Mobile communication method

The present invention relates to a mobile communication method.

In 3GPP, there has been discussed technique called “MDT (Minimisation of Drive Tests)” in which a specific mobile station UE is caused to measure and report a desired radio quality.

Non Patent Literature

[NPL 1] 3GPP TR36.805, “Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Study on minimization of drive-tests in next generation networks”

[NPL 2] 3GPP TS37.320, “Radio measurement collection for MDT”

However, the MDT does not have a definition for a detailed method for causing a specific mobile station UE to measure and report a desired radio quality when the specific mobile station UE moves into a cell that lies inside a specific area.

Therefore, the present invention has been achieved in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a mobile communication method with which it is possible to cause a specific mobile station UE to measure and report a desired radio quality when the specific mobile station UE moves into a cell that lies inside a specific area.

A first characteristic of the present invention is summarized in that a mobile communication method includes: a step of transmitting, by a mobile management node, first instruction information for instructing to measure and report a desired radio quality to a first radio base station that manages a first cell when it is detected that a mobile station has moved into the first cell that lies inside a measurement-target area, and a step of transmitting, by the first radio base station, the first instruction information to the mobile station.

A second characteristic of the present invention is summarized in that a mobile communication method includes: a step of transmitting, by a mobile management node, first instruction information for instructing to measure and report a desired radio quality to a first radio base station that manages a first cell when it is detected that a mobile station has performed an Attach process in the first cell that lies inside a measurement-target area, and a step of transmitting, by the first radio base station, the first instruction information to the mobile station.

A third characteristic of the present invention is summarized in that a mobile communication method includes: a step of transmitting, by a mobile management node, first instruction information for instructing to measure and report a desired radio quality to a first radio base station that manages a first cell when it is detected that a mobile station has changed to an “RRC_CONNECTED state” in the first cell that lies inside a measurement-target area, and a step of transmitting, by the first radio base station, the first instruction information to the mobile station.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mobile communication method with which it is possible to cause a specific mobile station UE to measure and report a desired radio quality when the specific mobile station UE moved into a cell that lies inside a specific area.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the entire configuration of a mobile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a mobile management node according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3( a ) and FIG. 3( b ) are diagrams for explaining an example of a method for managing a measurement-target area by the mobile management node and a radio base station according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations in the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a function block diagram of a radio base station according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations in a mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of an information element “Trace Activation” in “TRACE START” used in the mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of “Handover Preparation Information” used in the mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of an information element “AS-Config” in the “Handover Preparation Information” used in the mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of an information element “MeasConfig” in the information element “AS-Config” in the “Handover Preparation Information” used in the mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11( a ) and FIG. 11( b ) are diagrams illustrating an example of a format of information elements “MeasObjectToAddModList” and “MeasObjectEUTRA” in the information element “MeasConfig” in the information element “AS-Config” in the “Handover Preparation Information” used in the mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

(Mobile Communication System According to First Embodiment of the Present Invention)

With reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 , a mobile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment includes an O&M (Operation & Maintenance) server, a mobile management node MME (Mobility Management Entity), and a radio base station eNB.

The mobile communication system according to the present embodiment is configured to cause a specific mobile station UE to measure and report a desired radio quality when the specific mobile station UE moves into a cell that lies inside a measurement-target area.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the O&M server is configured to set in advance information for designating a measurement-target area, a desired radio quality to be measured as MDT, a method of reporting a measurement result in the MDT, and the like with respect the mobile management node MME and a radio base station that manages a cell that lies inside the measurement-target area.

For example, the information for designating the measurement-target area includes a cell ID (“E-CGI: Evolved Cell Global Identity”) or “PCI: Physical Cell Identity”) for identifying a cell included in the measurement-target area, “TAI (Tracking Area ID)” indicating an aggregation of a plurality of cells, and the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the mobile management node MME includes a measurement-target-area management unit 11 and an instruction unit 12 .

The measurement-target-area management unit 11 is configured to manage the information for designating the measurement-target area, the desired radio quality to be measured as the MDT, the method of reporting the measurement result in the MDT, and the like, which were acquired from the O&M server.

In addition, when the measurement-target area is designated by latitude/longitude information as illustrated in FIG. 3( a ) and FIG. 3( b ) , the measurement-target-area management unit 11 may be configured to manage a list of cells or TA (Tracking Area), which include the measurement-target area designated by the latitude/longitude information, as the information for designating the measurement-target area.

When it is detected that the mobile station UE has moved into a cell #1 that lies inside the measurement-target area, the instruction unit 12 is configured to transmit “Measurement Configuration #1” for instructing to measure and report a desired radio quality to a radio base station eNB#1 that manages the cell #1.

Specifically, the instruction unit 12 is configured to transmit the “Measurement Configuration #1” by “TRACE START”.

Furthermore, when it is detected that the mobile station UE has moved into a cell #2 that lies outside the measurement-target area, the instruction unit 12 is configured to transmit “Measurement Configuration #2” for instructing to stop measuring and reporting the desired radio quality to a radio base station eNB#2 that manages the cell #2.

Specifically, the instruction unit 12 is configured to transmit the “Measurement Configuration #2” by “DEACTIVATE TRACE”.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4 , the operation of the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , in step S 1001 , the radio base station eNB#1 transmits “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” or “HO NOTIFY” to the mobile management node MME when performing a handover process of the mobile station UE to the cell #1.

When the “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” is received, the mobile management node MME transmits “PATH SWITCH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT” to the radio base station eNB#1 in step S 1002 , detects that the mobile station UE moved into the cell #1 that lies inside the measurement-target area on the basis of E-CGI or TAI (Tracking Area Identity) of the cell #1 included in the “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” in step S 1003 , and transmits the “TRACE START” including the “Measurement Configuration #1” for instructing to measure and report the desired radio quality to the radio base station eNB#1 in step S 1004 .

Meanwhile, when the “HO NOTIFY” is received, the mobile management node MME detects that the mobile station UE moved into the cell #1 that lies inside the measurement-target area on the basis of the E-CGI or TAI of the cell #1 included in the “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” in the step S 1003 , and transmits the “TRACE START” including the “Measurement Configuration #1” for instructing to measure and report the desired radio quality to the radio base station eNB#1 in the step S 1004 .

The process in the step S 1003 is not limited to the case in which processes (the processes in the step S 1001 and step S 1002 ) regarding the handover were performed. For example, the process in the step S 1003 may be performed when an Attach process, in which the mobile station UE connects to a network, was performed as shown in FIG. 12 , or when the mobile station UE is changed from an “RRC_IDLE state” to an “RRC_CONNECTED state”.

In such a case, on the basis of the E-CGI or TAI of the cell #1 included in “Initial UE Message” transmitted from the radio base station eNB#1, the mobile management node MME detects that the Attach process of the mobile station UE was performed in the cell #1 that lies inside the measurement-target area, or the mobile station UE is changed to the “RRC_CONNECTED state” that lies inside the cell #1 in the measurement-target area.

The radio base station eNB#1 transmits “RRC Connection Reconfiguration” including the “Measurement Configuration #1” to the mobile station UE in step S 1005 , and the mobile station UE transmits “RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete” to the radio base station eNB#1 in step S 1006 .

In step S 1007 , the mobile station UE measures and reports the desired radio quality on the basis of the “Measurement Configuration #1”.

In step S 1101 , the radio base station eNB#1 transmits “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” or “HO NOTIFY” to the mobile management node MME when performing a handover process to the cell #2 of the mobile station UE.

When the “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” is received, the mobile management node MME transmits “PATH SWITCH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT” to the radio base station eNB#1 in step S 1102 , detects that the mobile station UE moved into the cell #2 on the basis of E-CGI or TAI of the cell #2 included in the “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” in step S 1103 , and transmits the “DEACTIVATE TRACE” including the “Measurement Configuration #2” for instructing to stop measuring and reporting the desired radio quality to the radio base station eNB#1 in step S 1104 .

Meanwhile, when the “HO NOTIFY” is received, the mobile management node MME detects that the mobile station UE moved into the cell #2 that lies outside the measurement-target area on the basis of the E-CGI or TAI of the cell #2 included in the “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” in the step S 1103 , and transmits the “DEACTIVATE TRACE” including the “Measurement Configuration #2” for instructing to stop measuring and reporting the desired radio quality to the radio base station eNB#1 in the step S 1104 .

The radio base station eNB#1 transmits “RRC Connection Reconfiguration” including the “Measurement Configuration #2” to the mobile station UE in step S 1105 , and the mobile station UE transmits “RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete” to the radio base station eNB#1 in step S 1106 .

Then, the mobile station UE stops measuring and reporting the desired radio quality on the basis of the “Measurement Configuration #2”.

In accordance with the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to cause a specific mobile station UE to measure and report a desired radio quality when the specific mobile station UE moved into a cell that lies inside a specific area.

(Mobile Communication System According to Second Embodiment of the Present Invention)

With reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 11 , a mobile communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described while focusing on the difference from the mobile communication system according to the above-mentioned first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the radio base station eNB includes a measurement-target-area management unit 21 , a reception unit 22 , and a transmission unit 23 .

The reception unit 22 is configured to receive a signal transmitted by the mobile management node MME, the mobile station UE, or another radio base station eNB.

For example, the reception unit 22 is configured to receive information for designating a measurement-target area, a desired radio quality to be measured as MDT, a method of reporting a measurement result in the MDT, and the like from the mobile management node MME.

The measurement-target-area management unit 21 is configured to manage the information for designating the measurement-target area, the desired radio quality to be measured as the MDT, the method of reporting the measurement result in the MDT, and the like, which were acquired from the mobile management node MME.

In addition, when the measurement-target area is designated by latitude/longitude information as illustrated in FIG. 3( a ) and FIG. 3( b ) , the measurement-target-area management unit 21 may be configured to manage a list of cells or TA (Tracking Area), which include the measurement-target area designated by the latitude/longitude information, as the information for designating the measurement-target area.

The transmission unit 23 is configured to transmit a signal to the mobile management node MME, the mobile station UE, or another radio base station eNB.

For example, the transmission unit 23 is configured to transmit “RRC Connection Reconfiguration” including “Measurement Configuration” to the mobile station UE.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 , the operation of the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , in step S 2001 , the radio base station eNB#1 transmits “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” or “HO NOTIFY” to the mobile management node MME when performing a handover process to the cell #1 of the mobile station UE.

When the “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” is received, the mobile management node MME transmits “PATH SWITCH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT” to the radio base station eNB#1 in step S 2002 , detects that the mobile station UE moved into the cell #1 that lies inside the measurement-target area on the basis of E-CGI or TAI of the cell #1 included in the “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” in step S 2003 , and transmits the “TRACE START” including the “Measurement Configuration #1” for instructing to measure and report the desired radio quality to the radio base station eNB#1 in step S 2004 .

Meanwhile, when the “HO NOTIFY” is received, the mobile management node MME detects that the mobile station UE moved into the cell #1 that lies inside the measurement-target area on the basis of the E-CGI or TAI of the cell #1 included in the “PATH SWITCH REQUEST” in the step S 2003 , and transmits the “TRACE START” including the “Measurement Configuration #1” for instructing to measure and report the desired radio quality to the radio base station eNB#1 in the step S 2004 .

The process in the step S 2003 is not limited to the case in which processes (the processes of the step S 2001 and the step S 2002 ) regarding the handover were performed. For example, the process in the step S 2003 may be performed when an Attach process, in which the mobile station UE connects to a network, was performed, or when the mobile station UE is changed from an “RRC_IDLE state” to an “RRC_CONNECTED state”.

In such a case, on the basis of the E-CGI or TAI of the cell #1 included in “Initial UE Message” transmitted from the radio base station eNB#1, the mobile management node MME detects that the Attach process of the mobile station UE was performed in the cell #1 that lies inside the measurement-target area, or the mobile station UE is changed to the “RRC_CONNECTED state” that lies inside the cell #1 in the measurement-target area.

The radio base station eNB#1 transmits “RRC Connection Reconfiguration” including the “Measurement Configuration #1” to the mobile station UE in step S 2005 , and the mobile station UE transmits “RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete” to the radio base station eNB#1 in step S 2006 .

In step S 2007 , the mobile station UE measures and reports the desired radio quality on the basis of the “Measurement Configuration #1”.

In step S 2101 , the radio base station eNB#1 transmits “HANDOVER REQUEST” to the radio base station eNB#2 when performing a handover process to the cell #2 of the mobile station UE.

Furthermore, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , the radio base station eNB#1 transmits information (for example, a list of TAI, a list of E-CGI, and an area designated by latitude/longitude information) for designating the measurement-target area, which was acquired from the mobile management node MME, through an information element “TRACE ACTIVATION” in the “HANDOVER REQUEST”.

In step S 2102 , the radio base station eNB#2 detects that the mobile station UE moved into the cell #2 that lies outside the measurement-target area, on the basis of the E-CGI, the TAI and the like included in the “TRACE ACTIVATION”.

In step S 2103 , the radio base station eNB#2 transmits “RRC Connection Reconfiguration” including “Measurement Configuration #2” to the mobile station UE, and the mobile station UE transmits “RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete” to the radio base station eNB#2 in step S 2104 .

Then, the mobile station UE stops measuring and reporting the desired radio quality on the basis of the “Measurement Configuration #2”.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 , the radio base station eNB#1 may transmit the information (for example, a list of TAI, a list of E-CGI, and an area designated by latitude/longitude information) for designating the measurement-target area, which was acquired from the mobile management node MME, through an information element “MeasObjectEUTRA” in an information element “MeasObjectToAddModList” in an information element “MeasConfig” in an information element “AS-Config” in an information element “Handover Preparation Information” in the “HANDOVER REQUEST”.

The characteristics of the present embodiment as described above may be expressed as follows.

A first characteristic of the present embodiment is summarized in that a mobile communication method includes: a step of transmitting, by a mobile management node MME, “Measurement Configuration #1 (first instruction information)” for instructing to measure and report a desired radio quality to a radio base station eNB#1 (a first radio base station) that manages a cell #1 (a first cell) when it is detected that a mobile station UE has moved into the cell #1 that lies inside a measurement-target area; and a step of transmitting, by the radio base station eNB#1, “RRC Connection Reconfiguration” including the “Measurement Configuration #1” to the mobile station UE.

In the first characteristic of the present embodiment, the mobile communication method may further include: a step of transmitting, by the mobile management node MME, “Measurement Configuration #2 (second instruction information)” for instructing to stop measuring and reporting the desired radio quality to a radio base station eNB#2 (a second radio base station) that manages a cell #2 (a second cell) when it is detected that the mobile station UE has moved into the cell #2 that lies outside the measurement-target area; and a step of transmitting, by the radio base station eNB#2, the “Measurement Configuration #2” to the mobile station UE.

In the first characteristic of the present embodiment, the mobile communication method may further include: a step of transmitting, by the mobile management node MME, information for designating the measurement-target area to the radio base station eNB#1; a step of transmitting, by the radio base station eNB#1, the information for designating the measurement-target area to the radio base station eNB#2 that manages the cell #2; and a step of transmitting, by the radio base station eNB#2, the “Measurement Configuration #2” for instructing to stop measuring and reporting the desired radio quality to the mobile station UE when it is detected that the mobile station UE has moved into the cell #2 on the basis of the information for designating the measurement-target area.

In the first characteristic of the present embodiment, the radio base station eNB#1 may transmit the information for designating the measurement-target area to the radio base station eNB#2 through “HANDOVER REQUEST (a handover request signal)”.

In the first characteristic of the present embodiment, the mobile management node MME may detect that the mobile station UE moved into the cell #1 in response to “PATH SWITCH REQUEST (a path switching request signal)” or “HO NOTIFY (a handover notification signal)” received from the radio base station eNB#1.

A second characteristic of the present embodiment is summarized in that a mobile communication method includes: a step of transmitting, by a mobile management node MME, “Measurement Configuration #1” to a radio base station eNB#1 that manages a cell #1 when it is detected that a mobile station UE has performed an Attach process in the cell #1 that lies inside a measurement-target area; and a step of transmitting, by the radio base station eNB#1, the “Measurement Configuration #1” to the mobile station UE.

A third characteristic of the present embodiment is summarized in that a mobile communication method includes: a step of transmitting, by a mobile management node MME, “Measurement Configuration #1” to a radio base station eNB#1 that manages a cell #1 when it is detected that a mobile station UE has changed to an “RRC_CONNECTED state” in the cell #1 that lies inside a measurement-target area; and a step of transmitting, by the radio base station eNB#1, “Measurement Configuration #1” to the mobile station UE.

Note that the operation of the O&M server, the mobile management node MME, the radio base station eNB, or the mobile station UE may be performed by hardware, a software module performed by a processor, or a combination thereof.

The software module may be arranged in a storage medium of an arbitrary format such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM), a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, or a CD-ROM.

The storage medium is connected to the processor so that the processor can write and read information into and from the storage medium. Such a storage medium may also be accumulated in the processor. Such a storage medium and processor may be arranged in an ASIC. The ASIC may be arranged in the O&M server, the mobile management node MME, the radio base station eNB, or the mobile station UE. Furthermore, such a storage medium and processor may be arranged in the O&M server, the mobile management node MME, the radio base station eNB, or the mobile station UE as discrete components.

Thus, the present invention has been explained in detail by using the above-described embodiments; however, it is obvious that for persons skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments explained herein. The present invention can be implemented as a corrected and modified mode without departing the gist and the scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the specification is intended for explaining the example only and does not impose any limited meaning to the present invention.

UE . . . Mobile station

MME . . . Mobile management node

11 . . . Measurement-target-area management unit

12 . . . Instruction unit

eNB . . . Radio base station

21 . . . Measurement-target-area management unit

22 . . . reception unit

23 . . . Transmission unit