KR101123068B1 - Access to cdma/umts services over a wlan access point, using a gateway node between the wlan access point and the service providing network - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a user station with access to a service providing network. It comprises a radio access network control node (RANCN) 3 which acts as a gateway node between the WLAN access points (APs) 2A, 2B; 4 and the serving network, and includes a WLAN supporting user station 1A, 1B; And access processing means for adapting the service providing network transport protocol to access the service providing network service via the WLAN air interface.

User station, access point, radio access network control node, transport protocol

Description

ACCESS TO CDMA / UMTS SERVICES OVER A WLAN ACCESS POINT, USING A GATEWAY NODE BETWEEN THE WLAN ACCESS POINT AND THE SERVICE PROVIDING NETWORK}

The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing a user station with access to a service providing network / service provider. The invention also relates to a method for providing a user station with access to a service providing network.

Today, it is increasingly important for users to be able to access different kinds of services in the simplest and easiest way possible. Examples of such services are voice services, data communication services, video services, and generally any media service. Access to an increasing number of services from homes or offices may be provided, for example, via a telephone via a PSTN or mobile communication network, such as through a television channel via cable and satellite, through a modem connection via a PSTN, through a broadband or Ethernet cable connection. It can generally be provided using different available access technologies, such as the Internet. For wireless user stations, there are different possibilities for access services with the introduction of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Universal Mobile Telephony System (UMTS), and GSM Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS). For example, as long as real-time services are involved, you get wide coverage, but the data rate is very slow.

So-called Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) are said to constitute an excellent complement, for example, with UMTS. WLANs provide high data rates, but coverage is unfortunately limited to public hotspot areas, especially (public) indoor hotspots. The best for the user is that they have access to both technologies or a combination of both. WLANs are primarily used for high speed data transmission in a local area network (LAN). Some with WLAN capable elements, some with wireless LAN cards, can access the Internet. WLANs are best utilized for data services, but not for real-time services such as voice. Today, it is also a drawback that it cannot have the bandwidth of different media services (voice, data and video) on the same access link controlled by the same node regardless of the transport layer technology. Each media type typically requires its own network and its own access network with network specific switches and specific access end devices.

So far, it has not been possible to use a WLAN, for example, to access a UMTS network because there are several problems associated with it. If a WLAN user is, for example, interested in accessing a UMTS network outside the WLAN hotspot area, this is not possible because of the interoperability between carriers of both networks. One reason not possible is because the integration between the UMTS network and the WLAN is designed only on the authentication level, but it is a very loose integration based on roaming between the UMTS network and the WLAN network. To date, no satisfactory solution has been found in providing a simple way for end-user stations to access different kinds of services, such as different types, different bandwidths, different bit rates, different QoS, and the like. In addition, there is no solution for providing dynamic access bearer processing / dynamic bandwidth allocation of multiple services on one access link.

Users rely on different access technologies / access networks to access different services, which is the biggest drawback and complexity.

Thus, there is a need for a device that can be provided with access to a number of services provided via one or more service delivery networks in a user station, such as a PC, laptop, telephone, etc. in an easy and simple manner. There is also a need for an apparatus that can be provided to a user station for access to a service having a high data rate. In particular, there is a need for a device that can be provided with a high data rate available in a wireless LAN hotspot area or an area covered by a LAN to a user station. In particular, there is a need for an apparatus that can be provided with multiple simultaneous access bearer connections of different types, bandwidth, QoS, etc. in an easy manner. In particular, it is an object of the present invention, while taking advantage of the possibilities offered by WLANs, to provide the provided wide spread services and, for example, the capabilities of a 3G network, i. It is to provide a device that can be used.

There is also a need for a method in which one or more of the foregoing objects can be met.

Thus, the apparatus described above and having the features of claim 1 is provided. In particular, the apparatus comprises a radio access network control node (which in fact may be based on the principle of an RNC (radio network controller) node of a 3G system).

Thus, the above-described method is also provided for providing access to a service of one or more service providing networks or service providers to a WLAN supporting user station, ie a WLAN capable user station, which has the features of claim 20.

Advantageous embodiments are provided by the dependent dependent claims.

The invention is further described in a non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 schematically shows a Radio Access Network Control Node (RANCN) in accordance with the present invention that provides a user station with access to a 3G / UMTS circuit switched / packet switched core network via a WLAN.

FIG. 2 illustrates a node as in FIG. 1 that provides a user station with WLAN access to a service and maps the service to an access bearer.

3 is a block diagram of an RRC, RLC, MAC protocol layer over a WLAN.

4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a functional entity of a WLAN capable user station.

5 schematically illustrates a RANCN in the form of a functional block diagram.

6 is a schematic diagram of the hardware of the RANCN as in FIG.

7A is a simplified signal diagram of a connection control (RRC) connection establishment procedure.

7B is a simplified signal diagram of an access bearer setup procedure.

8 is a more detailed signal diagram between a WLAN enabled user station and a 3G network.

9A is a protocol diagram illustrating the protocol used within a user plane between a WLAN user station and a packet switched core network.

9B is a protocol diagram illustrating a protocol used in a user plan between a WLAN user station and a circuit switched core network.

10A is a protocol diagram as in FIG. 9A for a control plan of a packet switched core network.

FIG. 10B is a protocol diagram for a control plan of a circuit switched core network, similar to FIG. 9B.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates the provision of a media service across air interface to a WLAN capable user station.

12 schematically illustrates the provision of a network capable of transmitting media service traversal multiple interfaces for multiple user stations.

1 is a block diagram showing a radio access network control node (RANCN) 3 according to the present invention, wherein the control node (RANCN) 3 is a wireless LAN (WLAN) access point AP 2A, 2B. And an interface provided between the UMTS core network, in particular the circuit switched core network CS CN 10 and the packet switched core network PS CN 20, wherein the interface used for the RANCN is an Iu-interface. The user station is here a wireless LAN telephone 1A and a laptop 1B (in particular, BreezeNet with a PCMCIA card as an example).

RANCN 3 is a new node that can be seen as a modified RNC, radio network controller node. The interface I / f-2 between the access points 2A and 2B and the RANCN 3 is suitable for enabling the protocol RRC / RLC / MAC / UDP / IP / L1 to communicate over a WLAN air interface. I / f-1 is also adapted with an adaptation protocol RRC / RLC / MAC / UDP / IP / WLAN for communication between the user station, in this case the wireless LAN telephone 1A and the laptop 1B and the RANCN 3 Interface. In the figure, it can be seen that the access points APs 2A, 2B via WLAN are connected via the RANCN node 3, for example to the UMTS network (CS CN 10 and PS CN 20, respectively). The role of the AP is to relay RRC / RLC / MAC / UDP / IP through the transmission technology used between the AP and RANCN. The WLAN AP is not controlled by the RANCN. These are transparent access points to the broadband network. The adaptive 3GPP protocols L3 RL RRC and L2 RLC / MAC can be reused over a WLAN air interface that meets the WLAN 802.11 (b) specification, meaning that user stations 1A, 1B can be accessed to the service provider network. . The UMTS or 3G operator network is the only example on a service providing network, and the service provider (network) according to the concept of the invention is in principle to set up a variable bandwidth and / or QoS and / or type or service of different bit rates (bearers). It can be any network that can provide the capability.

At the user station, some new communication software is required. This software includes in particular the protocol stack as described above, and communicates with the UMTS network (or any other service providing network) through the establishment of different types of access bearers, as described above and described in more detail below. In order to be able to do this, the software in particular comprises a protocol stack.

The RANCN 3 is described in more detail below with particular reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

According to the invention, the WLAN can be used as a broadband access network for a UMTS network or any service providing network as described above. It allows access to all available 3G services and real time services such as voice and video calls over WLAN. Of course, the solution according to the invention is also applicable to any service as described above.

In short, the simplified W-CDMA L3 (Layer 3) Radio Resource Control protocol (RRC) and L2 (Layer 2) RLC / MAC (Radio Link Control protocol / Medium Access Control protocol) are WLAN enabled user stations and RANCN (3). It can be said that it is used through WLAN wireless interface (LLC, MAC, PHY) (Logical Link Control protocol, Physical Layer). These protocols are transparently tunneled through the WLAN access points 2A and 2B connected to the RANCN 3. These sets of protocols will be used to set up simultaneous multiple access bearers to access the UMTS core networks 10, 20 in this case using the Iu interface. The RANCN 3 can be said to be based on a W-CDMA Radio Network Controller (RNC), which is an access bearer between a WLAN capable user station and a UMTS core network (here) by reusing the above-described protocols (RLC / MAC and RRC). Control on and off.

RANCN 3 may be shown as a gateway node between a WLAN access point and an Iu interface (here) to a UMTS core network. US patent application 60/462703, filed April 15, 2003 by the same applicant, discloses a modified node representing ANCN, which is used to provide communication and / or media services to fixed location devices or stationary equipment units. do. The contents of this document are incorporated herein by reference. The access network control node (ANCN) described in the above patent application, which discloses the establishment of multiple access bearers to essentially fixed location physical link and access nodes, stationary equipment units connected to the access network controller nodes via ANCN, is one. It is connected to the above external network, such as a service provider network.

Instead, the RANCN of the present application provides communication over a WLAN, providing the WLAN-enabled user station with the possibility of access to the service providing network as described above. In short, WLAN can be said to be Ethernet over wireless. Wireless LAN 802.11 is designed to run on an 802.11 wireless LAN as easily as any LAN application or protocol, including TCP / IP, can run over Ethernet. The data link layer in IEEE 802.11b consists of two sublayers, Logical Link Control (LLC) and Medium Access Control (MAC). IEEE 802.11 uses the same IEEE 802.2 Ethernet LLC and 48-bit addressing as other IEEE 802 LAN: s to bridge very simply from wireless networks to wired networks according to IEEE, but the Medium Access Control sublayer is unique to WLANs. . The physical layer, LLC, and MAC constitute an 802.11 WLAN. On top of it are the network layers TCP / IP, UDP / IP (Transfer Control Protocol / Internet Protocol, User Datagram Protocol / Internet Protocol).

Thus, according to the present invention, RLC / MAC and RRC are executed via IP, while IP is executed via IEEE 802.11b instead of Ethernet.

In an advantageous implementation, these protocols allow for the dynamic establishment of different types of access bearers with different bit rates, QoS requirements over WLAN, and a mix of circuit switched and packet switched access bearers over WLAN, RLC, The MAC guarantees QoS of real-time applications that handle different types of access bearers, and the RRC control plan protocol allows user equipment to access the UMTS network.

The inventive concept is applicable to RLC, RRC and other protocols, but should have substantially the same structure or function.

2 schematically illustrates an example of a (media) access network with a new set of access bearers. In particular, this figure shows the mapping of services onto an access bearer. The WLAN capable user station 1 is connected to the RANCN 3 via the access point AP 4 via a WLAN. The connection from the user station to the RANCN 3 proceeds via WLAN and is relayed via the access point 4 to the RANCN 3 via the broadband network. 8 is a signal diagram illustrating signals between a user station and an access point, an access point and a RANCN, in this case a 3G network.

RANCN 3 may be connected to one or more external networks, in particular service providing networks 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the RANCN 3 is connected to a core network supporting Iu interface, Iu CS and Iu PS for circuit switching and packet switching, respectively. The RANCN 3 is here connected to a circuit switched (connection direction) external network 10 across the Iu CS interface, and a packet switched (no connection) external network 20, Broadband Remote Access Server ( BRAS) edge router 30, video on demand service network 40 and live television service network 50.

The core network typically provides conventional communication core functions such as subscription authentication, billing, routing, and the like.

The RANCN 3 may be explicitly connected to one or more of the illustrated networks, other networks, in principle any combination of service providing networks, or a single service providing network.

In this application, the access bearer means a logical connection with the user station 1 via the (media) access network controlled by the RANCN 3. One access bearer may, for example, support one voice connection, while one of the other bearers supports one video connection, and the third access bearer supports one or more data packet connections. Each access bearer is associated with a quality of server (QoS) parameter that indicates how the data stream is processed. Examples on QoS parameters are data rate, variability of data rate, amount and variance of delay, guaranteed versus best effort delivery, error rate, and the like. In a (media) access network, an access bearer provides the ability to process and transmit user data at varying bit rates and different QoS requirements via the RANCN 3 between the WLAN enabled user station 1 and the lu interface.

In particular, a media access network that provides access via RANCN 3 via WLAN may provide access to a number of different media services to user station 1. To illustrate the reason, in FIG. 2, it is shown that the user station 1 can execute x service, which means for example a telephone service, a video service, a voice service, a data service and, in particular, any other service not shown.

Multiple types of services or a combination of these types of services may operate in time and at any time.

With the present invention, a WLAN capable user station can access multiple services via a WLAN. Two or more access bearers may be used substantially simultaneously. In general, different access bearers have different bandwidths and different QoS. Thus, it can be said that bandwidth on demand can be provided to the user station 1. The connection bearer may carry one or more multiple services of the same type.

For clarity, only one user station is shown in the figure. Of course, several user stations can be connected to the RANCN 3. As initially mentioned in the present application and described in more detail below, RANCN adapts and reuses protocols on the external network, in particular RLC, MAC and RRC, which are accessed via the wireless LAN access point AP 4. It is relayed substantially transparently.

3 schematically illustrates the protocol layer involved. The (media) access network shown in FIG. 2B has a physical layer L1 that includes a physical layer WLAN. The protocol layer above the physical layer L1 is the data link layer, layer L2, and the network layer, layer L3. Layer L2 is divided into two sublayers. In the control plan, layer L2 comprises two sublayers, a first sublayer with Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol, and a second sublayer with access control (RLC) protocol. Physical Layer There is a UDP / IP layer between the WLAN and RLC / MAC layers. Layer 3 has, for example, a Radio Resource Control protocol (RRC) belonging to the control plan. Layer 2 and Layer 3 correspond to the UTRAN layer, which is described by Holma and Toskala in WCDMA For UMTS Radio Access For Third Generation Mobile Communications, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Included.

The IP layer provides services to the MAC layer via a transport channel that characterizes how data is transmitted and what features it has. The MAC layer then provides services to the RLC layer (or generally the link control layer) by logical channel. Logical channels are characterized by what type of data they transmit. The RLC layer provides services to higher layers through a service access point that indicates how the link control (RLC) layer processes data packets. On the control plan, the RLC service is used by the RRC layer (access control layer) for signal transmission. On the user plan, the RLC service (link control) is used by higher layer user plan functions (e.g., voice codecs). RLC (link control) services are called signal bearers in the control plan and access bearers in the user plan.

In the case of an access network (in a preferred implementation, a media access network), the control interface between the access control (RRC) and all lower layer protocols is characterized by the access control (RRC) layer, which is characterized by the characteristics of the lower layer protocols, for example, transport and logical channels. Used to construct

At the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, logical channels are mapped to transport channels. The MAC layer is also responsible for selecting the appropriate transport format for each transport channel according to the instantaneous source rate of each logical channel. The transport format is selected for a set of transport format combinations set by admission control for each connection.

In (media) access networks, for example, RRC and MAC configuration parameters are adapted to physical layer speed and transport protocol (UDP / IP). Examples of such configuration parameters include an RLC PDU size, a MAC PDU size, a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) and a Transport Format Set (TFS). These parameters are considered as configuration data and are configured for all types of access bearers in the RANCN 3.

Each transport channel consists of a set of transport formats (TFS), meaning that the TFS is a set of allowed transport formats for the transport channel. The transmission format indicates how data is transmitted on the transmission channel. The transmission format includes a number of bits transmitted on the transmission channel for a certain transmission time interval. Alternatives to different transport formats can be transmitted over transport channels, and the amount of data that can be transmitted on each transport channel is limited by a set of transport format combinations that list all possible transport format combinations.

Thus, a MAC is provided with a limited set of transport format combinations, where each transport format combination is a combination of the current valid transport formats at a given time point, and this format includes one transport format for each transport channel.

For each transmission time interval, the MAC entity selects a transport format combination (TFC) from the listed set and requests the relevant PDU, for example, from the RLC buffer. The MAC then sends a PDU from the RLC buffer, adds a MAC header, and tags a UDP / IP address. The new transport format combination may also be selected due to the traffic strength from the core network.

The access bearer establishment and release function (for the logical channel DTCH) and the RRC connection processing function (for the logical channel DCCH) are used by the MAC to schedule transport blocks or MAC frames by selecting a transport format combination from the transport format combination set. Provide a set of transport format combinations to the MAC.

Each set of transport blocks that are allowed to be transmitted during a transmission time interval associated with one transport channel is carried on one IP packet transport bearer. The number of transport blocks for each transport channel may vary depending on the load on the link during the relevant transport interval. There will be one UDP / IP address per DCH transport channel for one user station 1, but the size of the IP packet is variable, for example including any number of transport blocks.

As mentioned above, the data transfer service of the MAC layer is provided on a logical channel. A set of logical channel types is defined for different kinds of data transfer services provided by the MAC. Each logical channel type is defined by the type of information transmitted. The general classification of logical channels is done in two different groups: the control channel used to transmit control plan information and the traffic channel for transmission of user plan information.

The RANCN 3 controls access bearer establishment and release between the user station 1 and the external network 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. In particular, the setting up and tearing down of access bearers is done in relation to RLC / MAC and RRC protocols, or more generally link control protocols / MAC and connection control protocols.

Through RANCN 3, different types of access bearers are dynamically established, where different access bearers do not have the same bit rate and the same QoS requirements, but run on the same WLAN. For each type of service, there may be several concurrent sessions and there may be multiple concurrent access bearers. Moreover, RANCN 3 mixes circuit switched and packet switched access bearers. This is independent of the physical layer via WLAN and Layer 1 transmission technology.

The user station (eg, see FIGS. 1 and 4), in one configuration, includes a functional entity that includes a communication end entity 1C, and a terminal adapter IC ₂ , a set of executing applications and a USIM card 1C ₁ may be introduced. .

This obviously relates to only one particular configuration. However, in this exemplary embodiment, communication end entity 1C includes a communication protocol and a function to connect to an access network and one or more core networks. The terminal adapter IC ₂ generally serves as an adaptation between the communication end 1C and applications such as data services, voice services, video services, x type services, and the like.

In this embodiment, the communication end entity channel 1C includes a control management function CM 51, a session management function SM 52, a mobility management function MM 53, and a protocol stack 50. In one configuration using IP and DCH transport channels, protocol stack 50 is configured with the following protocol / entities: connection control protocol RRC 54, link control protocol RLC 55, MAC-d protocol 56, UDP IP (Internet Protocol) 57, RLC 58, MAC 59, PHY (Physical Layer) 60, where LLC, MAC and PHY 58-60 are WLAN specification IEEE 802.11 ( meets b).

The terminal adapter IC ₂ provides communication with an application (data service, voice service, etc.) via an application program interface API for data services, an API for voice, an API for video and an API for service type x.

Of course, these are merely examples and may be some API depending on which service you want.

The RANCN 3 provides a public access interface for establishing multiple access bearer channels to each user station (not shown in the figure). The RANCN 3 advantageously uses different types of access bearers dynamically, eg, establishes and / or assigns appropriately configured access bearers as needed. In particular, the RANCN 3 establishes or assigns an access bearer, for example in response to initiation of a media service at the user station 1. Access bearers are established using layer L2 and layer L3 protocols. An access bearer may also be established to simultaneously provide different QoS, etc. to a mix of circuit switched access packet and packet switched access bearers. Using the RRC protocol and RLC / MAC protocol for the access bearer user plan, or generally the access control protocol and the link control / MAC protocol of the access network for the access bearer user plan, the access bearer is dynamically updated by RANCN 3. Is established.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the RANCN 3 includes a connection control unit 130 and a bearer service processing unit 140. The access control unit 130 establishes an access bearer to provide a service to the user station, and in one embodiment implements the RRC protocol. The bearer service processing unit 140 maps the multiple concurrent access bearers into packets of the transport protocol of the physical link of the physical layer L1, which implements the RLC / MAC protocol of the access network. In one configuration, multiple concurrent access bearers are mapped to packets of the transport protocol that are relayed through the AP 4 using WLAN.

The RANCN includes a port 150 for physical layer L1 communication. Port 150 may be external to RANCN or may be internal. The RANCN 3 may also include interfaces 121-125 for CS, PS core networks, BRAS edge routers, etc., on demand video networks. The connection control entity (RRC) 135, the link control entity (RLC) 145, the MAC protocol entity 146 and the L1 protocol entity 151 are used for data service (see FIG. 2).

Port 150 is a port to WLAN access point AP 4. Each user station is connected to an appropriate MAC entity in RANCN 3, which is typically included in bearer service processing unit 140.

In one embodiment, the RANCN includes an exchange based node with a switch 134 (see FIG. 6). The switch 134 serves to interconnect other components of the RANCN. It may be for example an ATM switch or a packet switch.

Other components may include one or more expansion device (135 ₁ -135 _x). The extension terminal may include the ability to connect the RANCN to a number of user stations served by it. The extension terminal can connect the RANCN to the circuit switched core network via the Iu-CS interface, and can access the packet switched core network, the BRAS edge router, data service, etc. 121A-124A via the Iu-PS.

Such other components may include a packet control unit (PCU) 140, a codec 141, a timing unit 142, a data service application unit 124A and a main processor 131. Of course, not all of these elements are necessary for the functionality of RANCN. Codec 141 is available for CDMA 2000, for example, but is not required for, for example, WCDMA.

In general, the functionality and necessity of the components can be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The packet control unit (PCU) 140 provides for separation of, for example, packet switched data and circuit switched data, where it is received from the user station to display different data streams from the circuit switched and packet switched core network on the common stream. Multiplex with. The PCU may optionally be located outside of the RANCN.

The functions of the connection control unit and the bearer service processing unit may be executed by the main processor 131 or may be executed by another processor or a different processor of the RANCN node. The functionality of these units can be implemented in many different ways, using discrete hardware circuitry, software functioning in a suitable manner, application specific semiconductors and one or more digital signal processors, and the like.

According to the present invention, the RANCN may be an adapted or modified RNC node of the UTRAN. RANCN may reuse the modified UTRAN RLC / MAC and RRC protocols.

IP (Internet Transport Protocol) needs to be supported for RANCN as a transport protocol for an access bearer channel.

7A illustrates a connection control (RRC) connection establishment procedure. As a first operation 101 for establishing a connection of the connection control RRC after deblocking of the user station 1 and upon initialization of one instance of the media application of the application set, 1) sends a connection request message to the RANCN 3. The connection request message 101 is transmitted from the user station 1 to the RANCN 3 via the DCCH channel. The connection request message 101 includes a transmission information element or a traffic descriptor. In the case of IP transmission, the traffic information element may be, for example, a UDP / IP address. The transmission information includes information necessary to map all types of access bearers to the transport bearer (IP packet) RLC PDU size, MAC PDU size, TB transport block size, and so on. And so on. In the case of IP, there is no reservation of bandwidth. Typical UTRAN measured information elements are not used or are included in the connection request message 101. Moreover, the specific capabilities of the user station (UE) system, the radio access capability (IE) of the inter-RAT station (UE), are not used.

The RANCN 3 then establishes or assigns a protocol entity to Layer L1, Layer L2 and Layer L3 for the application launched at the user station 1.

In the case of the IP transport protocol, bandwidth reservation is not made, but the number of simultaneous access bearers AB of a particular access company is limited in the connection setting of the access control RRC after capacity checking. That is, in the case of the IP transport protocol, the RANCN not only checks the traffic load on access to the user station, checks the number of already established access bearers, but also checks their type or bit rate to set up a new access bearer. Determine whether to accept.

After reception of the connection request message 101 and establishment of a protocol entity, the RANCN 3 sends an RRC connection establishment message 102 to the user station 1. Thus, the connection setup message 102 is sent by the (media) access network to indicate acceptance and establishment of a connection control connection to the user station. Like message 101, connection establishment message 102 is transmitted on the DCCH channel.

The connection establishment message 102 includes the designation of control link information and transport channel information. Unlike the UTRAN RRC connection establishment message, the connection establishment message 102 of the media access network does not contain radio resource information.

After receiving and processing the connection establishment message 102, the user station 1 uses the information obtained from the connection establishment message 102 to correspond to the protocol entity corresponding to that established in operation 102 at the RANCN 3. Establish 102A. The user station 1 then sends an RRC connection setup complete message 103 to the RANCN 3. This message serves as a conformation by the user station 1 establishing a connection control (RRC) connection. The connection setup complete message 103 is also sent using the DCCH logical channel.

Upon receipt of message 103, RANCN 3 establishes a signal channel similar to the Signal Radio Bearer (SRB) of WCDMA. Once the signal access bearer SAB is established, the first operation of the user station 1 (after establishing a connection for a first time after a cycle of being switched off (off state)) may execute a position update signal procedure. This is a signal sequence between the user station 1 and the core network on the Non Access Stratum level. By this operation, the user station 1 is registered as active in the service provider network. The user station 1 is then considered active (similar to that in the state cell _- DCH connected to the WCDMA RRC protocol definition). This represents one possible embodiment and there are different or similar solutions using the shared channel concept and the PCH, FACH and RACH channel concepts. Thereafter, when the user station 1 is connected to the WCDMA core network, the user station 1 is connected to accept the terminating call and make an outgoing call. In other examples of a serving network, this uses a non-access stratum message implemented in the payload of an access control (RRC) direct transfer message to communicate, request and communicate media and data services. It takes the form of a user station 1 that can receive and terminate.

Referring to FIG. 7B, an access bearer setup procedure will be described. When the user station is connected to RANCN 3, an access bearer AB is assigned or established. The skilled person will understand the various considerations contained in the RANCN 3 for determining which access bearer to designate. For example, considerations and / or criteria as used for UTRAN may be utilized.

After establishing the access bearer, the RANCN 3 sends an access bearer setup message 201 to the user station 1 to establish the access bearer. The access bearer setup message 201 is transmitted over the DCCH logical channel. The type of access bearer is included in the access bearer setup message 201, and the message 201 includes a transmission information element (eg, a UDP / IP address for IP transmission). The access bearer setup message 201 also includes an identification of the access bearer.

The access bearer setup message 201 may resemble a comparable UTRAN message known as a radio bearer setup message.

Upon receipt of the access bearer setup message 201, the user station 1 receives the associated access bearer information notification. The user station 1 then acknowledges the reception by sending an access bearer setup complete message 202. Thus, an access bearer setup complete message 202 is sent by the user station 1 to confirm the establishment of a radio bearer. It is transmitted on the DCCH logical channel. As in the connection control message described above, it may be appropriate for the PhyCH information element to refer to the transport channel (eg, to carry the UDP / IP address of the transport channel).

After the access bearer utilized by the application service is generally established in the manner described above, data packets belonging to the media service of the application can be transmitted from the user station 1 and to the user station 1 via the WLAN. Further description of the protocol ensures the processing of data packets.

8 is a signal diagram illustrating signals between a user station, a WLAN access point, a RANCN, and in this case a 3G network.

The WLAN capable user station is assumed to send a WLAN connection request to the WLAN access point 301. This means that a WLAN connection is established. The access point AP then returns an acknowledgment 302 of the connection to the user station. The user station then sends an initial IP session request 303 to the RANCN, where UDP / IP is established and an acknowledgment 304 is returned to the using station. Subsequently, as described in more detail in FIG. 7, the user station sends an RRC connection request 305 to the RANCN. If the RANCN establishes RRC / RLC / MAC, a message to this purpose is sent to the user station 306. Thereafter, the message is also sent to the 3G network, and RANAP / SCCP is established. A non-access stratum message (NAS) 308 is transmitted between the user station and the 3G network. Such a message may include location update, access bearer setup, and the like (eg, see FIG. 7B). The user station then sends a (RANAP) location registration request 309 to the 3G network that returns the (RANAP) location update accept 310 to the user station. Subsequently, the user station uses the RRC to send the CM service request to the RANCN 311. The RANCN sends, via RANAP, an initial UE (user equipment) message 312 to the 3G network (ie, CM service request).

The 3G network then sends a CM service concept, ie RANAP direct transmission 313, to the RANCN, which uses the RRC to send the CM service concept to the user station 314. The user station sends an uplink direct transfer (setup) request 315 to the RANCN using RRC and further to the 3G network using RANAP 316.

9A, 9B, 10A, and 10B show user plans for packet switched and circuit switched cases (FIGS. 9A and 9B), respectively, and protocol stacks of control plan protocols for packet switched and circuit switched cases (FIGS. 10A and 10B, respectively). It is shown. Thus, FIG. 9A shows a protocol stack of a WLAN capable user station, an access point (AP), a RANCN and a packet switched core network (PS CN) and the interfaces therebetween. In the figure, the APP relates to an application for the transmission of user data. The grain shaded protocol is the WLAN protocol, while the upward diagonal-shaded protocol is the one that terminates on the RANCN.

As shown, an Iu-Ps (packet switched) interface is used between the PS CN and the RANCN, while a new interface is introduced between the WLAN capable user station and the access point, respectively, and between the access point and the RANCN. In this configuration, RRC and RLC / MAC are executed with UDP / IP over WLAN protocol, as listed in IEEE 802.x 11b. User plan information is segmented / concatenated via the RLC / MAC protocol. The role of the RLC protocol is to communicate or concatenate and prioritize information from the upper layer, while the role of the MAC is to map the RLC frame to a transport channel MAC frame encapsulated into a UDP / IP frame. This will also be described further below. However, between the user station and the WLAN access point, WLAN interfaces and protocols are used in accordance with IEEE 802.x. It consists of the radio physical layer, LLC and MAC layer (see IEEE 802.11b). RRC, RLC / MAC and UDP / IP are implemented via WLAN protocol according to the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a view similar to FIG. 9A, the difference being that the core network is circuit switched. Thus, the interface between the RANCN and the CS CN is an Iu-CS interface. User data may be, for example, voice and / or unrestricted digital information (UDI) or streamed data.

In FIG. 10A, a protocol for a packet switched control plan between a WLAN capable user station and a packet switched network is shown. The user station needs to communicate transparently with the PS CN via RANCN, as in UMTS without substantial modification. Call Control (CC), Mobility Management (MM) and Session Management (SM) are used. This is done via a communication channel. The function of the RRC establishes a communication channel between the WLAN capable user station and the RANCN, and the purpose of the RLC is to segment or coalesce information from higher layers and prioritize. MAC is for mapping an RLC frame to a transport channel MAC frame encapsulated in a UDP / IP frame or the like.

These frames are then executed over the WLAN between the user station and the access point. The access point simply relays these frames to run over the Ethernet / physical link between the access point and the RANCN. It does not necessarily have to be Ethernet, but may be ATM or any other technology. As shown in Figure 9B, for the user plan, the concept is the same, and the difference is that RRC is not used compared to the user control plan. User plan information is segmented / concatenated via RLC / MAC protocol or the like.

Next, the operation of the user plan protocol will be briefly described. In the user plan, in the (media) access network according to the invention, Iu UP, RLC and MAC (eg MAC-d) are used in substantially the same way as in UTRAN. A transmission time interval (TTI) is specified for each DCH established for MAC policing. At the transmitter, a TTI timeout is specified, i.e. all TTI timeouts occur simultaneously for the largest TTI interval. After the TFCS scheduling algorithm is executed, the transport block is framed into an IP packet and transmitted to the receiver. If the TTI is not specified for the receiver, that is, the blocks contained in the IP packet are passed simultaneously to the higher layers.

MAC size (TB transport block) and TTI length are characteristics of the access bearer and the transmission bandwidth. These are configurable according to the physical layer speed. For example, if there is a higher bandwidth transmission, the MAC size (TB) for an access bearer may be set larger if there is a possibility of transmitting more bits during the same time period. Bandwidth reservation is not required for the IP transport protocol, but the number of concurrent access bearers on a particular connection may be limited in the access bearer setup after the capacity check in the RANCN.

In the following, the operation of a general link control entity, such as the RLC protocol, will be briefly described. The RANCN includes a bearer service processing unit with a generic link control entity. An RLC (link control) entity has a sending side and a receiving side. The transmitting side has, in particular, a segment / junction unit, a transmission buffer and a PDU forming unit. The receiving side has in particular a receiving buffer and a reassembly unit. Considering each unit, the RLC hierarchy provides segment and retransmission services for control data as well as users.

On the transmitting side of the RLC entity of the RANCN, the data packet (RLC SDU) received from the upper layer via SAP is segmented and / or concatenated into a fixed length payload unit by the segment / junction unit. The length of the payload unit is a semi static value, which is determined during the access bearer establishment process and can only be changed through the access bearer reconfiguration process. For concatenation purposes, bits carrying information in length and extension are inserted at the beginning of the last payload unit that contains data from the SDU. If several SDUs fit in one payload unit, they are spliced and an appropriate length indicator is inserted at the beginning of the payload unit. The payload unit is then located, in a particular embodiment, in a transmission buffer that also handles retransmission management. For higher bit rate rates, the RLC can operate in transparent mode and / or non-acknowledged mode. In addition to the mode, the RLC PDU size can be configured. In transparent mode, no protocol overhead is added to higher layer data. Incorrect LC PDUs may be discarded or mislabeled. Transmission with limited segment resynthesis capability may be achieved. The RLC PDU may be configured by taking one payload unit from the transmit buffer. For transparent mode, the RLC PDU header includes the number of RLC PDU SN sequences (12 bits) and optionally the length indicator used for concatenation purposes.

In non-acknowledged mode, no retransmission protocol is used. Received incorrect data is displayed or discarded depending on the configuration. RLC SDUs that are not transmitted within a certain time period are simply removed from the transmit buffer. The protocol overhead is three octets, and the size of the RLC PDU can be made larger. The size of the RLC PDU may be adjusted based on the layer L1 transmission rate.

The MAC layer protocol will be briefly described below. The MAC layer with a MAC-d protocol entity performs the same function as when the physical layer is a WCDMA air interface. In the MAC layer, logical channels from the RLC (link control) layer are mapped to transport channel MAC frames (eg, MAC PDUs). In Layer 1 protocol, transport channel MAC frames are encapsulated in UDP / IP packets. When the physical layer is an IP layer, there is a mapping between different layers for different access bearers. The RLC sublayer can include many access bearers. Every access bearer or MAC frame can have two UDP / IP addresses, and an IP transport protocol is used, namely one UDP / IP address for the user station and one UDP / IP address for the RANCN.

The MAC header is a bit string with a length that does not necessarily have to be a plurality of eight bits. The MAC protocol can be simplified by reducing four headers to one header. Of the four common headers, the TCTF header, the C / T header and the UE-Id type header are not used for simplicity, but in particular only the UE-Id header with up to 16 bits is used.

At the transport network, i.e., the lowest layer, MAC frames are encapsulated into appropriate packets / frames as in WCDMA. In particular, MAC frames are encapsulated in IP packets. Thus, the MAC sublayer must adapt to interact with the UDP / IP layer, but this is known to those skilled in the art as to how such adaptation is performed.

The basic idea of the present application is to implement the RRC, RLC / MAC layer on the UDP / IP layer. Any transmission technology between the access point and the RANCN, such as Ethernet or ATM, is actually used. The role of the access point is to simply relay the RRC, RLC / MAC / UDP / IP by the transmission technology used between the access point and the RANCN. Only UDP / IP addresses are associated with MAC PDUs. This UDP / IP address represents the address of a user station with a WLAN interface. This is clearly shown in the protocol diagram, FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B.

Fig. 11 shows that the media service is selectively selected through both the (media) access network (path I) by the RANCN 3 'and the conventional radio access network (path II) by the RNC and the base station as described above. An example of a user station 1 'that can be acquired simultaneously is shown. Here, a conventional radio access network UTRAN is used. UTRAN structures and manipulations are known to those skilled in the art. In the figure, the core network service node is connected to the UMTS terrestrial radio access network UTRAN via the lu interface. As is known, the UTRAN includes one or more RNCs and one or more BSs, although only one RNC and one BS are shown here. Of course, generally several base stations are served by each RNC or the like. The user station 1 'selectively communicates with one or more cells or one or more base stations via an air interface to the core network. In particular, the user station 1 ′ comprises a mobile terminal unit MT 11 ′ that participates in any radio transmission of media services provided via a radio access network.

The user station 1 ′ may participate in any media service provided via UTRAN, for example, and at the same time or at any other time, may participate in a media service provided via WLAN as initially described in this application (path I). ). Arrow path I shows that the user station 1 'receives the first media service (data service) via the media access network, i.e. via WLAN, and arrow path II shows that the user station 1' 2 shows receiving a media service, such as a voice service. The bearer for each service is set up by each network.

The radio access network and the WLAN can be operated by the same operator or different operators.

FIG. 12 shows an example in which a network operator provides media service to the user station 1 ′ via a different interface, for example, on the one hand via a conventional air interface and on the other hand via a WLAN. Here, several user stations 1E, 1F, 1G are shown in the figure. The user stations 1E, 1F, 1G are connected to the RANCN through their respective access point APs 4E, 4F, 4G and base stations (only the user stations 1E, 1F), and to the RNC via UTRAN. . The arrangements of FIGS. 11 and 12 are shown for illustrative purposes only and may be connected via a WLAN in accordance with the inventive concept as well as the user station.

In particular, as an advantage of the present invention, WLANs may not only provide best effort services, but may also provide real-time services and interactive services such as voice and video.

Another advantage is the integration of 3G networks with indoor and public WLAN hotspots, for example.

Another advantage is that WLAN users can access UMTS services, such as voice and video, by predictable and secure QoS over the WLAN air interface.

Another advantage is that, for example, a UMTS (or any other service providing network) operator is provided with the opportunity to provide services, such as 3G services, over a WLAN air interface, for example by reusing the infrastructure of UMTS.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the specific illustrated embodiments but may be modified in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (29)

A wireless network control node for providing a WLAN enabled user station with access to one or more serving networks, Includes a radio access network control node (RANCN) 3 adapted to connect to an access point (AP) 2A, 2B; 4 of a WLAN and to operate as a gateway node between the WLAN access point and one or more serving networks; , The radio access network control node 3 is adapted to adapt the control of the service providing network and the user transport protocol to the WLAN transport protocol and to establish an access bearer to service the user station. And, is adapted to map or transform a service network access bearer into a transport protocol packet of a WLAN and reuse a set of service network transport protocols for WLAN communication, using IP, over a WLAN air interface, over a radio access network control node And a connection processing means comprising a bearer service processing unit 140 adapted to tunnel an adapted and reused protocol, via a WLAN access point connected to (3). . delete delete delete The method of claim 1, And wherein the reused protocol is transparently tunneled through the WLAN air interface. The method according to claim 1 or 5, A wireless network control node, adapted to support multiple access bearer connections of different bit rates, types, bandwidths or QoS. The method of claim 6, Adapted to establish one or more access bearers simultaneously, wherein the access bearers are configured for different types of media services. delete The method of claim 7, wherein A wireless network control node, adapted to provide access to various services via an access bearer that includes a packet switched bearer as well as a circuit switched bearer. The method of claim 9, A wireless network control node, adapted to provide access to a service providing network that becomes a 3G network. delete The method of claim 1, A wireless network control node, adapted to reuse W-CDMA L3 RRC, L2 RLC / MAC protocols. The method of claim 1, A wireless network control node, adapted to provide access to UMTS / CDMA services over a WLAN to a user station having user equipment including a PC, laptop, telephone, or the like. 13. The method of claim 12, A wireless network control node, characterized in that multiple access bearers are set up simultaneously using an adapted and reused protocol. 13. The method of claim 12, Wireless network control, adapted to provide access to a service providing network that becomes UMTS and to reuse 3GPP RRC and RLC / MAC protocols modified to provide access to a UMTS core network via an Iu-interface. Node. 13. The method of claim 12, WLAN transport protocol between WLAN access point and user station Through the IEEE 802.x and the transport protocol between RANCN and WLAN access point, the establishment and release of an access bearer can be accomplished by reusing the RLC / MAC and RRC protocols executed over UDP / IP. A wireless network control node, adapted to control. The method of claim 16, It is adapted to act as a gateway node between the access points 2A, 2B; 4 of the WLAN and the Iu-interface of UMTS, and the access points 2A, 2B; 4 are connected to the access points 2A, 2B; 4 and the RANCN 3. And relaying the RRC and RLC / MAC via a transport protocol used between the nodes. 13. The method of claim 12, A radio adapted to use UDP / IP and WLAN (IEEE 802.11) for each RRC / RLC / MAC between the service network and the RANCN 3 and the RANCN 3 and the user stations 1A and 1B. Network control node. The method of claim 6, A radio network control node, characterized in that it is adapted to dynamically establish a number of access bearers for user stations (1A, 1B) connected to the radio access network control node (3). A method of providing a WLAN-enabled user station with access to services in a serving network, the method comprising: Establishing a WLAN connection between the user station and the WLAN access point 2A, 2B; Initiating / establishing an IP session between the user station and the radio access network control node 3 operating as a gateway between the WLAN access point and the serving network, In the connection processing means of the radio access network control node 3, adapting the control of the service providing network and the user plane transmission protocol to the WLAN transmission protocol, In the connection control unit 130 of the connection processing means, establishing an access bearer to provide a service to the user station, Mapping or converting the service network access bearer into a WLAN transport packet in the bearer service processing unit 140 of the connection processing means, and Tunneling the adapted and reused transport protocol of the service providing network via the WLAN access points 2A, 2B; 4 connected to the radio access network control node 3 using IP. How to feature. delete delete The method of claim 20, Dynamically providing the user station with access to various services over a circuit or packet switched bearer of variable bandwidth, type or QoS. The method of claim 23, wherein Establishing multiple access bearers simultaneously. The method according to any one of claims 20, 23 or 24, The service providing network is a 3GPP network, and the adapted and reused protocol is a 3GPP L2 RLC / MAC and L3 RRC protocol. delete 25. The method of claim 24, The service providing network is UMTS, and wherein the adapted and reused RRC, RLC / MAC protocol is used to provide access to the UMTS core network via an Iu-interface. 28. The method of claim 27, Controlling the establishment and release of an access bearer at the RANCN by adapting and reusing the RRC, RLC / MAC and protocols so that they can be executed via UDP / IP over WLAN IEEE 802.X between the user station and the WLAN access point. Characterized in that the method. The method of claim 23, wherein Dynamically establishing a plurality of access bearers at a user station connected to the RANCN.

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