure and details of the present invention can be changed in various manners
that can be understood by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the
invention.
15 [0112]
The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent Appl ication No.
2012-180765 filed on August 17, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
20 Reference Signs List
[0113]
100 mobile communication system
111 radio base station
112 radio base station
25 11n radio base station
120 gateway apparatus
121 distribution destination information
122 receiver unit
123 memory unit
30 124 transfer unit
125 radio base station identification information
126 group identificat ion information
130 switching center
200 mobile communication system
32
211 HeNB
212 HeNB
213 HeNB
214 HeNB
220 HeNB-5 GW
221 distribution destination information
222 call control unit
223 data management unit
224 Emergency Area ID
10 225 HeNB ID
230 MME
240 CBC
251 Emergency Area ID
252 Emergency Area ID
15 253 Emergency Area ID
254 Emergency Area ID
261 HeNB ID
1111 transmitter unit
1112 distributor uni t
20 2111 transmit ter unit
2112 receiver uni t
2113 distributor unit
2114 memory unit
33
WE CLAIM:
1. A mobile communication system comprising:
a plurality of radio base stations that each transmit a setting request
including ident ification information of the radio base station itself and grou5 p
identification information ident ifying a group to which the radio base station
belongs;
a gateway apparatus that is connected to the plurality of radio base stations,
the gateway apparatus associating, upon receipt of the setting request, the
10 identification information and the group ident ification information included in the
setting request with each other and storing as distribution destination information;
and
a switching center that transmits, to the gateway apparatus , a distribution
request including group identification information of a group being a target to
15 distribute an emergency early warning, wherein
the gateway apparatus specifies, upon receipt of the distribution request, at
least one of the radio base stations that is associated with the group ident ification
information included in the distribut ion request out of the distribution destination
information,
20 the gateway apparatus transfers the distribution request to the specified
radio base station, and
the radio base station distributes, when the distribution reques t has been
transferred from the gateway apparatus, the emergency early warning to a
subordinate cell.
25
2. The mobile communication system according to Claim 1, wherein the
setting request is at least one of a request for the radio base station to set a
connection with the gateway apparatus and a request for updating the distribution
destination information.
30
3. The mobile communication system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein
the radio base stations each have distribution area information ident ifying
an area to which the emergency early warning is distributed,
the radio base stations each transmi t , to the gateway apparatus, the set ting
34
request including the distribution area information as the group identification
information, and
the gateway apparatus specifies, when the group identification information
included in the distribution request is the distribution area information, at least
one of the radio base stations that is associated with the distribution are5 a
information included in the distribut ion request out of the distribution destination
information.
4. The mobi le communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3,
10 wherein the group is a group to which part of the plurality of radio base stat ions
belonging to a location registrat ion area belongs.
5. The mobile communication system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein
the radio base stations each transmi t , to the gateway apparatus, the set ting
15 request including identification information of a location registrat ion area to
which the radio base station belongs as the group identificat ion information, and
the gateway apparatus specifies, when the group identification information
included in the distribution request is the ident ification information of the location
registration area, at leas t one of the radio base stat ions that is associated with the
20 identification information of the location registration area included in the
distribution request out of the distribution destination information.
6. The mobile communication system according t o Claim 5, wherein
the switching center externally receives the distribution request including
25 the identification information of the locat ion registration area in addition to the
group identification information,
when the group ident ification information included in the received
distribution request is not the identification information of the location
registration area, the switching center transmits , to the gateway apparatus , the
30 distribution request including the identification information of the locat ion
registration area in addition to the group ident ification information, and
the gateway apparatus specifies at least one of the radio base stations that
is associated with the identification information of the location registration area
included in the distribution request out of the distribution destination information.
35
7. The mobi le communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 6,
wherein the mobile communication system is of an LTE (Long Term Evolution)
scheme.
5
8. A mobile communication method comprising:
transmitting, by each of a plurality of radio base stations connected to a
gateway apparatus, a setting request including identification information of the
radio base station itself and group identification information identifying a g roup to
10 which the radio base station belongs to the gateway apparatus;
associating, by the gateway apparatus, upon receipt of the setting request,
the identification information and the group identification information included in
the set ting request wi th each other, and storing as distribution destination
information;
15 transmitting, by a swi tching center, to the gateway apparatus, a distribution
request including group identification information of a group being a target to
distribute an emergency early warning;
specifying, by the gateway apparatus, upon receipt of the distribution
request, at least one of the radio base stat ions that is associated with the group
20 identification information included in the distribution request out of the
distribution destination information, and transferring the distribution request to
the specified radio base stat ion; and
distributing, by the radio base station, the emergency early warning to a
subordinate cell when the distribution request has been transferred from the
25 gateway apparatus.
9. A gateway apparatus that is connected to a plurality of radio base
stations, the gateway apparatus comprising:
receiving means for receiving, from each of the plurality of radio base
30 stations, a setting request including identificat ion information of the radio base
station itself and group identification information identifying a group to which the
radio base station belongs;
storing means for associating, upon receipt of the setting request, the
identification information and the group ident ification information included in the
36
setting request with each other and storing as distribution destination information;
and
transferring means for specifying, upon receipt of the distribution request
including the group ident ification informa tion of a group being a target to
distribute an emergency early warning from a switching center, at least one of th5 e
radio base stations that is associated with the group identification information
included in the distribution request out of the distributi on destination information,
and transferring the distribution request to the specified radio base stat ion.
10 10. A radio base station that is connected to a gateway apparatus, the radio
base stat ion comprising:
transmitting means for transmi tting, to the gateway apparatus, a setting
request including identification information of the radio base station itself and
group identification information ident ifying a group to which the radio base
15 station belongs, so as to cause the gateway apparatus to associate the identification
information and the group ident ification informat ion with each other and to store
as distribut ion destination information; and
distributing means for distributing an emergency early warning to a
subordinate cell, in response to the gateway apparatus: receiving a distribution
20 request including group identification information of a group being a target to
distribute the emergency early warning from a switching center; specifying the
identification information of the radio base station itself associated wi th the group
identification information included in the distribution request out of the
distribution destination information; and transferring the distribution request.