Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2003-05-27
Maung, Nay (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S452200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06571101
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the telecommunications field. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and a radio communications system for controlling signaling, in particular in a mobile radio system.
In radio communications systems, useful data, for example voice, image information or other data are transmitted between a transmitting radio station and a receiving radio station via a radio interface using electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic waves are thereby broadcast with carrier frequencies which lie in the frequency band that is provided for the respective system. In the conventional GSM mobile radio system (Global System for Mobile Communications), as is known, inter alia, from J. Biala, “Mobilfunk und intelligente Netze” [Mobile Radio and Intelligent Networks], Vieweg Verlag, 1995, in particular pages 57-92, the carrier frequencies are in the range of 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz. Future radio communications systems, for example the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) or other third generation systems, frequencies in the approximately 2000 MHz frequency band are provided. In order to distinguish between different signaling sources at the location of the respective receiver it is possible to use frequency multiplex (FDMA=frequency division multiple access), time-division multiplex (TDMA=time division multiple access), and/or code multiplex methods (CDMA=code division multiple access), as well as a combination of these known methods.
The above-mentioned Biala description (see page 78) discloses a GSM mobile radio system wherein a mobile station uses, for a connection set-up, a common access signaling channel RACH (Random Access (Control) Channel) for requesting a transmitting channel at a base station. In order to prevent blocking when there is simultaneous access of a plurality of mobile stations to the signaling channel, the access takes place according to a method with random access timing, a so-called slotted Aloha protocol. As a confirmation in response to the connection request, the base station directly assigns a transmission channel on a confirmation signaling channel (AGCH) (Access Grant Channel), or provides a reference to a specific signaling channel SDCCH (Stand-Alone Dedicated Channel) for the further standard connection set-up procedure.
In addition to the use for a connection set-up, the access signaling channel RACH is used for further services such as connection management (CM) and mobility management (MM).
The connection management service carries out, inter alia, functions such as call control, supplementary service signaling or even short message signaling. On the other hand, the mobility management service covers all the tasks which arise from the mobility of the mobile stations. It includes, inter alia, the localization and updating of the positions of the mobile stations.
In future third generation radio communications systems, a common use of, for example, the access signaling channel for a plurality of different services is planned in order to utilize more effectively the capacity of the radio resources.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method and a base station for a communications system, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which prevents blocking of the signaling channel which is used jointly for a plurality of services.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of controlling signaling in a radio communications system, which comprises:
transmitting signals of a service in a common signaling channel in an up-link direction from a plurality of radio stations to a base station of a radio communications system;
transmitting signals in a further signaling channel in a down-link direction from the base station to the radio stations;
assigning service classes to the services;
selecting, with the base station, possible service classes for further processing, depending on a function of a traffic volume currently determined in the common signaling channel;
signaling, with the base station, the selected service classes to the radio stations in the further signaling channel; and
taking into account, with the radio stations, the selected service classes for access to the common signaling channel.
In other words, the signals of a service are transmitted in a common signaling channel in the up-link direction from the radio stations to the base station of the radio communications system. In the other direction, the signals are transmitted in a further signaling channel in the down-link direction from the base station to the radio stations. Service classes are assigned to the services so as to characterize them. The base station selects possible service classes for further processing, as a function of a traffic volume which is instantaneously determined in the common signaling channel, and signals them to the radio stations in the further signaling channel. In response, the radio stations take into account the selected service classes for access to the common signaling channel.
The invention has the advantage that by virtue of the assignment of the services to service classes in the base station it is possible to select which services are, for example, available to the radio stations at any time and which services are, for example, not further processed when there is a high traffic volume in the common signaling channel. As a result, overloading or blocking of the common signaling channel owing to a high signaling load is advantageously prevented.
This has a particularly advantageous effect if, according to further developments, signals of services relating to connection management, mobility management and/or transmission of packet data are transmitted by the radio stations. In this context, it is possible, for example, to assign the services of the connection management and mobility management, which are highly significant for a safeguarded connection and a constant high transmission quality in a radio communications system which is embodied as a mobile radio system, a higher priority than the transmission of packet data, so that when the traffic volume is high the connection management and mobility management service classes are selected and signaled to the radio stations. In the same way, it is possible to restrict the connection management service if, for example, all the transmission channels are assigned and it is not possible to set up any further communications connections via the base station. The respectively selected service classes can be taken into account in the radio stations in such a way that the radio stations only ever transmit signals of the selected services to the base station.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, a first service class is assigned to a service relating to connection management, a second service class is assigned to a service relating to mobility management, and a third service class is assigned to a service relating to a packet data transmission.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the selected service classes are each characterized by an information element in a signaling message in the further signaling channel. The signaling message according to the invention makes it advantageously possible for the radio stations to transmit signals of services in accordance with the service classes which have been selected by the set information elements.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, an instantaneous traffic volume in the common signaling channel is determined in the base station or in a device for assigning radio resources of the radio communications system.
In accordance with a further development of the invention, the instantaneous traffic volume is determined periodically at predefined time intervals and/or when the instantaneous traffic volume changes. This makes i
Greenberg Laurence A.
Locher Ralph E.
Maung Nay
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Stemer Werner H.
LandOfFree
Method and radio communications system for controlling... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and radio communications system for controlling..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and radio communications system for controlling... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3010527