Description
SP302509W000
Title of Invention
RELAY DEVICE, RELAY METHOD, WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM,
5 BASE STATION, AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE
Technical Field
[0001]
The present disclosure relates to a relay device, a relay method, a wireless
10 communication system, a base station, and a wireless communication device.
Background Art
[0002]
At present, the standardization of 4G wireless communication system is
15 being carried out in 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). The 4G makes it
possible to use techniques such as a relay or carrier aggregation, thereby improving
the maximum communication speed and the quality at cell edges. Relay devices
(relay nodes) that performs a relay are described, for example, in the Patent
Literature below.
20 [0003]
Meanwhile, there also has been a discussion concerning MTC (Machine
Type Communications) in 3GPP. As an application of MTC, for example, a nextgeneration
power transmission network called a Smart Grid is considered. When
the Smart Grid is applied to the electric power meter which measures an electric
25 power consumption of each home, it is considered that electric power consumptions
of geographically remote locations can be aggregated and managed. Further, when
the Smart Grid is applied to the individual power-consuming appliance in addition to
the electric power meter, more flexible power management is possible. As other
MTC applications, a variety of applications such as an application for collecting
30 information relevant to health care instruments, an application for collecting sales
information in a vending machine or the like have been considered. The MTC
2/30
terminal is a terminal designed specifically for these applications.
Citation List
Patent Literature
5 [0004]
Patent Literature 1: JP 2006-0359025
Patent Literature 2: JP 2007-060212A
Summary of Invention
10 Technical Problem
[0005]
SP302509WO00
It is, however, expected that the number of MTC terminals to be
accommodated in each cell will be very large. Thus, as the number of links in each
cell is increased, the number of received or transmitted control information such as
15 scheduling information or authentication setting information is considered to be
increased. Furthermore, the substantial number of the links will be doubled due to
introducing a relay device. Thus, when the MTC terminal and relay device are
employed, it is important to take measures to reduce network load.
[0006]
20 Therefore, the present disclosure provides a novel and improved relay
device, relay method, wireless communication system, base station, and wireless
communication device, capable of mitigating the increase of network load by
introducing a wireless communication device such as MTC terminal and a relay
device.
25
Solution to Problem
[0007]
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a
relay device including a receiving unit for receiving information from a plurality of
30 wireless communication devices, a storage unit for accumulating the information
received from the plurality of wireless communication devices by the receiving unit,
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an information processing unit for aggregating the information accumulated in the
storage unit, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the information aggregated by
the information processing unit to a base station.
[0008]
5 The storage unit may accumulate information having an amount less than or
equal to a predetermined amount among the information received from the plurality
of wireless communication devices. The transmitting unit may transmit information
having an amount exceeding a predetermined amount among the information
received from the plurality of wireless communication devices, to the base station in
10 a state of not being aggregated with other information.
[0009]
The information processing unit may aggregate the information
accumulated in the storage unit in an intermittent manner.
[0010]
15 The information processing unit may aggregate the information
accumulated in the storage unit at a predetermined cycle.
[0011]
The information processing unit may determine a timing at which each of
allowable delay times of the information accumulated in the storage unit elapses and
20 aggregate the information accumulated in the storage unit before an earliest timing
among the timings of the allowable delay times elapses.
[0012]
The information processing unit may aggregate the information
accumulated in the storage unit when the number of pieces of information
25 accumulated in the storage unit reaches a predetermined number.
[0013]
The information processing unit may aggregate the information
accumulated in the storage unit when a total amount of information accumulated in
the storage unit reaches an upper limit value.
30 [0014]
The accumulation unit may accumulate information received from a
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wireless communication device which is a MTC terminal. The information
processing unit may aggregate information received from the wireless
communication device which is the MTC terminal, and the transmitting unit may
transmit the information received from the wireless communication device which is
5 the MTC terminal to the base station in a state of being aggregated by the
information processing unit, and transmit information received from a wireless
communication device which is a non-MTC terminal to the base station in a state of
not being aggregated with other information.
[0015]
10 Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
provided a relay device including a receiving unit for receiving information
aggregated for a plurality of wireless communication devices from a base station, an
information processing unit for obtaining individual information for each of the
plurality of wireless communication devices based on the aggregated information
15 received by the receiving unit, and a transmitting unit for individually transmitting
the individual information obtained by the information processing unit to each of the
plurality of wireless communication devices.
[0016]
The information aggregated for the plurality of wireless communication
20 devices is resource information, and the information processing unit may obtain the
individual information by performing resource allocation to each of the plurality of
wireless communication devices within a range of a resource indicated by the
resource information.
[0017]
25 The information aggregated for the plurality of wireless communication
devices may include resource information for each of the plurality of wireless
communication devices, and the information processing unit may obtain the resource
information for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices as the
individual information.
30 [0018]
Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
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provided a relay method including a step of receiving information from a plurality of
wireless communication devices, a step of accumulating the information received
from the plurality of wireless communication devices, a step of aggregating the
accumulated information, and a step of transmitting the aggregated information to a
5 base station.
[0019]
Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
provided a relay method including receiving information aggregated for a plurality of
wireless communication devices from a base station, obtaining individual
10 information for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the
aggregated information, and individually transmitting the individual information to
each of the plurality of wireless communication devices.
[0020]
Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
15 provided a wireless communication system including a plurality of wireless
communication devices, and a relay device including a receiving unit for receiving
information from the plurality of wireless communication devices, a storage unit for
accumulating the information received from the plurality of wireless communication
devices by the receiving unit, an information processing unit for aggregating the
20 information accumulated in the storage unit, and a transmitting unit for transmitting
the information aggregated by the information processing unit to a base station.
[0021]
Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
provided a wireless communication system including a base station for transmitting
25 information aggregated for a plurality of wireless communication devices, and a
relay device including a receiving unit for receiving the aggregated information from
the base station, an information processing unit for obtaining individual information
for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the aggregated
information received by the receiving unit, and a transmitting unit for individually
30 transmitting the individual information obtained by the information processing unit
to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices.
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[0022]
SP302509WO00
Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
provided a base station including an information processing unit for aggregating
information for the plurality of wireless communication devices, and a transmitting
5 unit for transmitting the information aggregated by the information processing unit to
a relay device for relaying communication related to the plurality of wireless
communication devices.
[0023]
Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
10 provided a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device
receives information aggregated for a plurality of wireless communication devices
from a base station, obtains individual information for each of the plurality of
wireless communication devices based on the aggregated information, and receives
the individual information from a relay device for individually transmitting the
15 individual information to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0024]
As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to
20 mitigate the increase of network load by introducing a wireless communication
device such as MTC terminal and a relay device.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0025]
25 [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a
wireless communication system.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a flow of relay communication
performed between an eNodeB and a non-MTC terminal by a relay device according
to a comparative example.
30 [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a flow of relay communication
performed between an eNodeB and a MTC terminal by a relay device according to a
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comparative example.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of
an uplink grant.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a relay
5 device is according to a first embodiment.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first operation example of a
downlink.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a group
uplink grant in the first operation example.
10 [Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second operation example of a
downlink.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a group
uplink grant in the second operation example.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a flow of relay
15 communication performed between an eNodeB and a MTC terminal by a relay
device according to a comparative example.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of an uplink.
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation according to a
second embodiment of the present disclosure.
20
Description of Embodiments
[0026]
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that, in this
25 specification and the drawings, elements that have substantially the same function
and structure are denoted with the same reference signs, and repeated explanation is
omitted.
[0027]
Also, in the specification and drawings, a plurality of structural elements
30 having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished from
each other by each having a different alphabetical letter added to the end of the same
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reference numeral . For example, a plurality of structural elements having
substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished from each other
as necessary, such as MTC terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C. However, if it is not
particularly necessary to distinguish each of a plurality of structural elements having
5 substantially the same functional configuration, only the same reference numeral is
assigned. For example, if it is not particularly necessary to distinguish between the
MTC terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C, they are simply referred to as the MTC terminal
20.
[0028]
10 Furthermore, the description will be given according to the following item
order.
15
[0029]
1. Configuration of Wireless Communication System
2. First Embodiment
2-1. Configuration of Relay Device according to First Embodiment
2-2. Operation of Relay Device according to First Embodiment
3. Second Embodiment
4. Conclusion
<1. Configuration of Wireless Communication System>
20 At present, the standardization of 4G wireless communication system is
being carried out in 3GPP. Embodiments of the present disclosure , as an illustrative
example, are applicable to the 4G wireless communication system , and thus
overview of 4G wireless communication system will be first described.
[0030]
25 Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a
wireless communication system 1 . As shown in Fig. 1, the wireless communication
system 1 includes an eNodeB 10, a core network, MTC terminals 20, a MTC server
30, and a relay device 40. The core network includes a MME (Mobility
Management Entity) 12, an S-GW (Serving Gateway) 14, and a PDN (Packet Data
30 Network)-GW 16.
[0031]
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In addition, the MTC terminal 20 is an example of a wireless
communication device. As an alternative example, the wireless communication
device may be a mobile phone and the like that is a non-MTC terminal among user
equipment (UE: User Equipment).
5 [0032]
The eNodeB 10 is a radio base station that acts as a transmitter for
transmitting wireless signals to the MTC terminal 20 and as a receiver for receiving
wireless signals from the MTC terminal 20. Note that only one eNodeB 10 is
shown in Fig. 1, but in practice a plurality of eNodeBs can be connected to the core
10 network. In addition, although the illustration is omitted from Fig. 1, the eNodeB
10 is also communicated, with the user equipment other than the MTC terminal 20,
for example.
[0033]
The MME 12 is a device that controls the setup, opening and handover of
15 sessions for data communication. The MME 12 is connected to the eNodeB 10
through an interface called X2. The S-GW 14 is a device that performs the routing,
transfer, and so on, of user data. The PDN-GW 16 acts as a connection point to IP
service network and transfers user data from and to the IP service network.
[0034]
20 The MTC terminal 20 is a terminal designed specifically for applications for
MTC which has been studied in 3GPP and performs a wireless communication with
the eNodeB 10 depending on the applications. In addition, the MTC terminal 20
performs a bidirectional communication with the MTC server 30 through the core
network. An example of the applications for the MTC is described below.
25 [0035]
1. Security
2. Ticking & Tracing
3. Payment
4. Health
30 5. Remote Maintenace/Control
6. Metering
10/30
7. Consumer Devices
[0036]
SP302509WO00
As an example, the MTC terminal 20 may be an electrocardiogram
measuring device corresponding to "4. Health" in the list above. In this case, if a
5 user inputs a command for requesting the MTC server 30 to report electrocardiogram
measurements, the MTC server 30 requests the MTC terminal 20 to report the
electrocardiogram measurements, and then the electrocardiogram measurements are
reported from the MTC terminal 20 to the, MTC server 30.
[0037]
10 As another example, the MTC terminal 20 may be a vending machine
corresponding to "3. Payment" in the list above. In this case, if a user inputs a
command for requesting the MTC server 30 to report the sales volume, the MTC
server 30 requests the MTC terminal 20 to report the sales volume, and then the sales
volume is reported from the MTC terminal 20 to the MTC server 30.
15 [0038]
The characteristics of such MTC terminal 20 are described below. In
addition, the MTC terminal 20 is not necessary to have all of the characteristics
described below.
[0039]
20 1. Low Mobility
2. Time Controlled
3. Time Tolerant
4. Packet Switched Only
5. Online Small Data Transmissions
25 6. Offline Small Data Transmission
7. Mobile Originated Only
8. Infrequent Mobile Terminated
9. MTC Monitoring
10. Offline Indication
30 11. Jamming Indication
12. Priority Alarm Message
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13. Extra Low Power Consumption
14. Secure Connection
15. Location Specific Triger
16. Group based MTC Features
5 [0040]
SP302509WO00
Summarizing the above, the MTC terminal 20 has a little movement, has a
few connections to the eNodeB 10 to communicate a small amount of data, and then
again returns to idle mode. Further, some amount of delay is acceptable in data
communication.
10 [0041]
The relay device 40 relays communication between the eNodeB 10 and the
MTC terminal 20. Thus, for example, even when MTC terminals 20D to 20F are
spaced apart from the eNodeB 10 as shown in Fig. 1, they can communicate with the
eNodeB 10 through the relay device 40. In addition, links between the eNodeB 10
15 and the relay device 40 may be referred to as backhaul link (Backhaul Link), and
links between the relay device 40 and MTC terminals 20 may be referred to as access
link.
[0042]
A flow of relay communication performed by a relay device 70 according to
20 a comparative example will be described below in order to clarify the general
principles of embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0043]
Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a flow of relay communication
performed between the eNodeB 10 and the non-MTC terminal 24 by the relay device
25 70 according to the comparative example. As shown in Fig. 2, the relay device 70
according to the comparative example, when receiving an uplink grant which
contains scheduling information for the non-MTC terminal 24 belonging to the relay
device 70 from the eNodeB 10 (S104), relays the uplink grant to the non-MTC
terminal 24 (S108).
30 [0044]
Then, the relay device 70, when receiving uplink data from the non-MTC
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terminal 24 (S112), relays the uplink data to the eNodeB 10 (S116). Similarly,
when the eNodeB 10 transmits downlink data which will be transmitted to the non-
MTC terminal 24 (S 120), the relay device 70 relays the downlink data to the non-
MTC terminal 24 (S124).
5 [0045]
In this regard, it is considered that a variety of equipment will be operated as
MTC terminals 20 in the future. Thus, it is expected that a large number of MTC
terminals 20 would be accommodated, in each cell. Further, when these MTC
terminals 20 communicate with the eNodeB 10 through the relay device 70
10 according to the comparative example, the number of exchange of information would
be doubled. These circumstances will be described below with reference to Fig. 3.
[0046]
Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a flow of relay communication
performed between the eNodeB 10 and the MTC terminal 20 by the relay device 70
15 according to the comparative example. As shown in Fig. 3, the eNodeB 10
transmits individual uplink grants to the corresponding MTC terminals 20 (S160).
The relay device 70, when receiving the uplink grants from the eNodeB 10,
individually transmits the uplink grants to the corresponding MTC terminals 20
(S164).
20 [0047]
Then, the relay device 70, when receiving the uplink grants from the
respective MTC terminals 20 (S 168), transmits individual uplink data transmitted
from each of the respective MTC terminals 20 to the eNodeB 10 (S 172).
[0048]
25 In this regard, as shown in Fig. 4, the uplink grant includes a CRC field (UE
Identity), a resource grant field, a MCS field (Modulation and Coding Scheme), a
power control field, and so on.
[0049]
The CRC field is scrambled with a unique code of a MTC terminal 20
30 which will be a destination. Thus, it is possible to specify a MTC terminal 20
which will be a destination , on the basis of the code used for scrambling the CRC
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field. The resource grant field contains information indicating a resource which
acknowledges the transmission of uplink data from a MTC terminal 20. The MCS
field or the power control field contains information that indicates a rate upon
transmitting uplink data or a transmission power.
5 [0050]
In the comparative example, the individual uplink grants are transmitted
from the eNodeB 10 to the corresponding MTC terminals 20 through the relay device
70. Thus, the traffic for transmitting the uplink grant between the eNodeB 10 and
the relay device 70 is increased in proportion to the increase of the number of MTC
10 terminals 20 which will be destinations. The similar problem is occurred even
when the data communication is performed.
[0051]
Therefore, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the relay device 40
is incorporated with a novel function for suppressing the increase of network load
15 due to the increase of the number of MTC terminals 20. The relay device 40
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail
below.
[0052]
<2. First Embodiment>
20 [2-1. Configuration of Relay Device according to First Embodiment]
First, the configuration of the relay device 40 according to the first
embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5.
[0053]
Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the
25 relay device 40 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the relay
device 40 includes an antenna 410, a reception processing unit 420, a storage unit
430, an information processing unit 440, and a transmission processing unit 450.
[0054]
The antenna 410 receives a wireless signal from an eNodeB 10, a MTC
30 terminal 20, a non-MTC terminal 24, or the like, and converts the wireless signal into
an electric reception signal. The reception signal obtained by the antenna 410 is
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supplied to the reception processing unit 420. In addition, the antenna 410 converts
a transmission signal supplied from the transmission processing unit 450 into a
wireless signal, and transmits the wireless signal to the eNodeB 10, the MTC
terminal 20, the non-MTC terminal 24, or the like.
5 [0055]
Further, for convenience of explanation, although only one antenna is shown
in Fig. 5, the relay device 40 may include a plurality of antennas. The relay device
40, when including a plurality of antennas, can perform MIMO (Multiple Input
Multiple Output) communication, diversity communication, or the like. In this way,
10 the antenna 410 functions as a receiving unit and a transmitting unit.
[0056]
The reception processing unit 420 performs a demodulation process, a
decoding process or the like on the reception signal supplied from the antenna 410.
In addition, the relay device 40 may simply amplify the electric power of the
15 reception signal, without performing the demodulation or decoding process in the
reception processing unit 420 at the time of relaying.
[0057]
The storage unit 430 accumulates information transmitted on the uplink
among information obtained by the reception processing unit 420.
20 [0058]
The information processing unit 440, when receiving information
aggregated for the plurality of MTC terminals 20 from the eNodeB 10, obtains
individual information for each of the plurality of MTC terminals 20 based on the
aggregated information. Examples of the aggregated information, though the
25 details will be described later, include a group uplink grant, a group ACK, and so on.
Information with regard to an uplink grant for the plurality of MTC terminals 20 is
aggregated in the group uplink grant. Information with regard to an ACK for the
plurality of MTC terminals 20 is aggregated in the group ACK. In addition,
examples of the individual information include an uplink grant relative to each of the
30 MTC terminals 20, an ACK relative to each of the MTC terminals 20, and so on.
[0059]
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Moreover, the information processing unit 440 aggregates information from
the plurality of MTC terminals 20 accumulated in the storage unit 430 into a single
data frame with respect to the uplink . For example, when new uplink data
transmitted from the plurality of MTC terminals 20 is accumulated, the information
5 processing unit 440 aggregates these uplink data to generate group uplink data.
[0060]
Further, the information processing unit 440 may aggregate information
accumulated in the storage unit 430 to relay data received from the MTC terminals
20 within a predetermined period of time to the eNodeB 10. The predetermined
10 period of time may be ten seconds, one minute, thirty minutes, one hour, or the like.
[0061]
Furthermore, information related to an allowable delay time may be
contained in a data frame of the uplink from the MTC terminal 20. In addition, the
allowable delay time may be different for each of the MTC terminals 20. Therefore,
15 the relay device 40, before the shortest time among the allowable delay time of an
uplink data received from each of the MTC terminals 20 elapses, may aggregate
information accumulated in the storage unit 430 until then and relay it to the eNodeB
10.
[0062]
20 Alternatively, the information processing unit 440 may aggregate
information accumulated in the storage unit 430 when the number of pieces of
information accumulated in the storage unit 430 reaches a predetermined number.
As an alternative, the information processing unit 440 may aggregate information
accumulated in the storage unit 430 when the total sum of the amount of information
25 accumulated in the storage unit 430 reaches an upper limit value.
[0063]
The transmission processing unit 450 generates a transmission signal based
on information obtained by the information processing unit 440 and supplies the
transmission signal to the antenna 410,. For example, the transmission processing
30 unit 450 generates transmission signals of individual information (uplink grant, ACK,
and so on) relative to each of the MTC terminals 20 obtained by the information
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processing unit 440 with respect to the downlink. The individual information
generated by the transmission processing unit 450 is individually transmitted from
the antenna 410 to the corresponding MTC terminals 20.
[0064]
5 Further, the transmission processing unit 450 generates a transmission signal
based on information aggregated by the information processing unit 440 with respect
to the uplink. The transmission signal of the aggregated information generated by
the transmission processing unit 450 is transmitted from the antenna 410 to the
eNodeB 10.
10 [0065]
[2-2. Operation of Relay Device according to First Embodiment]
The configuration of the relay device 40 according to the first embodiment
of the present disclosure has been described above. Subsequently, an operation of a
wireless communication system 1 which includes the relay device 40 according to
15 the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
[0066]
(First Operation Example of Downlink)
Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a first operation example of a
downlink. As shown in Fig. 6, the eNodeB 10 transmits a group uplink grant to the
20 relay device 40 (S204). Here, a configuration of the group uplink grant in the
operation example will be described with reference to Fig. 7.
[0067]
Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the group
uplink grant in the first operation example. As shown in Fig. 7, the group uplink-
25 grant in the operation example includes a CRC field (Group Identity), a resource
block field, a MCS strategy field (Modulation and Coding Scheme Strategy), a
power control strategy field, and so on.
[0068]
The CRC field is a field for identifying a group consisting of a plurality of
30 MTC terminals 20, and is scrambled with a unique code of each group. In addition,
the plurality of MTC terminals 20 are grouped by the relay device 40 according to a
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predetermined criterion. Alternatively, the MTC terminals 20 may be grouped and
the grouped information may be stored to the relay device 40 by a user, at the time
such as when a MTC terminal 20, a relay device 40 or the like is provide. For this
reason, the relay device 40 is aware of a unique code as identifier information of
5 each group and identification information of a MTC terminal 20 belonging to each
group. In addition, identifier information of each group has been transmitted in
advance to the eNodeB 10 by the relay device 40, thus the eNodeB 10 can hold
identifier information of each group received from the relay device 40 and scramble
the CRC field with the unique code of the group based on the information. Further,
10 the relay device 40 may or may not share with the eNodeB 10 the identification
information of MTC terminals 20 belonging to each group. In addition, the relay
device 40 may form a single group for all of the MTC terminals 20 belonging to the
relay device 40.
[0069]
15 The resource block field contains information indicating a resource which
acknowledges the transmission of an uplink data from a plurality of MTC terminals
20 within a group identified by the CRC field.
[0070]
The MCS strategy field or power control strategy field contains information
20 that indicates a strategy of a rate or transmission power. For example, the MCS
strategy field may contain information that indicates a maximum value of a rate, and
the power control strategy field may contain information that indicates a maximum
value of a transmission power. In addition, in the MCS strategy field or power
control strategy field, information that indicates a strategy of a rate or transmission
25 power may be contained in each resource.
[0071]
Referring again to the operation example of Fig. 6, the relay device 40
generates an uplink grant relative to each of the MTC terminals 20 based on a group
uplink grant as described above. Specifically, when the information processing unit
30 440 of the relay device 40 is aware of a unique code as identifier information of each
group and identification information of MTC terminal 20 belonging to each group as
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described above, a MTC terminal 20 which will be a destination is specified on the
basis of a code for scrambling the CRC field. Then, the information processing unit
440 of the relay device 40 performs resource allocation to each of the MTC terminals
specified by the CRC field within the range of resource indicated by the resource
5 block field (S208). Similarly, the information processing unit 440 determines a
MTC or power of each of the MTC terminals 20 specified by the CRC field
according to a MCS strategy field or power control strategy field. Then, an uplink
grant relative to each of the corresponding MTC terminals 20 generated by the
information processing unit 440 is individually transmitted from the antenna 410 by
10 the relay device 40 (5212).
[0072]
As mentioned above, according to the first operation example, the relay
device 40 receives a group uplink grant from the eNodeB 10. Uplink grants relative
to a plurality of MTC terminals 20 are aggregated in the group uplink grant.
15 Particularly, this group uplink grant specifies a resource which acknowledges the
allocation by the relay device 40, instead of individually specifying a resource to be
allocated to each of the MTC terminals 20, thus the amount of information related to
resource information is significantly suppressed. As a result, the amount of traffic
between the eNodeB 10 and the relay device 40 can be suppressed, thereby reducing
20 network load.
[0073]
(Second Operation example of Downlink)
Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating a second operation example of the
downlink. As shown in Fig. 8, the eNodeB 10 first transmits a group uplink grant
25 to the eNodeB 10 (S220). In this regard, the configuration of the group uplink grant
in the operation example will be described with reference to Fig. 9.
[0074]
Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the group
uplink grant in the second operation example. As shown in Fig. 9, the group uplink
30 grant in the operation example includes a user equipment identity list (UE Identity
List), a resource grant list (Resource Grant List), a MCS strategy field, a power
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control strategy field, and so on.
[0075]
SP302509WO00
The user equipment identity list is comprised of information for identifying
each of the MTC terminals 20. The resource grant list contains information
5 indicating a resource in which the transmission of uplink data from each of the MTC
terminals 20 identified in the user equipment identity list is acknowledged. The
MCS strategy field or power control strategy field contains information that indicates
a strategy of a rate or transmission power, as similar to the first operation example.
[0076]
10 Referring again to the operation example of Fig. 8, the relay device 40
generates an uplink grant relative to each of the MTC terminals 20, based on the
group uplink grant as described above. Specifically, the information processing unit
440 of the relay device 40 generates the uplink grant by dividing information
included in the group uplink grant, that is, by extracting a resource to be allocated to
15 each of the MTC terminals 20 (S224). Similarly, the information processing unit
440 determines a MTC or power of each of the MTC terminal 20 identified in the
user equipment identity list according to a MCS strategy field or power control
strategy field.
[0077]
20 Subsequently, the uplink grants relative to each of the MTC terminals 20
generated by the information processing unit 440 is individually transmitted from the
antenna 410 by the relay device 40 (S228).
[0078]
As mentioned above, according to the second operation example, the relay
25 device 40 receives a group uplink grant in which uplink grants relative to a plurality
of MTC terminals 20 are aggregated from the eNodeB 10. Unlike the first
operation example, the group uplink grant is not intended to specify a resource which
acknowledges the allocation by the relay device 40. However, compared to the case
where the uplink grants relative to each of the MTC terminals 20 are individually
30 received from the eNodeB 10, control fields such as a format ID field indicating
frame content or a CRC field can be unified, thereby anticipating the effect on the
SP302509W000 SP302509W000
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)mprised of information for identifying
ource grant list contains information
n of uplink data from each of the MTC
it identity list is acknowledged. The
3eld contains information that indicates
imilar to the first operation example.
ample of Fig . 8, the relay device 40
'the MTC terminals 20, based on the
Ifically, the information processing unit
.plink grant by dividing information
extracting a resource to be allocated to
ilarly, the information processing unit
he MTC terminal 20 identified in the
VICS strategy field or power control
Eve to each of the MTC terminals 20
40 is individually transmitted from the
second operation example, the relay
Ch uplink grants relative to a plurality
the eNodeB 10. Unlike the first
t intended to specify a resource which
40. However, compared to the case
e MTC terminals 20 are individually
such as a format ID field indicating
thereby anticipating the effect on the
ak)
scribed that information communicated between
e 40 is grouped to suppress the traffic in the
plink, information communicated between the
an be grouped to suppress the traffic. A flow
by the relay device 70 according to the
ed with reference to Fig. 10, and then the relay
ty device 40 according to the embodiment of the
gram illustrating a flow of relay communication
and MTC terminal 20 by the relay device 70
As shown in Fig. 10, each MTC terminal 20
using different resources (S 180). The relay
data from each of the MTC terminals 20,
plink data to the eNodeB 10 (S 184). Then, the
Ks transmitted individually to each of the MTC
S188), transmits the ACK to each of the MTC
-vice 70 according to the comparative example
a received from each of the MTC terminal 20 to
receives ACKs relative to each of the MTC
On the other hand, the relay device 40 according
disclosure, as will be described below with
ite the grouped uplink data or ACK between the
in illustrating an operation example of an uplink.
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SP302509WO00
according to the second embodiment rapidly relays the uplink data from the non-
MTC terminal 24 while accumulating and aggregating the uplink data from the MTC
terminal 20. This second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in
detail below with reference to Fig. 12.
5 [0088]
Fig. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation according to the
second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 12, the relay device
40, when receiving uplink data from a MTC terminal 20F (S332), accumulates the
uplink data to the storage unit 430 (S336). Similarly, the relay device 40, when
10 receiving uplink data from a MTC terminal 20E (5340), accumulates the uplink data
to the storage unit 430 (S344).
[0089]
On the other hand, the relay device 40, when receiving uplink data from a
non-MTC terminal 24 (5348), transmits the uplink data to the eNodeB 10 without
15 aggregating the uplink data (5352).
[0090]
Further, the relay device 40, when receiving uplink data from the MTC
terminal 20E (5356), accumulates the uplink data to the storage unit 430 (S360).
Then, the information processing unit 440 of the relay device 40 aggregates the
20 uplink data accumulated in the storage unit 430 to generate group uplink data (5364).
And then, the relay device 40 transmits the group uplink data to the eNodeB 10
(S368).
[0091]
In order to realize the processes described above, when the relay device 40
25 receives uplink data, it determines whether this uplink data is transmitted from the
MTC terminal 20 or from the non-MTC terminal 24. For example, when the uplink
data contains information that indicates whether or not the uplink data is transmitted
from the MTC terminal 20, or contains information that indicates whether or not the
uplink data is transmitted from the non-MTC terminal 24, the relay device 40 may
30 determine a terminal which will be a source on the basis of this information.
[0092]
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SP302509W000
Alternatively, the relay device 40 may determine a terminal which will be a
source on the basis of the amount of uplink data. More specifically at this point,
data transmitted from the MTC terminal 20 is assumed to be data that indicates the
water or electricity consumption or the like. Also, the amount of data transmitted
5 from the MTC terminal 20 is expected to be smaller compared to that of data
transmitted from the non-MTC terminal 24. Thus, the relay device 40 may
determine that the MTC terminal 20 is a source terminal when the amount of uplink
data is less than a predetermined value, and may determine that the non-MTC
terminal 24 is a source terminal when the amount of uplink data is greater than or
10 equal to the predetermined value.
[0093]
In this way, the relay device 40 according to the second embodiment of the
present disclosure can appropriately change the details of relay process depending on
whether a source terminal of the uplink data is a MTC terminal 20.
15 [0094]
<4. Conclusion
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present
disclosure, in both of the uplink and downlink, the traffic can be suppressed by
grouping information communicated between the eNodeB 10 and the relay device 40.
20 In addition, the relay device 40 according to the second embodiment of the present
disclosure can appropriately change the details of relay process depending on
whether or not a source terminal of uplink data is a MTC terminal 20.
[0095]
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described
25 above with reference to the accompanying drawings, whilst the present invention is
not limited to the above examples, of course. A person skilled in the art may find
various alternations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims, and
it should be understood that they will naturally come under the technical scope of the
present invention.
30 [0096]
For example, each step in the process of the relay device 40 of the present
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SP302509W000
specification do not necessarily have to be processed in a time series according to the
order described as the sequence diagrams or flowcharts. For example, each step in
the process of the relay device 40 may be processed in an order different from the
order described as sequence diagrams, or may be processed in parallel.
5 [0097]
Furthermore, a computer program for causing hardware such as CPU, ROM
and RAM, embedded in the relay device 40 to realize an equivalent function as each
element of the above-mentioned relay device 40 can also be created. Moreover, a
storage medium having the computer program stored thereon is also provided.
10
Reference Signs List
[0098]
10 eNodeB
20 MTC terminal
15 24 Non-MTC terminal
410 Antenna
420 Reception processing unit
430 Storage unit
440 Information processing unit
20 450 Transmission processing unit
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CLAIMS
Claim 1
SP302509WO00
A relay device comprising:
a receiving unit for receiving information from a plurality of wireless
5 communication devices;
a storage unit for accumulating the information received from the plurality
of wireless communication devices by the receiving unit;
an information processing unit for aggregating the information accumulated
in the storage unit; and
10 a transmitting unit for transmitting the information aggregated by the
information processing unit to a base station.
Claim 2
The relay device according to claim 1,
15 wherein the storage unit accumulates information having an amount less
than or equal to a predetermined amount among the information received from the
plurality of wireless communication devices, and
wherein the transmitting unit transmits information having an amount
exceeding a predetermined amount among the information received from the
20 plurality of wireless communication devices, to the base station in a state of not
being aggregated with other information.
Claim 3
The relay device according to claim 2, wherein the information processing
25 ' unit aggregates the information accumulated in the storage unit in an intermittent
manner.
Claim 4
The relay device according to claim 3, wherein the information processing
30 unit aggregates the information accumulated in the storage unit at a predetermined
cycle.
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Claim 5
SP302509WO00
The relay device according to claim 3, wherein the information processing
unit determines a timing at which each of allowable delay times of the information
5 accumulated in the storage unit elapses and aggregates the information accumulated
in the storage unit before an earliest timing among the timings of the allowable delay
times elapses.
Claim 6
10 The relay device according to claim 3, wherein the information processing
unit aggregates the information accumulated in the storage unit when the number of
pieces of information accumulated in the storage unit reaches a predetermined
number.
15 Claim 7
The relay device according to claim 3, wherein the information processing
unit aggregates the information accumulated in the storage unit when a total amount
of information accumulated in the storage unit reaches an upper limit value.
20 Claim 8
The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the accumulation unit
accumulates information received from a wireless communication device which is a
MTC terminal,
wherein the information processing unit aggregates information received
25 from the wireless communication device which is the MTC terminal, and
wherein the transmitting unit transmits the information received from the
wireless communication device which is the MTC terminal to the base station in a
state of being aggregated by the information processing unit, and transmits
information received from a wireless communication device which is a non-MTC
30 terminal to the base station in a state of not being aggregated with other information.
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Claim 9
SP302509W000
A relay device comprising:
a receiving unit for receiving information aggregated for a plurality of
wireless communication devices from a base station;
5 an information processing unit for obtaining individual information for each
of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the aggregated
information received by the receiving unit; and
a transmitting unit for individually transmitting the individual information
obtained by the information processing unit to each of the plurality of wireless
10 communication devices.
Claim 10
The relay device according to claim 9, wherein the information aggregated
for the plurality of wireless communication devices is resource information, and
15 wherein the information processing unit obtains the individual information
by performing resource allocation to each of the plurality of wireless communication
devices within a range of a resource indicated by the resource information.
Claim 11
20 The relay device according to claim 9, wherein the information aggregated
for the plurality of wireless communication devices includes resource information for
each of the plurality of wireless communication devices, and
wherein the information processing unit obtains the resource information for
each of the plurality of wireless communication devices as the individual information.
25
Claim 12
A relay method comprising:
a step of receiving information from a plurality of wireless communication
devices;
30 a step of accumulating the information received from the plurality of
wireless communication devices;
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SP302509WO00
a step of aggregating the accumulated information; and
a step of transmitting the aggregated information to a base station.
Claim 13
5 A relay method comprising:
receiving information aggregated for a plurality of wireless communication
devices from a base station;
obtaining individual information for each of the plurality of wireless
communication devices based on the aggregated information; and
10 individually transmitting the individual information to each of the plurality
of wireless communication devices.
Claim 14
A wireless communication system comprising:
15 a plurality of wireless communication devices; and
a relay device including
a receiving unit for receiving information from the plurality of
wireless communication devices;
a storage unit for accumulating the information received from the
20 plurality of wireless communication devices by the receiving unit;
an information processing unit for aggregating the information
accumulated in the storage unit; and
a transmitting unit for transmitting the information aggregated by
the information processing unit to a base station.
25
Claim 15
A wireless communication system comprising:
a base station for transmitting information aggregated for a plurality of
wireless communication devices; and
30 a relay device including
a receiving unit for receiving the aggregated information from the
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5
SP302509W000
base station;
an information processing unit for obtaining individual information
for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the aggregated
information received by the receiving unit; and
a transmitting unit for individually transmitting the individual
information obtained by the information processing unit to each of the plurality of
wireless communication devices.
Claim 16
10 A base station comprising:
an information processing unit for aggregating information for the plurality
of wireless communication devices; and
a transmitting unit for transmitting the information aggregated by the
information processing unit to a relay device for relaying communication related to
15 the plurality of wireless communication devices.
Claim 17
A wireless communication device,
wherein the wireless communication device receives information aggregated
20 for a plurality of wireless communication devices from a base station, obtains
individual information for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices
based on the aggregated information, and,receives the individual information from a
relay device for individually transmitting the individual information to each of the
plurality of wireless communication devices.