Specification
Title of Invention
MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, RELAY STATION, BASE STATION,
AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
Technical Field
[0001]
The present application relates to a method of selecting a cell to be used for connection
between a relay station and a base station from a plurality of candidate cells in a mobile
communication system including a base station and a relay station that belongs to the base
station.
Background Art
[0002]
In LTE-Advanced (Long Term Evolution Advanced) of 3GPP (3rd Generation
Partnership Project), the introduction of relay stations (hereinafter "RNs (Relay Nodes)") has
been examined (see NPL 1 and 2). The RN is one of techniques for increasing the
communication speed of mobile stations (hereinafter "UEs (User Equipments)") located at cell
edges and/or for increasing cell areas of base stations (hereinafter "eNBs (Evolved Node Bs)").
The details of the RN architecture examined in 3GPP are shown in NPL 2.
[0003]
The outline of a mobile communication system based on the RN architecture disclosed
in NPL 2 is explained hereinafter. Fig. 1 shows a network configuration example when the RN
examined in 3GPP is used. A base station (eNB) 9 1 belongs to a core network (hereinafter
"CN") 4 of a mobile telecommunications carrier. The base station (eNB) 9 1 creates an eNB cell
10 and relays traffic between a mobile station (UE) 3 and the core network (CN) 4. A relay
station (RN) 92 belongs to the base station (eNB) 9 1 by means of a backhaul link (BL1 in the
figure) and also belongs to the core network (CN) 4 via the backhaul link (BL1). The base
station (eNB) 9 1 and the relay station (RN) 92 can connect to a management apparatus 5 via the
core network (CN) 4. The management apparatus 5 is an OAM (Operation Administration and
Maintenance) system, and administers information set by the mobile telecommunications carrier.
The relay station (RN) 92 is able to acquire information from the management apparatus 5. The
mobile station (UE) 3 belongs to the base station (eNB) 9 1 or the relay station (RN) 92 by means
of an access link (ALl in the figure). The relay station (RN) 92 creates an RN cell 20 and relays
traffic between the mobile station (UE) 3 and the core network (CN) 4. Details of the backhaul
link and the access link are explained later.
[0004]
Fig. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the outline of an RN start-up procedure described
in Section 4.7.6 of NPL 3. The start-up procedure includes a phase 1 and a phase 2 explained
below. In the phase 1, the relay station (RN) 92 connects to a network (E-UTRAN/EPC) as a
mobile station (UE). Then, the relay station (RN) 92 acquires initialization parameters from the
management apparatus 5 (i.e., OAM system). The initialization parameters include a list (i.e., a
donor cell list) of eNB cells to which the relay station (RN) 92 can belong as an RN by using a
backhaul link (BL1). After acquiring the initialization parameters, the relay station (RN) 92
releases the network connection as the UE and thereby finishes the phase 1. Note that the base
station (eNB) 91-1 to which the relay station (RN) 92 belongs in the phase 1 does not necessarily
have the function of allowing a relay station (RN) to belong thereto.
[0005]
In the phase 2, the relay station (RN) 92 selects one of at least one eNB cell (i.e.,
candidate for donor cell) indicated by the donor cell list acquired from the management
apparatus 5, and belongs to a base station (eNB) 91-2 operating the selected cell as a relay
station (RN). Then, the relay station (RN) 92 acquires configuration information of the backhaul
link (BL1) from the base station (eNB) 91-2 to which the relay station (RN) 92 belongs, and
configures the backhaul link (BL1). After finishing the procedure of the phase 2, the relay
station (RN) 92 starts to operate the relay station cell (RN cell) 20.
[0006]
Further, as disclosed in NPL 4, there are three types, i.e., type 1, type la, and type l b in
the RN examined in 3GPP. The RN may support only one of these three types, or may change
the operating mode between plural types. Alternatively, different operating modes may be used
for different UEs. The type-1 RN uses the same carrier (i.e., the same frequency) for the
backhaul link and the access link (in-band), and time-divides the radio resources for the backhaul
link and the radio resources for the access link. The main purpose of this scheme is to avoid the
interference from the access-link transmission to the backhaul-link reception in the RN.
[0007]
The type-la RN uses different carriers (i.e., different frequencies) for the backhaul link
and the access link (out-band). Therefore, the type- l a RN does not require the time-division for
radio resources unlike the type-1 RN, and performs mutually independent communications
between the backhaul link and the access link.
[0008]
Similarly to the type-1 RN, the type- l b RN uses the same frequency for the backhaul
link and the access link. However, the type- l b RN does not time-divide the radio resources.
This type is used on condition that the interference from the access-link transmission to the
backhaul-link reception is sufficiently suppressed.
[0009]
In the phase 2 of the above-described start-up procedure, the RN transmits RN
identification information including an RN type to the eNB. Then, the eNB determines the
control method of the backhaul link based on the RN type information included in the RN
identification information. More specifically, the eNB determines whether the resources of the
backhaul link should be time-divided or not based on the RN type information.
[0010]
In the specification of the present application, among the eNBs, an eNB that can allow
an RN to belong thereto is called "Donor eNB" (hereinafter "DeNB"). A mobile station (UE)
that directly belongs to a relay station (RN) is called "RN-UE". Further, in the discussion on
3GPP, a demand for supporting multihop RNs in the future is arising. The multihop RN is a
technique that makes it possible to connect an additional relay station (RN) to a relay station
(RN) that already belongs to an eNB in a cascade configuration. In this specification, in the
explanation relating to the multihop technique, a relay station (RN) belonging to an eNB through
a radio interface is called "upper RN" and a relay station (RN) belonging to the upper RN
through a radio interface is called "lower RN" in order to distinguish them from each other.
Further, in this specification, a radio interface between an eNB and an RN and between an upper
RN and a lower RN is called "backhaul link". Meanwhile, a radio interface between an eNB and
an eNB-UE and between an RN and an RN-UE is called "access link".
Citation List
Non Patent Literature
[001 1]
NPL 1: 3GPP TR 36.912 V9.2.0 (2010-03), "Feasibility study for Further
Advancements for E-UTRA (LTE-Advanced)", 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project),
March 2010
NPL 2 : 3GPP TR 36.806 V9.0.0 (2010-03), "Relay architectures for E-UTRA (LTEAdvanced)",
3GPP, March 2010
NPL 3: 3GPP TS 36.300 V10.2.0 (2010-12), "Overall description; Stage 2 (Release
10)", 3GPP, December 2010
NPL 4: 3GPP TR 36.814 V9.0.0 (2010-03), "Further advancements for E-UTRA
physical layer aspects", 3GPP, March 2010
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0012]
The inventors of the present application have made detailed examination on the donor
cell selection method that is used when plural candidate donor cells are indicated by the donor
cell list. In the above-described procedure disclosed in NPL 3, the relay station (RN) acquires a
donor cell list from a management apparatus such as an OAM system that is different from the
base station (eNB). Further, the RN selects a donor cell from the donor cell list based solely on
information administered by the RN (e.g., received power measured by the RN) and requests
connection with the selected cell. However, the candidate donor cells indicated by the donor cell
list, which is supplied from the management apparatus (i.e., OAM system) to the RN, are
controlled by eNB(s) based on information administered by the eNB(s) (e.g., the load of the cells
and the backhaul link configuration of other RN). Therefore, there is a possibility that a donor
cell that is selected based solely on the information administered by the RN (such as received
power measured by the RN) is not a desirable cell for the eNB(s) included in the mobile
communication system.
[0013]
For example, assume a case where an eNB generates two cells (first and second cells).
When the first and second cells are both indicated by a donor cell list acquired from the
management apparatus, the RN selects one of the first and second cells as a donor cell based on
the reception quality of the first and second cells measured by the RN itself. In this example,
assume that the first cell is selected. Then, the RN requests the eNB that the RN connects to the
first cell as an RN. However, there is a possibility that the second cell is more desirable than the
first cell as the cell to which the RN newly connects in consideration of the status of the first and
second cells at the time when the connection is requested from the RN, i.e., in consideration of
the load of the first and second cells, the connection status of other RN, and the like. However,
the eNB cannot effectively control the decision on the donor cell that is made by the RN.
[0014]
As a way of solving this problem, it is conceivable that the eNB (s) waits until the RN
requests connection with the most suitable donor cell. Specifically, the eNB (s) may respond
with the rejection to the connection request by the RN when the donor cell requested by the RN
is not a suitable cell. The RN that receives the rejection response requests connection with a
newly-selected donor cell. The eNB (s) repeats the rejection response as long as the donor cell
requested by the RN is not a suitable cell, and waits for a connection request for the most
suitable donor cell. However, in this method, the rejection response is possibly repeated for
many times and therefore a long time is wasted until finding the optimal donor cell. In particular,
when the donor cell is switched (backhaul link is switched) after the operation of the RN cell is
started, i.e., when the donor cell is switched in a state where an RN-UE already exists, the
operation of the RN is temporarily suspended. Therefore, taking a long time for the switching of
the donor cell may cause a significant impact on the RN-UE.
[0015]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems.
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile communication system, a relay
station, a base station, a control method thereof, and a program, capable of determining a donor
cell based on both donor cell selection criteria on a relay station side and donor cell selection
criteria on a base station side.
Solution to Problem
[0016]
According to one embodiment, a mobile communication system includes at least one
base station and a relay station. The relay station is configured to acquire a donor cell list
indicating at least one candidate cell. Further, one of a first base station, included in the at least
one base station, and the relay station is configured to determine a donor cell, to be connected to
the relay station by the backhaul link, from the donor cell list based on both first cell
management information and second cell management information. The first cell management
information relates to the at least one candidate cell and originates from the at least one base
station. The second cell management information originates from the relay station.
[0017]
According to another embodiment, a relay station apparatus includes a radio
communication unit and a control unit. The radio communication unit is configured to relay
transmission and reception data to and from a mobile station by using a backhaul link connected
to one of at least one base station and an access link connected to the mobile station. The control
unit acquires a donor cell list indicating at least one candidate cell through the radio
communication unit. Further, the control unit maintains second cell management information.
Further, the control unit determines a donor cell, to be connected to the relay station apparatus by
the backhaul link, from the donor cell list in response to receiving first cell management
information relating to the at least one candidate cell and originating from the at least one base
station.
[0018]
According to still another embodiment, a base station apparatus includes a radio
communication unit and a control unit. The radio communication unit is configured to perform
data transfer, through a backhaul link connected to a relay station, with a mobile station
connected to the relay station by means of an access link. The control unit maintains or receives,
from another base station apparatus, first cell management information. Further, the control unit
determines a donor cell, to be connected to the relay station by the backhaul link, from the donor
cell list in response to receiving second cell management information from the relay station. The
first cell management information relates to the at least one candidate cell.
[0019]
According to yet another embodiment, a control method of a relay station apparatus
includes:
(a) acquiring a donor cell list indicating at least one candidate cell;
(b) maintaining second cell management information; and
(c) determining a donor cell, to be connected to the relay station apparatus by the backhaul link,
from the donor cell list in response to receiving first cell management information relating to the
at least one candidate cell from the at least one base station.
[0020]
According to further embodiment, a control method of a base station includes:
(a) maintaining or receives, from another base station apparatus, first cell management
information; and
(b) determining a donor cell, to be connected to the relay station by the backhaul link, from the
donor cell list in response to receiving second cell management information from the relay
station, the first cell management information relating to the at least one candidate cell and
originating from at least one base station including the base station apparatus.
[0021]
According to still further embodiment, a program for causing a computer to carry out
the method according to the yet another embodiment is provided.
[0022]
According to yet further embodiment, a program for causing a computer to carry out the
method according to the further embodiment is provided.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0023]
According to the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention, it is possible
to provide a relay station, a base station, a control method thereof, and a program which are
capable of determining a donor cell based on both donor cell selection criteria on a relay station
side and donor cell selection criteria on a base station side.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0024]
[Fig- 1]
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a mobile communication
system according to related art;
[Fig. 2]
Fig. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a start-up procedure of a relay station according to
related art;
[Fig- 3]
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a mobile communication
system according to a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 4]
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a base station according
to the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig- 5]
Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a base station according
to the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 6]
Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a base station according
to the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 7]
Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a base station control
apparatus according to the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 8]
Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a donor cell selection procedure of
a relay station according to the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig- 9]
Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram showing another example of a donor cell selection
procedure of a relay station according to the first illustrative embodiment of the present
invention;
[Fig. 10]
Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a relay station according to the
first illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 11]
Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a base station according to the
first illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 12]
Fig. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a donor cell selection procedure
of a relay station according to a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 13]
Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a relay station according to the
second illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 14]
Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a base station according to the
second illustrative embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 15]
Fig. 15 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a donor cell selection procedure
of a relay station according to a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and
[Fig. 16]
Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation example of a base station according to the
third illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
Description of Embodiments
[0025]
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail
with reference to the drawings. Identical or corresponding elements are designated by identical
reference numerals throughout the drawings, and redundant description thereof will be omitted
except when necessary.
[0026]
In the above-described first to third illustrative embodiments, examples of an LTEAdvanced-
type mobile communication system are explained. However, the application of the
present invention is not limited to LTE-Advanced-type mobile communication systems. That is,
the present invention can be widely applied to mobile communication systems including a relay
station.
[0084]
Any of the processes of the base station 1 and the relay station 2 that are performed for
determining a donor cell as described in the above-described first to third illustrative
embodiments may be implemented by using a semiconductor processing device such as an ASIC
(Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Alternatively,
these processes may be implemented by causing a computer such as a microprocessor to execute
a program. Specifically, a program including instructions to cause a computer to execute an
algorithm shown in at least one of Figs. 10, 11, 13, 1 and 16 may be created, and the created
program may be supplied to a computer.
[0085]
This program can be stored in various types of non-transitory computer readable media
and thereby supplied to computers. The non-transitory computer readable media includes
various types of tangible storage media. Examples of the non-transitory computer readable
media include a magnetic recording medium (such as a flexible disk, a magnetic tape, and a hard
disk drive), a magneto-optic recording medium (such as a magneto-optic disk), a CD-ROM
(Read Only Memory), a CD-R, and a CD-R/W, and a semiconductor memory (such as a mask
ROM, a PROM (Programmable ROM), an EPROM (Erasable PROM), a flash ROM, and a
RAM (Random Access Memory)). Further, the program can be supplied to computers by using
various types of transitory computer readable media. Examples of the transitory computer
readable media include an electrical signal, an optical signal, and an electromagnetic wave. The
transitory computer readable media can be used to supply programs to computer through a wire
communication path such as an electrical wire and an optical fiber, or wireless communication
path.
[0086]
Further, the first to third illustrative embodiments according to the invention can be
combined as desired.
[0087]
For the setting-up and handover of the relay station, it is desirable that determination of
the donor cell is performed in a shorter time in comparison to the setting-up and handover of the
mobile station. This is because the faster determination can prevent the communication
disconnection of the RN-UE. In the handover of mobile stations, the target cell is typically
determined by selecting a cell of which the quality of the downlink reception at the mobile
station is the best from a neighbor cell list supplied from the source base station. If this target
cell determination method used in the handover of mobile stations is applied to relay stations,
only the circumstances on the relay station side and the requirement conditions from the relay
station to the donor cell are taken into consideration. As a result, as stated previously as the
problem to be solved, if the base station cannot allow the relay station to belong to the base
station due to the circumstances on the base station side, the relay station is rejected from
belonging to the base station. In contrast to this, in each of the above-described embodiments,
the donor cell is determined with consideration given to not only the circumstances/requirement
conditions on the relay station side but also to the circumstances/requirement conditions on the
base station side. Therefore, in each of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to select
an appropriate candidate cell as a donor cell in a short time and thereby to prevent the frequent
occurrences of the repetition of the initial start-up procedure and the handover procedure, which
would otherwise occur due to the unsuccessful donor cell selection.
[0088]
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described illustrative
embodiments, and needless to say, various modifications can be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention described above.
[0089]
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent
application No. 201 1-089287, filed on April 13, 201 1, the disclosure of which is incorporated
herein in its entirety by reference.
Reference Signs List
[0090]
1 BASE STATION
2 RELAY STATION
3 MOBILE STATION
4 CORE NETWORK
1 1 RADIO COMMUNICATION UNIT
12 TRANSMISSION DATA PROCESSING UNIT
1 RECEPTION DATA PROCESSING UNIT
14 COMMUNICATION UNIT
15 BACKHAUL LINK CONTROL UNIT
2 1 LOWER RADIO LINK COMMUNICATION UNIT
22 TRANSMISSION DATA PROCESSING UNIT
23 RECEPTION DATA PROCESSING UNIT
24 UPPER RADIO LINK COMMUNICATION UNIT
25 BACKHAUL LINK CONTROL UNIT
3 1 RADIO COMMUNICATION UNIT
32 RECEPTION DATA PROCESSING UNIT
33 TRANSMISSION DATA CONTROL UNIT
34 TRANSMISSION DATA PROCESSING UNIT
35 BUFFER UNIT
5 1 COMMUNICATION UNIT
52 TRANSMISSION DATA PROCESSING UNIT
53 RECEPTION DATA PROCESSING UNIT
54 CANDIDATE CELL MANAGEMENT UNIT
CLAIMS
[Claim 1]
A mobile communication system comprising:
at least one base station; and
a relay station that relays transmission and reception data to and from a mobile station
by using a backhaul link connected to one of the at least one base station and an access link
connected to the mobile station, wherein
the relay station is configured to acquire a donor cell list indicating at least one
candidate cell, and
one of a first base station, included in the at least one base station, and the relay station
is configured to determine a donor cell, to be connected to the relay station by the backhaul link,
from the donor cell list based on both first cell management information and second cell
management information,
the first cell management information relates to the at least one candidate cell and
originates from the at least one base station, and the second cell management information
originates from the relay station.
[Claim 2]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 1, wherein
the first cell management information includes a first parameter to be used by the at
least one base station if the at least one candidate cell is determined as the donor cell, and
the second cell management information includes a second parameter to be used by the
relay station if the at least one candidate cell is determined as the donor cell.
[Claim 3]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 2, wherein
the first parameter includes at least one of: an operation status associated with the at
least one candidate cell and a performance condition of the at least one candidate cell requested
by the at least one base station to be the donor cell, and
the second parameter includes at least one of: a radio quality of the at least one
candidate cell and a performance condition of the at least one candidate cell requested by the
relay station to be the donor cell.
[Claim 4]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the
first cell management information includes at least one of (1) a load of the at least one candidate
cell, (2) a connection status to the at least one candidate cell from another relay station, (3) cell
configuration information indicating a time-division implementing status of a radio resource of
the at least one candidate cell, (4) a priority among the at least one candidate cell as stored in the
at least one base station, and (5) a list of cells selected by the at least one base station based on at
least one of the aforementioned items (1) to (4).
[Claim 5]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the
second cell management information includes at least one of (a) a reception quality of a down
link signal from the at least one candidate cell, (b) whether a radio resource time-division of a
backhaul link is necessary, (c) type information of the relay station, (d) performance of the relay
station, (e) a priority among the at least one candidate cell as stored in the relay station, and (f) a
list of cells selected by the relay station based on at least one of the aforementioned items (a) to
(e).
[Claim 6]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein
the first cell management information includes cell configuration information indicating
a time-division implementing status of a radio resource of the at least one candidate cell,
the second cell management information includes type information of the relay station
indicating whether a radio resource time-division of the backhaul link is necessary, and
when a type of the relay station indicates that a radio resource time-division is necessary
between an access link and a backhaul link, the first base station or the relay station determines a
cell in which a radio resource time-division is already implemented among the at least one
candidate cell as the donor cell.
[Claim 7]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 1to 5, wherein
the first cell management information includes cell configuration information indicating
a time-division implementing status of a radio resource of the at least one candidate cell,
the second cell management information includes performance information relating to a
data transfer capability of the relay station,
when the relay station possesses a first performance, the first base station or the relay
station determines a cell in which a radio resource time-division is already implemented among
the at least one candidate cell as the donor cell, and
when the relay station possesses a second performance with a data transfer capability
higher than that of the first performance, the first base station or the relay station determines a
cell in which a radio resource time-division is not yet implemented among the at least one
candidate cell as the donor cell.
[Claim 8]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claim 4 and Claims 5 to 7
depending from Claim 4, wherein the priority among the at least one candidate cell is determined
in such a manner that a priority of a second cell is lower than a priority of a first cell, the second
cell being dependently formed under condition of formation of the first cell.
[Claim 9]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 8, wherein
the first cell is backward compatible carrier, and
the second cell is non-backward compatible carrier.
[Claim 10]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the
relay station receives the first cell management information transmitted from at least one second
base station included in the at least one base station and thereby determines the donor cell.
[Claim 11]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 10, wherein the first cell
management information includes information regarding a cell selected from the at least one
candidate cell that satisfies a predetermined condition.
[Claim 12]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 11, wherein the predetermined
condition relates to a load of the at least one candidate cell.
[Claim 13]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 12, wherein the at least one
second base station transmits the first cell management information including information
regarding a cell that is selected from the at least one candidate cell on a basis of its cell load.
[Claim 14]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 11, wherein the predetermined
condition relates to a priority among the at least one candidate cell.
[Claim 15]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 14, wherein the first cell
management information includes information regarding a cell that is selected from the at least
one candidate cell based on the priority.
[Claim 16]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 10 to 15, wherein
the at least one second base station transmits the first cell management information including
information regarding a candidate cell operated by another base station.
[Claim 17]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the
first base station receives the second cell management information transmitted from the relay
station and thereby determines the donor cell.
[Claim 18]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 10, wherein the second cell
management information includes information regarding a cell selected from the at least one
candidate cell that satisfies a predetermined condition.
[Claim 19]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 18, wherein the predetermined
condition relates to reception quality of a downlink signal from the at least one candidate cell.
[Claim 20]
The mobile communication system according to Claim 19, wherein the relay station
transmits the second cell management information including information regarding a cell that is
selected from the at least one candidate cell on a basis of the reception quality.
[Claim 21]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 17 to 20, wherein
the relay station transmits the second cell management information including information
regarding a candidate cell operated by the first base station.
[Claim 22]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 17 to 21, wherein
the first base station receives the second cell management information via another base station
included in the at least one base station.
[Claim 23]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 17 to 22, wherein
when the second cell management information received from the relay station includes
information regarding a cell operated by the first base station, the another base station transfers
the second cell management information to the first base station and transfers information
regarding the donor cell received from the first cell to the relay station.
[Claim 24]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 1to 23, wherein the
relay station connects to one of the at least one base station as a mobile station and thereby
acquires the donor cell list from a management apparatus via the one of the at least one base
station.
[Claim 25]
The mobile communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 23, wherein the
relay station acquires the donor cell list from the at least one base station.
[Claim 26]
A relay station apparatus comprising:
a radio communication means for relaying transmission and reception data to and from a
mobile station by using a backhaul link connected to one of at least one base station and an
access link connected to the mobile station; and
a control means for controlling the backhaul link,
wherein the control means acquires a donor cell list indicating at least one candidate cell
through the radio communication means, maintains second cell management information, and
determines a donor cell, to be connected to the relay station by the backhaul link, from the donor
cell list in response to receiving first cell management information relating to the at least one
candidate cell from the at least one base station.
[Claim 27]
The relay station apparatus according to Claim 26, wherein
the first cell management information includes a first parameter to be used by the at
least one base station if the at least one candidate cell is determined as the donor cell, and
the second cell management information includes a second parameter to be used by the
relay station apparatus if the at least one candidate cell is determined as the donor cell.
[Claim 28]
The relay station apparatus according to Claim 27, wherein
the first parameter includes at least one of an operation status associated with the at least
one candidate cell and a performance condition of the at least one candidate cell requested by the
at least one base station to be the donor cell, and
the second parameter includes at least one of a radio quality of the at least one candidate
cell apparatus and a performance condition of the donor cell requested by the relay station
apparatus to be the donor cell.
[Claim 29]
The relay station apparatus according to any one of Claims 26 to 28, wherein the first
cell management information includes at least one of (1) a load of the at least one candidate cell,
(2) a connection status to the at least one candidate cell from another relay station, (3) cell
configuration information indicating a time-division implementing status of a radio resource of
the at least one candidate cell, (4) a priority among the at least one candidate cell as stored in the
at least one base station, and (5) a list of cells selected by the at least one base station based on at
least one of the aforementioned items (1) to (4).
[Claim 30]
The relay station apparatus according to any one of Claims 26 to 29, wherein the second
cell management information includes at least one of (a) a reception quality of a down link signal
from the at least one candidate cell, (b) whether a radio resource time-division of a backhaul link
is necessary, (c) type information of the relay station apparatus, (d) performance of the relay
station apparatus, (e) a priority among the at least one candidate cell as stored in the relay station
apparatus, and (f) a list of cells selected by the relay station apparatus based on at least one of
the aforementioned items (a) to (e).
[Claim 31]
The relay station apparatus according to any one of Claims 26 to 30, wherein
the first cell management information includes cell configuration information indicating
a time-division implementing status of a radio resource of the at least one candidate cell,
the second cell management information includes type information of the relay station
indicating whether a radio resource time-division of the backhaul link is necessary, and
when a type of the relay station apparatus indicates that a radio resource time-division is
necessary between a backhaul link and an access link, the control means determines a cell in
which a radio resource time-division is already implemented among the at least one candidate
cell as the donor cell.
[Claim 32]
The relay station apparatus according to Claim 30, wherein
the first cell management information includes cell configuration information indicating
a time-division implementing status of a radio resource of the at least one candidate cell,
the second cell management information includes performance information relating to a
data transfer capability of the relay station apparatus,
when the relay station apparatus possesses a first performance, the control means
determines a cell in which a radio resource time-division is already implemented among the at
least one candidate cell as the donor cell, and
when the relay station apparatus possesses a second performance with a data transfer
capability higher than that of the first performance, the control means determines a cell in which
a radio resource time-division is not yet implemented among the at least one candidate cell as the
donor cell.
[Claim 33]
The relay station apparatus according to any one of Claims 26 to 32, wherein the relay
station apparatus connects to one of the at least one base station as a mobile station and thereby
acquires the donor cell list from a management apparatus via the one of the at least one base
station.
[Claim 34]
The relay station apparatus according to any one of Claims 26 to 33, wherein the control
means receives the first cell management information transmitted from at least one second base
station included in the at least one base station and thereby determines the donor cell.
[Claim 35]
A base station apparatus comprising:
a radio communication means for performing data transfer, through a backhaul link
connected to a relay station, with a mobile station connected to the relay station by means of an
access link; and
a control means for controlling the backhaul link,
wherein the control means maintains or receives, from another base station apparatus,
first cell management information and determines a donor cell, to be connected to the relay
station by the backhaul link, from the donor cell list in response to receiving second cell
management information from the relay station,
wherein the first cell management information relates to the at least one candidate cell.
[Claim 36]
The base station apparatus according to Claim 35, wherein
the first cell management information includes a first parameter to be used by the at
least one base station if the at least one candidate cell is determined as the donor cell, and
the second cell management information includes a second parameter that is used by the
relay station if the at least one candidate cell is determined as the donor cell.
[Claim 37]
The base station apparatus according to Claim 36, wherein
the first parameter includes at least one of an operation status associated with the at least
one candidate cell and a performance condition of the donor cell requested by the at least one
base station to be the donor cell, and
the second parameter includes at least one of a radio quality of the at least one candidate
cell measured or held by the relay station and a performance condition of the at least one
candidate cell requested by the relay station to be the donor cell
[Claim 38]
The base station apparatus according to any one of Claims 35 to 37, wherein the first
cell management information includes at least one of (1) a load of the at least one candidate cell,
(2) a connection status to the at least one candidate cell from another relay station, (3) cell
configuration information indicating a time-division implementing status of a radio resource of
the at least one candidate cell, (4) a priority among the at least one candidate cell as stored in the
at least one base station, and (5) a list of cells selected by the at least one base station based on at
least one of the aforementioned items (1) to (4).
[Claim 39]
The base station apparatus according to any one of Claims 35 to 38, wherein the second
cell management information includes at least one of (a) a reception quality of a down link signal
from the at least one candidate cell, (b) whether of a radio resource time-division of a backhaul
link is necessary, (c) type information of the relay station, (d) performance of the relay station,
(e) a priority among the at least one candidate cell as stored in the relay station, and (f) a list of
cells selected by the relay station based on at least one of the aforementioned items (a) to (e).
[Claim 40]
The base station apparatus according to any one of Claims 35 to 39, wherein the control
means receives the second cell management information transmitted from relay station and
thereby determines the donor cell.
[Claim 41]
The base station apparatus according to any one of Claims 35 to 39, wherein the control
means receives the second cell management information via another base station included in the
at least one base station.
[Claim 42]
A control method of a relay station apparatus configured to relay
transmission/reception data of a mobile station by using a backhaul link connected to one of at
least one base station and an access link connected to the mobile station, the control method
comprising:
acquiring a donor cell list indicating at least one candidate cell;
maintaining second cell management information; and
determining a donor cell, to be connected to the relay station apparatus by the backhaul
link, from the donor cell list in response to receiving first cell management information relating
to the at least one candidate cell from the at least one base station.
[Claim 43]
A control method of a base station apparatus configured to perform data transfer,
through a backhaul link connected to a relay station, with a mobile station connected to the relay
station by means of an access link, the control method comprising:
maintaining or receives, from another base station apparatus, first cell management
information; and
determining a donor cell, to be connected to the relay station by the backhaul link, from
the donor cell list in response to receiving second cell management information from the relay
station,
wherein the first cell management information relates to the at least one candidate cell.
[Claim 44]
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer
to carry out the control method according to Claim 42.
[Claim 45]
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer
to carry out the control method according to Claim 43.