APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING SYNCHRONIZATION IN COOPERATIVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
20170257861 · 2017-09-07
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates beyond 4th-generation (4G) communication system such as a long term evolution (LTE). A method by a first base station (BS) in a cooperative communication system includes performing a medium access control service data unit (MAC SDU) synchronization process with a data gate way (GW) and at least one second BS; determining a first internet protocol (IP) packet received by the at least one second BS; and performing an IP packet transfer operation with the data GW and the at least one second BS based on whether at least one IP packet, of which a sequence number (SN) is less than a SN of the first IP packet, is buffered.
Claims
1. A method by a first base station (BS) in a cooperative communication system, the method comprising: performing a medium access control service data unit (MAC SDU) synchronization process with a data gate way (GW) and at least one second BS; determining a first internet protocol (IP) packet received by the at least one second BS; and performing an IP packet transfer operation with the data GW and the at least one second BS based on whether at least one IP packet, of which a sequence number (SN) is less than a SN of the first IP packet, is buffered.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the IP packet transfer operation comprises: if the at least one IP packet, of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet, is buffered, transmitting, to at least one of the at least one second BS and the data GW, at least one of an identifier of a mobile station (MS) that receives the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet, a flow identifier of an IP packet flow through which the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet is transferred, the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet, and information related to the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: receiving, from the data GW, control information including an IP packet, a SN of the IP packet, an identifier indicating that the IP packet is a first IP packet that is transferred through a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a BS identifier of the at least one second BS; and one of: determining that a MAC SDU SN allocated to a MAC SDU, which transfers the first IP packet, is identical to a SN that the data GW allocates for the IP packet based on the control information, or determining a MAC SDU SN of a MAC SDU, in which the first IP packet is included, based on the control information, and transmitting, to the at least one second BS, an identifier of a mobile station (MS) that receives the first IP packet, a flow identifier of an IP packet flow that is mapped to the data bearer, and the determined MAC SDU SN.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: receiving, from the at least one second BS, at least one of an identifier of a mobile station (MS) to which the first BS and the at least one second BS provide a service, a flow identifier of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, a SN included in a header of a last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer, and a SN of an IP packet; and one of: determining a MAC SDU SN that is allocated to a MAC SDU that transfers an IP packet of which a SN is the SN of the IP packet, and transmitting, to the at least one second BS, the identifier of the MS, the flow identifier, and the MAC SDU SN, or transmitting, to the at least one second BS, the identifier of the MS, the flow identifier, and the SN included in the header of the last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: receiving an IP packet, and a SN that the data GW allocates for the IP packet from the data GW; receiving, from the at least one second BS, an identifier of a mobile station (MS) to which the first BS and the at least one second BS provide a service, a flow identifier of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a SN of a first IP packet that the at least one second receives from the data GW; and determining a SN, which is received from the at least one second BS, as a MAC SDU SN allocated to a MAC SDU, which transfers a first IP packet of the data bearer in the at least one second BS.
6. A method by a second base station (BS) in a cooperative communication system, the method comprising: performing a medium access control service data unit (MAC SDU) synchronization process with a data gate way (GW) and a first BS; and performing an internet protocol (IP) packet transfer operation with the first BS and the data GW based on whether at least one IP packet of which a sequence number (SN) is less than a SN of a first IP packet received by the second BS is buffered in the first BS.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the IP packet transfer operation comprises: if the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet is buffered in the first BS, receiving, from the first BS and the data GW, at least one of an identifier of a mobile station (MS) that receives the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet, a flow identifier of an IP packet flow through which the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet is transferred, the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet, and information related to the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: receiving, from the data GW, control information including an IP packet, an identifier indicating that the IP packet is a first IP packet of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a BS identifier of the second BS, or receiving, from the data GW, control information including an IP packet, a SN of the IP packet, an identifier indicating that the IP packet is a first IP packet of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a BS identifier of the second BS, and receiving, from the first BS, an identifier of a mobile station (MS) that receives the first IP packet, a flow identifier of an IP packet flow that is mapped to the data bearer, and a MAC SDU SN, wherein the MAC SDU SN is a MAC SDU SN that the first BS allocates to a MAC SDU in which the first IP packet is included based on the control information.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: transmitting, to the first BS, at least one of an identifier of a mobile station (MS) to which the first BS and the second BS provide a service, a flow identifier of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, a SN included in a header of a last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer, and a SN of an IP packet; and one of: receiving, from the first BS, the identifier of the MS, the flow identifier, and a MAC SDU SN, or receiving, from the first BS, the identifier of the MS, the flow identifier, and the SN included in the header of the last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer, and allocating a SN that follows the SN included in the header of the last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer to a first IP packet that is received from the data GW for the data bearer, wherein the MAC SDU SN is a MAC SDU SN, which the first BS determines as a MAC SDU SN allocated to a MAC SDU, that transfers an IP packet with a SN of the IP packet.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: receiving an IP packet and a SN that the data GW allocates for the IP packet from the data GW; and transmitting, to the first BS, an identifier of a mobile station (MS) to which the first BS and the second BS provide a service, a flow identifier of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a SN of a first IP packet that the second BS receives from the data GW.
11. A first base station (BS) in a cooperative communication system, the first BS comprising: a transceiver configured to perform a medium access control service data unit (MAC SDU) synchronization process with a data gate way (GW) and at least one second BS; and a controller configured to determine a first internet protocol (IP) packet received by the at least one second BS, wherein the transceiver is further configured to perform an IP packet transfer operation with the data GW and the at least one second BS based on whether at least one IP packet, of which a sequence number (SN) is less than a SN of the first IP packet, is buffered.
12. The first BS of claim 11, wherein the IP packet transfer operation comprises: an operation of transmitting, to at least one of the at least one second BS and the data GW, at least one of an identifier of a mobile station (MS) that receives the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet, a flow identifier of an IP packet flow through which the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet is transferred, the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet, and information related to the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet if the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet is buffered.
13. The first BS of claim 11, wherein the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: an operation of receiving, from the data GW, control information including an IP packet, a SN of the IP packet, an identifier indicating that the IP packet is a first IP packet that is transferred through a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a BS identifier of the at least one second BS, and an operation of: determining that a MAC SDU SN allocated to a MAC SDU which transfers the first IP packet is identical to a SN that the data GW allocates for the IP packet based on the control information, or determining a MAC SDU SN of a MAC SDU in which the first IP packet is included based on the control information, and transmitting, to the at least one second BS, an identifier of a mobile station (MS) that receives the first IP packet, a flow identifier of an IP packet flow that is mapped to the data bearer, and the determined MAC SDU SN.
14. The first BS of claim 11, wherein the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: an operation of receiving, from the at least one second BS, at least one of an identifier of a mobile station (MS) to which the first BS and the at least one second BS provide a service, a flow identifier of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, a SN included in a header of a last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer, and a SN of an IP packet, and an operation of: determining a MAC SDU SN that is allocated to a MAC SDU that transfers an IP packet of which a SN is the SN of the IP packet, and transmitting, to the at least one second BS, the identifier of the MS, the flow identifier, and the MAC SDU SN, or transmitting, to the at least one second BS, the identifier of the MS, the flow identifier, and the SN included in the header of the last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer.
15. The first BS of claim 11, wherein the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: an operation of receiving an IP packet, and a SN that the data GW allocates for the IP packet from the data GW, an operation of receiving, from the at least one second BS, an identifier of a mobile station (MS) to which the first BS and the at least one second BS provide a service, a flow identifier of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a SN of a first IP packet that the at least one second receives from the data GW, and an operation of determining a SN, which is received from the at least one second BS, as a MAC SDU SN allocated to a MAC SDU, which transfers a first IP packet of the data bearer in the at least one second BS.
16. A second base station (BS) in a cooperative communication system, the second BS comprising: a transceiver configured to perform a medium access control service data unit (MAC SDU) synchronization process with a data gate way (GW) and a first BS, and to perform an internet protocol (IP) packet transfer operation with the first BS and the data GW based on whether at least one IP packet of which a sequence number (SN) is less than a SN of a first IP packet received by the second BS is buffered in the first BS.
17. The second BS of claim 16, wherein the IP packet transfer operation comprises: an operation of receiving, from the first BS and the data GW, at least one of an identifier of a mobile station (MS) that receives the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet, a flow identifier of an IP packet flow through which the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet is transferred, the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet, and information related to the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet if the at least one IP packet of which the SN is less than the SN of the first IP packet is buffered in the first BS.
18. The second BS of claim 16, wherein the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: an operation of receiving, from the data GW, control information including an IP packet, an identifier indicating that the IP packet is a first IP packet of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a BS identifier of the second BS, or receiving, from the data GW, control information including an IP packet, a SN of the IP packet, an identifier indicating that the IP packet is a first IP packet of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a BS identifier of the second BS, and receiving, from the first BS, an identifier of a mobile station (MS) that receives the first IP packet, a flow identifier of an IP packet flow that is mapped to the data bearer, and a MAC SDU SN, wherein the MAC SDU SN is a MAC SDU SN that the first BS allocates to a MAC SDU in which the first IP packet is included based on the control information.
19. The second BS of claim 16, wherein the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: an operation of transmitting, to the first BS, at least one of an identifier of a mobile station (MS) to which the first BS and the second BS provide a service, a flow identifier of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, a SN included in a header of a last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer, and a SN of an IP packet; and an operation of: receiving, from the first BS, the identifier of the MS, the flow identifier, and a MAC SDU SN, or receiving, from the first BS, the identifier of the MS, the flow identifier, and the SN included in the header of the last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer, and allocating a SN that follows the SN included in the header of the last IP packet that is transmitted for the data bearer to a first IP packet that is received from the data GW for the data bearer, wherein the MAC SDU SN is a MAC SDU SN, which the first BS determines as a MAC SDU SN allocated to a MAC SDU, that transfers an IP packet with a SN of the IP packet.
20. The second BS of claim 16, wherein the MAC SDU synchronization process comprises: an operation of receiving an IP packet and a SN that the data GW allocates for the IP packet from the data GW, and an operation of transmitting, to the first BS, an identifier of a mobile station (MS) to which the first BS and the second BS provide a service, a flow identifier of a data bearer that is mapped to an IP packet flow, and a SN of a first IP packet that the second BS receives from the data GW.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
[0032]
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
[0037]
[0038]
[0039]
[0040]
[0041]
[0042]
[0043]
[0044] Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045]
[0046] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the present disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0047] Although ordinal numbers such as “first,” “second,” and so forth will be used to describe various components, those components are not limited herein. The terms are used only for distinguishing one component from another component. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component and likewise, a second component may also be referred to as a first component, without departing from the teaching of the inventive concept. The term “and/or” used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0048] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing various embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “has,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of a stated feature, number, step, operation, component, element, or combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, elements, or combinations thereof.
[0049] The terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meanings as terms that are generally understood by those skilled in the art, as long as the terms are not differently defined. It should be understood that terms defined in a generally-used dictionary have meanings coinciding with those of terms in the related technology.
[0050] An embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an apparatus and method for acquiring synchronization in a cooperative communication system.
[0051] An embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an apparatus and method for acquiring synchronization for data which is provided to a Mobile Station (MS) in a cooperative communication system where a plurality of Base Stations (BSs) provide a service to the MS.
[0052] An embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an apparatus and method for acquiring synchronization for Medium Access Control (MAC) layer data in a cooperative communication system.
[0053] An embodiment of the present disclosure proposes an apparatus and method for acquiring synchronization among buffers included in BSs which a cooperative communication cell includes in a cooperative communication system.
[0054] A method and apparatus proposed in various embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to various communication systems such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile communication system, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) mobile communication system, a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) mobile communication system, a High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) mobile communication system, a High Rate Packet Data (HRPD) mobile communication system proposed in a 3.sup.rd Generation Project Partnership 2 (3GPP2), a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) mobile communication system proposed in the 3GPP2, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile communication system proposed in the 3GPP2, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) mobile communication system, an Evolved Packet System (EPS), a Mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP) system, and/or the like.
[0055] In a cellular communication system, a centralized controller manages a data flow, and this will be described with reference to
[0056] A process of managing a data flow in a CDMA mobile communication system will be described with reference to
[0057]
[0058] Referring to
[0059] In the CDMA mobile communication system, downlink data (call) is received from the PSTN 111 through the MSC 113, and the MSC 113 transfers the downlink data (call) which is transferred from the PSTN 111 to the BSC 115. The BSC 115 multicasts the downlink data (call) which is transferred from the MSC 113 to BTSs, e.g., a BTS #1 117-1, a BTS #2 117-2, . . . , a BTS #N 117-N.
[0060] So, data synchronization through all BSs 117-1, 117-2, . . . , 117-N is managed by the BSC 115.
[0061] Even though not shown in
[0062] A process of managing a data flow in a CDMA mobile communication system has been described with reference to
[0063]
[0064] Referring to
[0065] In the CoMP system, downlink data for a data bearer (i.e., IP packets) is received in the data GW 153 from the IP network 151. The data bearer denotes an IP packet flow with a predefined quality of a service between the data GW 153 and an MS (not shown in
[0066] So, data synchronization through all RRHs 157-1, 157-2, . . . , 157-N is managed by the BS 155.
[0067] Even though not shown in
[0068] A process of managing a data flow in a CoMP system has been described with reference to
[0069]
[0070] Referring to
[0071] In the cooperative communication system, downlink data for a data bear is received in the data GW 173 from the IP network 171. The data bear denotes an IP packet flow with a defined quality of a service between the data GW 173 and the MS. Each data bearer is associated with a Traffic Flow Template (TFT).
[0072] The data GW 173 maps IP packets which are received from the IP network 171 to a data bear using the TFT. TFTs use IP header information such as a source IP address and a destination IP address and a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port for filter packets such as a Voice over IP (VoIP) from a web browsing traffic so that each can be transmitted to each bearer with an appropriate Quality of Service (QoS). The data GW 173 maintains a mapping of each data bearer to a multicast group for logical links between the data GW 173 and BSs, e.g., the BS #1 175-1, the BS #2 175-2, . . . , the BS #N 175-N.
[0073] For a data bearer between the MS and the data GW 173, a multicast group of logical links includes logical links which are generated between the data GW 173 and all of BSs of a cooperative communication cell for the MS. For convenience, a multicast group including logical links which are generated among related entities is called ‘logical link multicast group’. For example, a multicast group including logical links between a data GW and a BS is called ‘logical link multicast group between a data GW and a BS’. Here, a logical link multicast group between data GWs and BSs keep changing with an addition and a deletion of BSs included in the cooperative communication cell. The data GW 173 multicasts received IP packets of a data bearer on a logical link multicast group among a data GW and BSs associated with a data bearer.
[0074] In a cooperative communication system, there is no BSC or RRH and BSs which have the same capabilities, therefore, it is possible that a data GW manages data synchronization over all BSs.
[0075] In a current cooperative communication system, a data GW has an IP packet routing function (layer 3) but not a Medium Access Control (MAC) (layer 2) packet processing function.
[0076] In order to communicate with a plurality of BSs included in a cooperative communication cell in a cooperative communication system, MAC layer data should be synchronized. However, in the current cooperative communication system, there is no detailed scheme for MAC layer data synchronization.
[0077] In a cooperative communication system, a cooperative communication cell is formed for providing a service to an MS. The number of BSs included in the cooperative communication cell is not fixed, and the cooperative communication cell for the MS is continuously re-formed. The cooperative communication cell is a user centric-virtual cell including BSs. In the cooperative communication cell, one or more BSs which are dynamically allocated provide a service to the MS.
[0078] In order to enable to perform a cooperative communication among BSs included in the cooperative communication cell, one BS is designated a serving BS, and other BSs are designated cooperative communication cell member BSs. BSs included in the cooperative communication cell have the same capabilities, and each of the BSs included in the cooperative communication cell can provide a service to an arbitrary MS as a serving BS, or a cooperative communication cell member BS, or the serving BS and the cooperative communication cell member BS.
[0079] In one cooperative communication cell, a BS which provides a service to an arbitrary MS as a serving BS can be a cooperative communication cell member BS for other cooperative communication cell. In a cooperative communication cell, a serving BS can dynamically determine BSs which transmit/receive data to/from an arbitrary MS. The serving BS determines whether the serving BS adds a specific BS as a cooperative communication cell member BS into the cooperative communication cell or deletes the specific BS from the cooperative communication cell.
[0080] A structure of a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
[0081]
[0082] Referring to
[0083] In the cooperative communication system in
[0084] Each data bearer is associated with a Traffic Flow Template (TFT). The data GW 211 maps IP packets which are received from the IP network to a data bearer using the TFT. Here, TFTs use IP header information such as a source IP address and a destination IP address, and a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port for packet filters such as a Voice over IP (VoIP) from web browsing traffic in order that each of the TFTs is transmitted through a bearer with an appropriate QoS.
[0085] The data GW 211 manages a mapping of each data bearer to a multicast group for logical links between the data GW 211 and BSs. For a data bearer between the MS 223 and the data GW 211, a multicast group for logical links includes logical links which are generated among the data GW 211 and BSs included in a cooperative communication cell of the MS 223. A multicast group for logical links among data GWs and BSs which are associated with a data bearer maintains a change including addition and deletion of the BSs included in the cooperative communication cell. For convenience, a multicast group including logical links is called a ‘logical link multicast group’.
[0086] In a downlink, the data GW 211 multicasts IP packets of the data bearer in a logical link multicast group among the GWs and the BSs which are associated to the data bearer.
[0087] A MAC layer logical connection is established between a cooperative communication cell which transfers IP packets of a data bearer between the MS 223 and a BS(s) and the MS 223. The MAC layer logical connection does not exist among each of BSs included in the cooperative communication cell and MSs.
[0088] The MS 223 and the BS(s) included in the cooperative communication cell identify a MAC layer logical connection regardless of an MS-BS air link which is used for transmitting/receiving using the same Flow/connection Identifier (FID). There is one-to-one mapping among the MAC layer logical connection, a logical link between a BS and a data GW, and a data bearer between an MS and the data GW.
[0089] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, BSs included in a cooperative communication cell, i.e., BSs including at least one cooperative communication cell member BS and a serving BS are logically or physically connected to the data GW 211.
[0090] As illustrated in
[0091] The serving BS 213 can use cooperative communication cell member BSs in order to transmit packets which are transmitted from the data GW 211 and received in the MS 223 through wireless links among the MS 223 and the cooperative communication cell member BSs. The BS #2 215 as a cooperative communication cell member BS generates MAC PDUs based on IP packets which are received through the logical link B2, and transmits the generated MAC PDUs to the MS 223. Here, the BS #2 215 which generates the MAC PDUs is indicated by the serving BS 213.
[0092] The BS #3 217 as a cooperative communication cell member BS generates MAC PDUs based on IP packets which are received through the logical link B1, and transmits the generated MAC PDUs to the MS 223. Here, the BS #3 217 which generates the MAC PDUs is indicated by the serving BS 213.
[0093] The serving BS 213 cooperatives with cooperative communication cell member BSs in order to determine that IP packets which are transmitted by the data GW 211 and received in the cooperative communication cell member BSs are which IP packets. The serving BS 213 cooperatives with the cooperative communication cell member BS s in order to determine that the IP packets which are transmitted by the data GW 211 and received in the cooperative communication cell member BSs are transmitted from which BSs. In the cooperative communication cell, links among the serving BS and the cooperative communication cell member BSs are used for transferring control information in the downlink.
[0094] A MAC & PHYsical (PHY) processing for data transmission is performed by a BS which transmits data to the MS 223 in the downlink. A MAC & PHY processing for data reception is performed by a BS which receives data from the MS 223 in a uplink.
[0095] If the cooperative communication cell member BS receives fragmented data, the cooperative communication cell member BS transmits the fragmented data to the serving BS 213. The serving BS 213 performs a re-assembly operation for fragmented data which is received from the cooperative communication cell member BS.
[0096] A structure of a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0097]
[0098] Referring to
[0099] The data GW 311 multicasts IP packets which are received through a data bearer to BSs included in a cooperative communication cell.
[0100] A MAC layer of each of the BSs generates MAC SDUs by processing IP packets which are received from the data GW 311 through the data bearer. The MAC layer of each of the BSs maps the IP packets which are received through the data bearer to a related MAC layer logical connection. There is one-to-one mapping among the related MAC layer logical connection, a logical link between a related BS and the data GW 311, and a data bearer between the MS 315 and the data GW 311.
[0101] The MAC layer of each of the BSs can compress an IP header included in the received IP packet. If a security is activated, the MAC layer of each of the BSs can apply a security function. So, there is a need for a method of synchronizing MAC SDUs of a service flow among BSs included in the cooperative communication cell in order to uniquely identify a MAC SDU among the BSs included in the cooperative communication cell. Here, the MAC SDUs of the service flow are generated based on IP packets of a data bearer.
[0102] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a Sequence Number (SN) is allocated to each IP packet of a data bearer which is mapped to a MAC layer logical channel between the MS 315 and the cooperative communication cell. Each IP packet is transferred using a MAC SDU through the MAC layer logical connection. The SN which is allocated to each IP packet is identical to an SN which is allocated to a MAC SDU which transfers the IP packet.
[0103] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an SN is used for identifying MAC SDUs among BSs included in a cooperative communication cell. As illustrated in
[0104] The serving BS 313 needs to know that the first IP packet stored in the buffer of the cooperative communication cell member BS 317 corresponds to which IP packet among IP packets stored in the buffer of the serving BS 313.
[0105] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an SN is allocated by the serving BS 313. The serving BS 313 allocates an SN to each IP packet of a data bearer from ‘0’. IP packets for a data bearer which are received through the logical link among the BSs and the data GW 311 are mapped to a MAC layer logical connection between the MS 315 and the cooperative communication cell.
[0106] After a MAC layer logical connection related to the data bearer is activated/generated, an SN ‘0’ is allocated to the first IP packet which is stored in a MAC layer logical connection queue included in the serving BS 313. The serving BS 313 cooperates with the data GW 311 to allocate an SN to the first IP packet of a data bearer which is received by a cooperative communication cell member BS(s). In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an SN which is allocated by the serving BS 313 to each IP packet for a data bearer is used for identifying a MAC SDU of a MAC layer logical connection associated with the data bearer, and the MAC SDU transfers one IP packet.
[0107] A MAC SDU synchronization process in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0108]
[0109] Referring to
[0110] A logical link between the data GW 420 and a cooperative communication cell member BS which is newly added to the cooperative communication cell is generated for a data bearer while the new cooperative communication cell member BS is added to the cooperative communication cell. For each data bearer in the cooperative communication cell, a logical link multicast group includes logical links which are generated among the data GW 420 and all of BSs included in a updated cooperative communication cell of an MS (not shown in
[0111] The serving BS 410 processes the control information including the First_Pkt_Indicator and the BSID.sub.MemberBS which are received along with the IP packet of the data bearer at operation 415. The serving BS 410 determines a MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) which is allocated to a MAC SDU which transfers the IP packet which is received along with the control information including the First_Pkt_Indicator of which the value is set to ‘1’ and the BSID.sub.MemberBS at operation 415. The cooperative communication cell member BS 430 ignores the control information including the First_Pkt_Indicator and the BSID.sub.MemberBS at operation 417.
[0112] The serving BS 410 transmits Mobile Station Identifier (MSID) of the MS, a flow ID and the determined MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) to the cooperative communication cell member BS 430 which is identified by the BSID.sub.MemberBS which is received along with the IP packet from the data GW 420 at operation 419.
[0113] The cooperative communication cell member BS 430 allocates the MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) to the first IP packet which is received from the data GW 420 for a data bearer related to the MAC layer logical connection which is identified by the MSID and the flow ID, and sequentially allocates MAC SDU SNs to other packets at operation 421.
[0114] Although
[0115] An example of a MAC SDU synchronization process in a case that a serving BS allocates an SN in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0116]
[0117] Referring to
[0118] In
[0119] Upon receiving a bearer request for a data bearer for one or more BSs and logical links which has already been existed from the cooperative communication cell member BS 530, the data GW 520 determines an SN which is included in a header of the last IP packet which is transmitted for the data bearer at operation 515. The data GW 520 transmits a bearer response message including an SN which is allocated to the last IP packet as a response message to the bearer request message to the cooperative communication cell member BS 530 at operation 517. The bearer response message includes a TFT and an SN of the last IP packet.
[0120] After receiving the bearer response message, the cooperative communication cell member BS 530 transmits a Cooperative communication Cell Data Synchronization Information (CC Data Sync Info) message including the SN of the last IP packet included in the bearer response message to the serving BS 510 at operation 519. The CC Data Sync Info message further includes an MSID and a flow ID of a MAC layer logical connection related to the data bearer.
[0121] After receiving the CC Data Sync Info message, the serving BS 510 determines a MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) which is allocated to a MAC SDU which transfers an IP packet with the SN of the last IP packet. The serving BS 510 transmits the MSID, the flow ID, and the determined MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) to the cooperative communication cell member BS 530 at operation 521.
[0122] After receiving the MSID, the flow ID, and the MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined), the cooperative communication cell member BS 530 allocates a MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined+1) to the first IP packet which is received from the data GW 520 for a data bearer related to a MAC layer logical connection which is identified by the MSID and the flow ID. The cooperative communication cell member BS 530 sequentially allocates MAC SDU SNs to other IP packets at operation 523.
[0123] Although
[0124] Another example of a MAC SDU synchronization process in a case that a serving BS allocates an SN in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0125]
[0126] Referring to
[0127] The data GW 620 multicasts IP packets of a data bearer to BSs included in a cooperative communication cell, i.e., the serving BS 610 and the cooperative communication cell member BS 630 at operation 611.
[0128] After receiving the first IP packet from the data GW 620 in a logical link between a BS and the data GW 620 related to the data bearer, the cooperative communication cell member BS 630 transmits a request message including an MSID and a flow ID of a MAC layer logical connection related to the data bearer, and an SN of the received first IP packet to the serving BS 610 at operation 613.
[0129] After receiving the request message from the cooperative communication cell member BS 630, the serving BS 610 determines MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) which is allocated to a MAC SDU which transfers an IP packet with an SN of the IP packet received from the cooperative communication cell member BS 630 at operation 615.
[0130] The serving BS 610 transmits the MSID, the flow ID and the determined MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) to the cooperative communication cell member BS 630 at operation 617.
[0131] The cooperative communication cell member BS 630 allocates a MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) to the first IP packet of the data bear which is received from the data GW 520 for the data bearer related to the MAC layer logical connection which is identified by the MSID and the flow ID. The cooperative communication cell member BS 630 sequentially allocates MAC SDU SNs to other IP packets at operation 619.
[0132] Although
[0133] A MAC SDU synchronization method that a serving BS allocates an SN in a cooperative communication system in
[0134] Firstly, BSs included in a cooperative communication cell use a MAC SDU SN which is used for identifying data packets of a data bearer.
[0135] Secondly, a serving BS among a plurality of BSs included in the cooperative communication cell allocates a MAC SDU SN.
[0136] Thirdly, a signalling and MAC SDU SN among a cooperative communication cell member BS, a data GW, and a cooperative communication cell for identifying the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS are determined.
[0137] A MAC SDU synchronization method that a serving BS allocates an SN in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0138] An example of a MAC SDU synchronization process in a case that a data GW allocates an SN in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
[0139]
[0140] Referring to
[0141] The data GW 720 allocates an SN to each IP packet of a data bearer from ‘0’. If the data bearer is activated, an SN ‘0’ is allocated to the first IP packet which is stored in a data bearer queue. The serving BS 710 and a cooperative communication cell member BS(s) receive an SN along with an IP packet from the data GW 720. The serving BS 710 needs to know an SN of the first IP packet of the data bearer which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS(s).
[0142] A logical link between the data GW 720 and a cooperative communication cell member BS which is newly added to the cooperative communication cell is generated for a data bearer while the new cooperative communication cell member BS is added to the cooperative communication cell. For each data bearer in the cooperative communication cell, a logical link multicast group includes logical links which are generated among the data GW 720 and all of BSs included in a updated cooperative communication cell of an MS (not shown in
[0143] After a logical link multicast group associated with the data bearer is updated, the data GW 720 transmits control information including a First IP Packet Indicator of which a value is set to a preset value, e.g., ‘1’ and a BSID of a cooperative communication cell member BS along with the first IP packet of a data bearer which is transmitted in the logical link multicast group associated with the data bearer and to the serving BS 710 and the cooperative communication cell member BS 730 at operations 711 and 713.
[0144] The serving BS 710 processes the control information including the First_Pkt_Indicator and the BSID.sub.MemberBS. The serving BS 410 determines that a MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) which is allocated to a MAC SDU which transfers the IP packet which is received along with the control information including the First_Pkt_Indicator of which a value is set to ‘1’ and the BSID.sub.MemberBS is identical to an SN which the data GW 710 allocates for the IP packet at operation 715.
[0145] The cooperative communication cell member BS 730 ignores the control information including the First_Pkt_Indicator and the BSID.sub.MemberBS at operation 717.
[0146] Although
[0147] An example of a MAC SDU synchronization process in a case that a data GW allocates an SN in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0148]
[0149] Referring to
[0150] The data GW 820 multicasts IP packets of a data bearer to BSs included in a cooperative communication cell at operation 611. Here, SNs which the data GW 820 allocates are allocated to the IP packets transmitted in the data GW 820.
[0151] After receiving the first IP packet of the data bearer from the data GW 820, the cooperative communication cell member BS 830 transmits an SN of the first IP packet along with an MSID and a flow ID of a MAC layer logical connection associated with the data bearer to the serving BS 810 at operation 815.
[0152] The serving BS 810 determines that a MAC SDU SN (SN.sub.determined) which is allocated to a MAC SDU which transfers the first IP packet of a data bearer in the cooperative communication cell member BS 830 is the SN which is received from the cooperative communication cell member BS 830 at operation 817.
[0153] Although
[0154] Another example of a MAC SDU synchronization process in a case that a data GW allocates an SN in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0155]
[0156] Referring to
[0157] As illustrated in
[0158] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the serving BS 910 can transmit additional IP packets which are buffered in the buffer of the serving BS 910 to the cooperative communication cell member BS 930. The serving BS 910 can know the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS 930 after a cooperative communication cell update (a update using a MAC SDU synchronization process in
[0159] The serving BS 910 also knows buffered IP packets of which SNs are less than the SN of the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS 930. The serving BS 910 can directly transmit the buffered IP packets of which the SNs are less than the SN of the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS 930 to the cooperative communication cell member BS 930 through a serving BS-cooperative communication cell member BS link.
[0160] On the other hand, the serving BS 910 can transmit the buffered IP packets of which the SNs are less than the SN of the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS 930 via the data GW 920 (i.e., via a path from the serving BS 910 to the data GW 920 and from the data GW 920 to the cooperative communication cell member BS 930).
[0161] A buffer synchronization process in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0162]
[0163] Referring to
[0164] After a cooperative communication cell update using a MAC SDU synchronization process, i.e., a MAC SDU synchronization process in
[0165] An example of a buffer synchronization process in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0166]
[0167] Referring to
[0168] The serving BS 1010 performs a cooperative communication cell update operation which uses a MAC SDU synchronization process, i.e., a MAC SDU synchronization process in
[0169] Although
[0170] A signal transmitting/receiving process in a cooperative communication system according to an example of a buffer synchronization process in
[0171]
[0172] Referring to
[0173] The data GW 1220 transmits IP packet which are buffered in a buffer of the serving BS 1210 to the cooperative communication cell member BS 1230. The data GW 1220 knows the first IP packet which will be transmitted to the cooperative communication cell member BS 1230 after performing a cooperative communication cell updated operation.
[0174] However, the data GW 1220 does not know IP packets which are buffered in a buffer of the cooperative communication cell member BS 1230 of which SNs are less than an SN of the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS 1230. So, the data GW 1220 requests that information on the buffered IP packets of which the SNs are less than the SN of the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS 1230 is notified to the data GW 1220.
[0175] The data GW 1220 needs to store IP packets in order to re-transmit some IP packets to new cooperative communication cell member BSs while the data GW 1220 transmits the IP packets to the new cooperative communication cell member BSs.
[0176] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, after performing a cooperative communication cell update operation using a MAC SDU synchronization process, i.e., a MAC SDU synchronization process in
[0177] Another example of a buffer synchronization process in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0178]
[0179] Referring to
[0180] The serving BS 1210 performs a cooperative communication cell update operation which uses a MAC SDU synchronization process, i.e., a MAC SDU synchronization process in
[0181] After receiving the information on the IP packets ‘n−1’, ‘n−2’ from the serving BS 1210, the data GW 1220 transmits the IP packets ‘n−1’, ‘n−2’ to the cooperative communication cell member BS 1230 at operation 1317. Here, the IP packets ‘n−1’, ‘n−2’ are transferred along with the MSID and the flow ID.
[0182] Although
[0183] A signal transmitting/receiving process in a cooperative communication system according to another example of a buffer synchronization process in
[0184]
[0185] Referring to
[0186] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the serving BS 1410 can transmit additional IP packets which are buffered in a buffer of the serving BS 1410 to the cooperative communication cell member BS 1430 through the data GW 1420. The serving BS 1410 knows the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS 1430 after performing a cooperative communication cell update operation, i.e., a cooperative communication cell update operation which uses a MAC SDU synchronization process in
[0187] The serving BS 1410 knows buffered IP packets of which SNs are less than an SN of the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS 1430. The serving BS 1410 transmits the buffered IP packets of which the SNs are less than the SN of the first IP packet which is received by the cooperative communication cell member BS 1430 through the data GW 1420 (through a path from the serving BS 1410 to the data GW 1420 and from the data GW 1420 to the cooperative communication cell member BS 1430).
[0188] After performing a cooperative communication cell update operation using a MAC SDU synchronization process in
[0189] The data GW 1420 transmits the IP packets which are received from the serving BS 1410 to the cooperative communication cell member BS 1430 at operation 1415.
[0190] Still another example of a buffer synchronization process in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0191]
[0192] Referring to
[0193] The serving BS 1410 performs a cooperative communication cell update operation which uses a MAC SDU synchronization process, i.e., a MAC SDU synchronization process in
[0194] After receiving the IP packets ‘n−1’, ‘n−2’ from the serving BS 1410, the data GW 1420 transmits the IP packets ‘n−1’, ‘n−2’ to the cooperative communication cell member BS 1430 at operation 1517. Here, the IP packets ‘n−1’, ‘n−2’ are transferred along with the MSID and the flow ID.
[0195] Further, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, a serving BS can delay a data scheduling which uses a cooperative communication cell member BS until a transmission for IP packets which are not received by the cooperative communication cell member BS is completed, or a serving BS is capable to use the cooperative communication cell member BS for scheduling IP packets which are received by the cooperative communication cell member BS. In this case, there is no need for transmitting buffered IP packets to the cooperative communication cell member BS. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a serving BS can previously add a cooperative communication cell member BS in order that a transmission of IP packets which are received by the cooperative communication cell member BS is completed until the serving BS determines to use the cooperative communication cell member BS.
[0196] In this case, there is no need for transmitting buffered IP packets to the cooperative communication cell member BS. In other embodiment of the present disclosure, the serving BS can previously add the cooperative communication cell member BS in order to complete a transmission of the IP packets which are received by the cooperative communication cell member BS until the serving BS determines to use the cooperative communication cell member BS.
[0197] Although
[0198] A signal transmitting/receiving process in a cooperative communication system according to still another example of a buffer synchronization process in
[0199]
[0200] Referring to
[0201] The controller 1613 controls the overall operation of the serving BS 1600. More particularly, the controller 1613 controls the serving BS 1600 to perform an operation related to data synchronization according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, i.e., an operation related to MAC SDU synchronization and buffer synchronization. The operation related to the MAC SDU synchronization and the buffer synchronization is performed in the manner described with reference to
[0202] The receiver 1611 receives various messages, and the like from an MS, a cooperative communication cell member BS, a data GW, and the like under a control of the controller 1613. The various messages, and the like received in the receiver 1611 have been described in
[0203] The transmitter 1615 transmits various messages, and the like to an MS, a cooperative communication cell member BS, a data GW, and the like under a control of the controller 1613. The various messages, and the like transmitted in the transmitter 1615 have been described in
[0204] The storage 1617 stores the various messages, and the like received in the receiver 1611, various data necessary for an operation of the serving BS 1600, e.g., information related to the MAC SDU synchronization operation and the buffer synchronization operation, and the like.
[0205] While the receiver 1611, the controller 1613, the transmitter 1615, and the storage 1617 are shown in
[0206] An inner structure of a serving BS in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0207]
[0208] Referring to
[0209] The controller 1713 controls the overall operation of the data GW 1700. More particularly, the controller 1713 controls the data GW 1700 to perform an operation related to data synchronization according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, i.e., an operation related to MAC SDU synchronization and buffer synchronization. The operation related to the MAC SDU synchronization and the buffer synchronization is performed in the manner described with reference to
[0210] The receiver 1711 receives various messages, and the like from an MS, a serving BS, a cooperative communication cell member BS, and the like under a control of the controller 1713. The various messages, and the like received in the receiver 1711 have been described in
[0211] The transmitter 1715 transmits various messages, and the like to an MS, a serving BS, a cooperative communication cell member BS, and the like under a control of the controller 1713. The various messages, and the like transmitted in the transmitter 1715 have been described in
[0212] The storage 1717 stores the various messages, and the like received in the receiver 1711, various data necessary for an operation of the data GW 1700, e.g., information related to the MAC SDU synchronization operation and the buffer synchronization operation, and the like.
[0213] While the receiver 1711, the controller 1713, the transmitter 1715, and the storage 1717 are shown in
[0214] An inner structure of a data GW in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0215]
[0216] Referring to
[0217] The controller 1813 controls the overall operation of the cooperative communication cell member BS 1800. More particularly, the controller 1813 controls the cooperative communication cell member BS 1800 to perform an operation related to data synchronization according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, i.e., an operation related to MAC SDU synchronization and buffer synchronization. The operation related to the MAC SDU synchronization and the buffer synchronization is performed in the manner described with reference to
[0218] The receiver 1811 receives various messages, and the like from an MS, a serving BS, a data GW, and the like under a control of the controller 1813. The various messages, and the like received in the receiver 1811 have been described in
[0219] The transmitter 1815 transmits various messages, and the like to an MS, a serving BS, a data GW, and the like under a control of the controller 1813. The various messages, and the like transmitted in the transmitter 1815 have been described in
[0220] The storage 1817 stores the various messages, and the like received in the receiver 1811, various data necessary for an operation of the cooperative communication cell member BS 1800, e.g., information related to the MAC SDU synchronization operation and the buffer synchronization operation, and the like.
[0221] While the receiver 1811, the controller 1813, the transmitter 1815, and the storage 1817 are shown in
[0222] An inner structure of a cooperative communication cell member BS in a cooperative communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to
[0223]
[0224] Referring to
[0225] The controller 1913 controls the overall operation of the MS 1900. More particularly, the controller 1913 controls the MS 1900 to perform an operation related to data synchronization according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, i.e., an operation related to MAC SDU synchronization and buffer synchronization. The operation related to the MAC SDU synchronization and the buffer synchronization is performed in the manner described with reference to
[0226] The receiver 1911 receives various messages, and the like from a serving BS, a cooperative communication cell member BS, a data GW, and the like under a control of the controller 1913. The various messages, and the like received in the receiver 1911 have been described in
[0227] The transmitter 1915 transmits various messages, and the like to a serving BS, a cooperative communication cell member BS, a data GW, and the like under a control of the controller 1913. The various messages, and the like transmitted in the transmitter 1915 have been described in
[0228] The storage 1917 stores the various messages, and the like received in the receiver 1911, various data necessary for an operation of the MS 1900, e.g., information related to the MAC SDU synchronization operation and the buffer synchronization operation, and the like.
[0229] While the receiver 1911, the controller 1913, the transmitter 1915, and the storage 1917 are shown in
[0230] Certain aspects of the present disclosure can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. A computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data, which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random-Access Memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves (such as data transmission through the Internet). The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Also, functional programs, code, and code segments for accomplishing the present disclosure can be easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.
[0231] It can be appreciated that a method and apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented by hardware, software and/or a combination thereof. The software can be stored in a non-volatile storage, for example, an erasable or re-writable Read Only Memory (ROM), a memory, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM, a memory chip, a memory device, or a memory Integrated Circuit (IC), or an optically or magnetically recordable non-transitory machine-readable, e.g., computer-readable, storage medium, e.g., a Compact Disk (CD), a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a magnetic disk, or a magnetic tape. A method and apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented by a computer or a mobile terminal that includes a controller and a memory, and the memory can be an example of a non-transitory machine-readable, e.g., computer-readable, storage medium suitable to store a program or programs including instructions for implementing various embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0232] The present disclosure can include a program including code for implementing the apparatus and method as defined by the appended claims, and a non-transitory machine-readable, e.g., computer-readable, storage medium storing the program. The program can be electronically transferred via any media, such as communication signals, which are transmitted through wired and/or wireless connections, and the present disclosure can include their equivalents.
[0233] An apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may receive the program from a program providing device which is connected to the apparatus via a wire or a wireless and store the program. The program providing device may include a memory for storing instructions which instruct to perform a contents protect method which has been already installed, information necessary for the contents protect method, and the like, a communication unit for performing a wired or a wireless communication with a graphic processing device, and a controller for transmitting a related program to a transmitting/receiving device based on a request of the graphic processing device or automatically transmitting the related program to the transmitting/receiving device.
[0234] Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.