Mobile communication method, radio base station and mobility management node

The present invention relates to a mobile communication method, a radio base station and a mobility management node.

In a mobile communication system of the LTE (Long Term Evolution), transmission of “RA Preamble” in “RA (Random Access)” procedure for transmitting a signal relating to transmission processing (including location registration processing, this also applies hereinafter) such as, for example, location registration processing signaling (MO-signalling) and U-plane transmission processing signaling (MO-data) can be restricted by a mobile station UE in the RRC_IDLE state (idle state) by using a mechanism of ACB (Access Class Barring).

Non-Patent Documents

Non-patent Document 1: 3GPP TS36.300

Non-patent Document 2: 3GPP TS36.211

Non-patent Document 3: 3GPP TS36.213

Non-patent Document 4: 3GPP TS36.321

Non-patent Document 5: 3GPP TS36.331

However, in a mobile communication system of the conventional LTE, ACB cannot be performed on a transmission of “RA Preamble” in a RA procedure performed by a mobile station UE in “an RRC_CONNECTION” state (connected state) and a DRX (Discontinuous Reception) state (intermittent reception state) in response to “UL data arrival”, in other words, the transmission of the “RA Preamble” cannot be restricted.

Accordingly, there are problems that “RA preamble” transmitted in a RA procedure for performing transmission processing by a priority terminal or transmission processing of an emergency call during congestion collides with the above-mentioned “RA Preamble” and thereby causes failure of the RA procedure, and may cause a delay or failure of the transmission processing.

Thus, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances and has an objective of providing a mobile communication method, a radio base station and a mobility management node capable of improving the probability of successfully performing transmission processing by a priority terminal and transmission processing of an emergency call even during congestion.

A first feature of the present invention is summarized as a mobile communication method, including the steps of: causing a radio base station to determine multiple target mobile stations to be shifted from an intermittent reception state to an idle state; causing the radio base station to transmit a context release request signal regarding a predetermined mobile station to a mobility management node, the context release request signal containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations; causing the mobility management node to release an access bearer of the predetermined mobile station in response to the context release request signal, and transmit a context release command signal regarding the predetermined mobile station to the radio base station; and causing the radio base station to transmit a connection release signal to multiple target mobile stations.

A second feature of the present invention is summarized as a mobile communication method, including the steps of: causing a radio base station to determine multiple target mobile stations to be shifted from an intermittent reception state to an idle state; causing the radio base station to transmit a context release request signal regarding a predetermined mobile station to a mobility management node; causing the mobility management node to release an access bearer of the predetermined mobile station in response to the context release request signal, and transmit a context release command signal regarding the predetermined mobile station to the radio base station; causing the radio base station to transmit a connection release signal to multiple target mobile stations; and causing the radio base station to transmit a context release complete signal regarding the predetermined mobile station to the mobility management node, the context release complete signal containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations.

A third feature of the present invention is summarized as a mobile communication method, including the steps of: causing a mobility management node to determine multiple target mobile stations to be shifted from an intermittent reception state to an idle state; causing the mobility management node to transmit a context release command signal regarding a predetermined mobile station to a radio base station, the context release command signal containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations; and causing the radio base station to transmit a connection release signal to multiple target mobile stations in response to the context release command signal.

A fourth feature of the present invention is summarized as a radio base station including: a determination unit configured to determine multiple target mobile stations to be shifted from an intermittent reception state to an idle state; a transmission unit configured to transmit a context release request signal regarding a predetermined mobile station to a mobility management node, the context release request signal containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations; and a reception unit configured to receive a context release command signal regarding the predetermined mobile station from the mobility management node. Here, the transmission unit is configured to transmit a connection release signal to multiple target mobile stations.

A fifth feature of the present invention is summarized as a radio base station including: a determination unit configured to determine multiple target mobile stations to be shifted from an intermittent reception state to an idle state; a transmission unit configured to transmit a context release request signal regarding a predetermined mobile station to a mobility management node; and a reception unit configured to receive a context release command signal regarding the predetermined mobile station from the mobility management node. Here, the transmission unit is configured to transmit a connection release signal to multiple target mobile stations and then transmit a context release complete signal regarding the predetermined mobile station containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations.

A sixth feature of the present invention is summarized as a mobility management node including: a determination unit configured to determine multiple target mobile stations to be shifted from an intermittent reception state to an idle state; and a transmission unit configured to transmit a context release command signal regarding a predetermined mobile station to a radio base station, the context release command signal containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations.

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

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a radio base station according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a format of “UE Context Release Request” transmitted by the radio base station according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a format of “UE Context Release Complete” transmitted by the radio base station according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for illustrating the operation of the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a mobility management node according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for illustrating the operation of the mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

(Mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention)

The mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 .

The mobile communication system according to this embodiment supports the LTE scheme, and includes, as shown in FIG. 1 , a gateway apparatus S-GW (Serving-Gateway), a mobility management node MME (Mobility Management Entity), a radio base station eNB, and a mobile station UE.

Here, the mobility management node MME and the radio base station eNB are connected to each other via an S1 interface.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the radio base station eNB according to this embodiment includes a determination unit 11 , a transmission unit 12 , and a reception unit 13 .

The determination unit 11 is configured to determine a plurality of target mobile stations UE to be shifted from the DRX state to the RRC_IDLE state.

That is, the determination unit 11 is configured to determine, as the plurality of target mobile stations UE, a plurality of mobile stations UE whose transmission of “RA Preamble” is to be restricted, out of the mobile stations UE in the DRX state.

The transmission unit 12 is configured to transmit various signals to the mobile station UE, the mobility management node MME, and the gateway apparatus S-GW. The reception unit 13 is configured to receive various signals from the mobile station UE, the mobility management node MME, and the gateway apparatus S-GW.

For example, the transmission unit 12 may be configured to transmit “UE Context Release Request” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to the mobility management node MME, the “UE Context Release Request” containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 , the transmission unit 12 is configured to notify identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE by using an information element “UE Context to be Released List” within “UE Context Release Request”.

Here, information elements “MME UE S1AP ID” and “eNB UE S1AP ID” within “UE Context Release Request” shown in FIG. 3 indicate the above predetermined mobile station UE.

Alternatively, the transmission unit 12 may be configured to transmit “UE Context Release Complete” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to the mobility management node MME, the “UE Context Release Complete” containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , the transmission unit 12 is configured to notify identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE by using the information element “UE Context to be Released List” within “UE Context Release Complete”.

Here, information elements “MME UE S1AP ID” and “eNB UE S1AP ID” within “UE Context Release Complete” shown in FIG. 4 indicate the above predetermined mobile station UE.

Further, the transmission unit 12 is configured to transmit “RRC Connection Release” to multiple target mobile stations UE.

When the reception unit 13 receives “UE Context Release Command” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE from the mobility management node ME, the transmission unit 12 may be configured to transmit “RRC Connection Release” to multiple target mobile stations UE.

Hereinafter, the operation of the mobile communication system according to this embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 5 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , after determining multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from the DRX state to the RRC_IDLE state, the radio base station eNB transmits “RRC Connection Release” to multiple of target mobile stations UE at Step S 1001 or S 1006 .

At Step S 1002 , the radio base station eNB transmits “UE Context Release Request” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE to the mobility management node MME.

Here, the radio base station eNB may notify the mobility management node MME of identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE by transmitting “UE Context Release Request” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE.

At Step S 1003 , the mobility management node MME transmits “Release Access Bearers Request” to the gateway apparatus S-GW, and at Step S 1004 , the gateway apparatus S-GW transmits “Release Access Bearers Response” to the mobility management node MME to release an access bearer of the predetermined mobile station UE.

At Step S 1005 , the mobility management node MME transmits “UE Context Release Command” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE to the radio base station eNB.

Upon completion of releasing the RRC connection of multiple target mobile stations UE, the radio base station eNB transmits “UE Context Release Complete” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE to the mobility management node MME at Step S 1007 .

Here, the radio base station eNB may notify the mobility management node MME of identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE by transmitting “UE Context Release Complete” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE.

According to an aspect of this embodiment, transmission of “RA Preamble” by multiple target mobile stations UE can be restricted during congestion by shifting multiple target mobile stations UE from the DRX state to the RRC_IDLE state at the initiative of the radio base station eNB, and thereby, the probability of successfully performing transmission processing by a priority terminal and transmission processing of an emergency call can be improved.

Further, according to an aspect of this embodiment, signaling on the S1 interface necessary for shifting multiple target mobile stations UE from the DRX state to the RRC_IDLE state can be reduced, and thereby the signaling load in the mobility management node MME can be mitigated.

(Mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention)

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 , the mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is described by focusing on differences thereof from the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment described above.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the mobility management node MME according to this embodiment includes a determination unit 21 , a transmission unit 22 , and a reception unit 23 .

The determination unit 21 is configured to determine multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from the DRX state to the RRC_IDLE state.

That is, the determination unit 21 is configured to determine, as multiple target mobile stations UE, multiple mobile stations UE whose transmission of “RA Preamble” is to be restricted, out of the mobile stations UE in the DRX state.

The transmission unit 22 is configured to transmit various signals to the radio base station eNB and the gateway apparatus S-GW. The reception unit 23 is configured to receive various signals from the radio base station eNB and the gateway apparatus S-GW.

For example, the transmission unit 22 may be configured to transmit “UE Context Release Command” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to the radio base station eNB, the “UE Context Release Command” containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7 , the transmission unit 12 is configured to notify identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE by using the information element “UE Context to be Released List” within “UE Context Release Command”.

Here, the information element “UE S1AP IDs” within “UE Context Release Command” shown in FIG. 7 indicates the above predetermined mobile station UE.

Hereinafter, the operation of the mobile communication system according to this embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 5 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , after determining multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from the DRX state to the RRC_IDLE state, the mobility management node MME transmits “Release Access Bearers Request” to the gateway apparatus S-GW at Step S 1003 , and at Step S 1004 , the mobility management node MME receives “Release Access Bearers Response” from the gateway apparatus S-GW to release an access bearer of the predetermined mobile station UE.

At Step S 1005 , the mobility management node MME transmits “UE Context Release Command” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE to the radio base station eNB.

Here, the mobility management node MME may notify the radio base station eNB of identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE by transmitting “UE Context Release Complete” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE.

At Step S 1006 , the radio base station eNB transmits “RRC Connection Release” to multiple target mobile stations UE.

Upon completion of releasing the RRC connection of the target mobile station UE, the radio base station eNB transmits “UE Context Release Complete” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE to the mobility management node MME at Step S 1007 .

According to an aspect of this embodiment, transmission of “RA Preamble” by multiple target mobile stations UE can be restricted during congestion by shifting multiple target mobile stations UE from the DRX state to the RRC_IDLE state at the initiative of the mobility management node MME, and thereby the probability of successful transmission processing by a priority terminal and transmission processing of an emergency call can be improved.

(Modification 1)

Determination units 11 and 21 may be configured not to select priority terminals of special Access Classes (ACs) that comprise Access Classes 11-15 (AC11-15) as multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from the DRX state to the RRC_IDLE state.

Determination units 11 and 21 may determine whether or not the mobile station UE is a priority terminal, according to “highPriorityAccess” in an information element “establishment cause” within “RRC Connection Request” or “Initial UE Message”.

The features of the present invention may also be expressed as follows.

A first feature of this embodiment is summarized as a mobile communication method, including the steps of: causing a radio base station eNB to determine multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from a DRX (an intermittent reception) state to an RRC_IDLE state (an idle state); causing the radio base station eNB to transmit “UE Context Release Request (a context release request signal)” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to a mobility management node MME, “UE Context Release Request” containing identification information of multiple of target mobile stations UE; causing the mobility management node MME to release an access bearer of the predetermined mobile station UE in response to “UE Context Release Request”, and transmit “UE Context Release Command (a context release command signal)” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE to the radio base station eNB; and causing the radio base station eNB to transmit “RRC Connection Release (a connection release signal)” to multiple target mobile stations UE.

A second feature of this embodiment is summarized as a mobile communication method, including the steps of: causing a radio base station eNB to determine multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from a DRX state to an RRC_IDLE state; causing the radio base station eNB to transmit “UE Context Release Request” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to a mobility management node MME; causing the mobility management node MME to release an access bearer of the predetermined mobile station UE in response to “UE Context Release Request”, and transmit “UE Context Release Command” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE to the radio base station eNB; causing the radio base station eNB to transmit “RRC Connection Release” to multiple target mobile stations UE; and causing the radio base station eNB to transmit “UE Context Release Complete (a context release complete signal)” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE to the mobility management node MME, “Context Release Complete” containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE.

A third feature of this embodiment is summarized as a mobile communication method, including the steps of: causing a mobility management node MME to determine multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from a DRX state to an RRC_IDLE; causing the mobility management node MME to transmit “UE Context Release Command” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to a radio base station eNB, “UE Context Release Command” containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE; and causing the radio base station eNB to transmit “RRC Connection Release” to multiple target mobile stations UE in response to “UE Context Release Command.”

A fourth feature of this embodiment is summarized as a radio base station eNB including: a determination unit 11 configured to determine multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from a DRX state to an RRC_IDLE state; a transmission unit 12 configured to transmit “UE Context Release Request” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to a mobility management node MME, “UE Context Release Request” containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE; and a reception unit 13 configured to receive “UE Context Release Command” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE from the mobility management node MME. Here, the transmission unit 12 is configured to transmit “RRC Connection Release” to multiple target mobile stations UE.

A fifth feature of this embodiment is summarized as a radio base station eNB including: a determination unit 11 configured to determine multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from a DRX state to an RRC_IDLE state; a transmission unit 12 configured to transmit “UE Context Release Request” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to a mobility management node MME; and a reception unit 13 configured to receive “UE Context Release Command” regarding the predetermined mobile station from the mobility management node MME. Here, the transmission unit 12 is configured to transmit “RRC Connection Release” to multiple target mobile stations UE and then transmit “UE Context Release Complete” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations.

A sixth feature of this embodiment is summarized as a mobility management node MME including: a determination unit 21 configured to determine multiple target mobile stations UE to be shifted from a DRX state to an RRC_IDLE state; and a transmission unit 22 configured to transmit “UE Context Release Command” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to a radio base station eNB, “UE Context Release Command” containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE.

It should be noted that the foregoing operations of the mobile station UE, the radio base station eNB and the mobility management node MME may be implemented by hardware, may be implemented by a software module executed by a processor, or may be implemented in combination of the two.

The software module may be provided in a storage medium in any 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 a processor so that the processor can read and write information from and to the storage medium. Instead, the storage medium may be integrated in a processor. The storage medium and the processor may be provided inside an ASIC. Such an ASIC may be provided in the mobile station UE, the radio base station eNB and the mobility management node MME. Otherwise, the storage medium and the processor may be provided as discrete components inside the mobile station UE, the radio base station eNB and the mobility management node MME.

Hereinabove, the present invention has been described in detail by use of the foregoing embodiments. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described in the specification. The present invention can be implemented as an altered or modified embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which are determined by the description of the scope of claims. Therefore, the description of the specification is intended for illustrative explanation only and does not impose any limited interpretation on the present invention.

Note that the entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-110900 (filed on May 14, 2012) is incorporated by reference in the present specification.

As described above, an aspect of the present invention provides a mobile communication method, a radio base station, and a mobility management node capable of improving the probability of successfully performing transmission processing by a priority terminal and transmission processing of an emergency call even during congestion.

UE mobile station

eNB radio base station

MME mobility management node

11 , 21 determination unit

12 , 22 transmission unit

13 , 23 reception unit