The invention relates to a method for operating a base station of a mobile radio system, to a corresponding signaling unit, a control unit, a mobile station, and a computer program.
Cellular mobile radio systems have a plurality of radio cells to which coverage is as a rule provided by in each case one base station. A known type of cellular mobile radio system is based on the GSM (Global System of Mobile communication) standard widely used in Europe and elsewhere. For what is termed the third mobile radio generation, cellular networks will in the future be constructed in Europe based on the UMTS-FDD (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard—Frequency Division Duplex) standard. Corresponding frequency bands have been allocated in Germany and elsewhere to the future carriers of UMTS-FDD networks. Each carrier has at least one frequency band for the upward direction (uplink) and one frequency band for the downward direction (downlink), referred to jointly as what are termed paired bands. It will also be possible to use an additional (non-paired) frequency band for the downlink. That is because owing to the asymmetry of future data services more transmission capacity will be needed on the downlink than on the uplink.
Since the frequency bands UL1, UL2 shown in
When the disruptions are very strong, the signal quality in the frequency band DL2 of the second system will initially be impaired so much owing to the stronger disruptive influence on the downlink compared to the uplink that reception will no longer be possible at the subscriber station MS2 of the second mobile radio system. This is indicated by means of the numeral 1 in
The mechanism just described will not function, however, if the frequency band DL2 that is symmetrical to or, as the case may be, paired with the frequency band UL2 is not used on the downlink for the connection to the subscriber station MS2 in the second mobile radio system but, instead, the non-paired band DL3 (see
The object of the invention is to lessen the problem of disruptive influencing of the operation of the base station of the first mobile radio system due to transmissions of the subscriber stations of the second mobile radio system also when a non-paired frequency band is used for the downlink in the second mobile radio system.
Said object is achieved by means of a method according to claim 1 and of a signaling unit, a control unit, a mobile station, and a computer program according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.
The inventive method for operating a first mobile radio system's first base station whose reception in a first frequency band can be influenced by transmissions, assigned to a connection, of at least one subscriber station of a second mobile radio system in a second frequency band adjacent to the first frequency band provides for a signaling unit of the first mobile radio system sending a signal serving to reduce the influence of transmissions of the subscriber station of the second mobile radio system on the reception of the first base station in the first frequency band.
The signaling unit of the first mobile radio system is, owing to the transmission of the signal, able to react to the influencing of the first base station's operation by the operation of the second mobile radio system. In order to reduce the disruptive influences due to the second mobile radio system, by way of transmitting its signaling unit's signal the first mobile radio system influences the operation of the second mobile radio system.
According to a development of the invention the signaling unit sends the signal in a third frequency band provided within the second mobile radio system for the subscriber station's reception of signals assigned to the connection. It is in this way ensured that the signal can be received by the subscriber station's and second mobile radio system's corresponding receiving devices configured for reception in the third frequency band specifically because they are able to receive signals transmitted to them within the second mobile radio system. It is hence not necessary to provide a separate high-frequency receiver for receiving the signaling unit's signal in the subscriber stations. Nor are any complex measurements necessary on frequencies currently not used for communicating with the own base station.
According to a first embodiment of the invention the transmitting power of the signaling unit is set for the signal requiring to be sent by it in such a way that the connection of at least one of the subscriber stations of the second mobile radio system in the third frequency band will be disrupted so severely by the signal that another frequency band within the second mobile radio system will thereupon be assigned to said connection. What can be achieved as a result of the thus enforced assignment of another frequency band, which can take place optionally for the downlink and/or uplink, for example also through a change of cell for the corresponding subscriber station of the second mobile radio system, is that the disruptions affecting the reception of the first base station of the first mobile radio system will be reduced or avoided.
According to a second embodiment of the invention the signaling unit's signal contains information serving to signal the possibility of the first base station's reception being influenced by the transmissions of the subscriber stations.
This means the signal is embodied in such a way as to allow a corresponding possibility of the first base station's operation to be influenced to be inferred therefrom. Appropriate measures aimed at avoiding or, as the case may be, reducing corresponding disruptive influencing can, where applicable, in this way be taken by a station receiving the signaling unit's signal.
According to a development of the invention it can therein be advantageous if the signal's information includes details of the first frequency band. It can then be inferred from the signal which uplink frequency band the first base station is using for its reception. It can then be decided on the basis of the signaling unit's signal whether transmissions of specific subscriber stations of the second mobile radio system can or cannot negatively influence the first base station's reception. This can be assessed as a function of which frequency bands are being used for the respective subscriber station's transmission and reception and how said bands are arranged relative to the first base station's first frequency band.
It is advantageous if the second mobile radio system's subscriber station receives the signal of the first mobile radio system's signaling unit then sends information about the signal received by it to a second base station of the second mobile radio system, which station is maintaining the connection with it. Network-side devices of the second mobile radio system can in this way be informed of the signaling unit's signal and will hence be able to accommodate the frequency bands used for the connection, if such action appears necessary.
According to an advantageous development of the invention the second mobile radio system's subscriber station receives the signal of the first mobile radio system's signaling unit and a measure is ascertained of the receiving power of the signal received by the subscriber station from the signaling unit. It is decided on the basis of the ascertained measure of the receiving power whether the subscriber station will be assigned another frequency band for its connection. From the signal's receiving power it can be interfered to what extent the transmissions of the second mobile radio system's subscriber station can influence the first base station's reception. This can be achieved by, for example, the signaling unit's always transmitting its signal with a constant transmitting power. The receiving power at the second mobile radio system's subscriber station will then in most cases be proportional to the distance from the signaling unit, which is preferably situated in the immediate vicinity of the first base station or is even a constituent part thereof.
If implemented separately from the first base station the signaling unit will be particularly suitable for retro-equipping relevant mobile radio systems that have hitherto used conventional base stations and have no corresponding signaling unit. By contrast, integrating the signaling unit in the first base station will allow at least a part of the first base station's components, for example its transmitting antenna, to be used also for transmitting the signaling unit's signal.
According to a development of the invention the extent to which the first base station's reception will be influenced is ascertained and the transmitting power of the signaling unit's signal accommodated as a function of said ascertained influencing extent. The receiving power of the signaling unit's signal at the second mobile radio system's subscriber station will hence be proportional to the previously determined influencing of the first base station's reception. The degree of influencing can then advantageously be estimated from the receiving power and, as a result of said estimation, a decision taken as to whether it is necessary to use another frequency band for the connection of the second mobile radio system's subscriber station.
It is advantageous if the signal from the first mobile radio system's signaling unit is transmitted only if disrupting of the first base station's reception exceeds a certain limit. The signaling unit will in this way need transmitting power only if it will actually be of practical advantage to transmit the signal for avoiding disruptions. Interferences resulting from transmitting the signaling unit's signal will furthermore be reduced in this way. In other embodiments of the invention the signaling unit's signal can, however, also be transmitted continuously or at regular intervals, for example periodically.
As already mentioned above, the third frequency band can as a function of the signal sent by the signaling unit be replaced by another frequency band of the second mobile radio system for signals of the connection that are to be received by the second mobile radio system's subscriber station. The frequency band selected as another can in particular be one located closer than the third frequency band to a corresponding downlink frequency band of the first base station. The mechanism explained above with the aid of
It is alternatively or additionally possible for the second frequency band UL2 to be replaced on the basis of the signal sent by the signaling unit by another frequency band of the second mobile radio system for signals of the connection that are to be transmitted by the second mobile radio system's subscriber station. It is especially favorable therein if the other frequency band is further than the second frequency band from the first base station's first frequency band UL1 so that disruptive influences due to the transmissions of the second mobile radio system's subscriber station which impair the first base station's reception are reduced.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the connection of the second mobile radio system's subscriber station is changed over on the basis of the signal sent by the signaling unit from a second base station, providing coverage to said subscriber station, of the second mobile radio system to another base station. This process, referred to as handover, entails transferring the connection from the second base station to another base station of the second mobile radio system.
The inventive signaling unit and computer program have the components or, as the case may be, instructions required for implementing the inventive method and its developments.
The inventive mobile station for a second mobile radio system has corresponding means for receiving a signal of a signaling unit of the first mobile radio system.
The inventive control unit for allocating radio channels in a second mobile radio system is embodied in such a way that it assigns a new frequency band to a subscriber station of the second mobile radio system as a function of a signal sent by a signaling unit of a first mobile radio system.
The invention is especially suitable for applying to mobile radio systems based on the UMTS-FDD standard. Mobile radio systems based on any other standards can also be considered, though. It is in particular not absolutely essential for the first and second mobile radio system to be cellular mobile radio systems. The first and second mobile radio system's subscriber stations do not all have to be mobile. Rather it is the case that at least some of the subscriber stations can also be stationary.
The invention is explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, in which:
The mobile radio systems considered below are systems based on the UMTS-FDD standard.
According to
In the exemplary embodiment here under consideration the signal S of the signaling unit SG contains information indicating in which uplink band UL1 the first base station BS1 is being operated. This is indicated in
If the evaluation of the information I by the second base station BS2 or by another central unit of the second mobile radio system M2 indicates that the reception of the first base station BS1 is likely to be excessively impaired by the transmissions of the second subscriber station MS2 (this can be determined by, inter alia, comparing the value of the receiving power of the signal S at the second subscriber station MS2 with a corresponding limiting value), then said evaluation will in this exemplary embodiment cause the downlink band DL3 used for the second connection S2 to be changed over to the other downlink band DL2 available thereto which is directly adjacent to the downlink band DL1 of the first base station BS1. This is indicated by means of the arrow in
The further uplink band UL3 in
Owing to the smaller distance of the second subscriber station MS2 from the third base station BS3 compared to that from the second base station BS2, the second subscriber station MS2 can, after the connection S2 has been handed over, send with comparatively lower power than previously. Even if the same frequency bands UL2, DL3 as before are used for the second connection S2 following connection handover, the disruptions at the first base station BS1 due to the second subscriber station MS2 will consequently be reduced. This mechanism will also function independently of the distance between the first base station BS1 and the third base station BS3 if the third base station BS3 uses frequency bands that are not adjacent to those of the first base station BS1.
In other exemplary embodiments of the invention it is possible to dispense with conveying of the information I in
In the last-cited exemplary embodiment it is particularly favorable that the signaling unit SG sets the transmitting power for the signal S as a function of the influencing of the reception of the first base station BS1. To determine the extent to which the reception of the first base station BS1 will be influenced, a signal-to-noise ratio can, for example, be determined for the first connection S1 on the uplink. The poorer the signal-to-noise ratio at the first base station BS1 is, the greater will be the power selected for sending the signal S, with this only being transmitted if disruptions to the reception of the first base station BS1 exceed a certain limit, which is to say if the signal-to-noise ratio falls below a certain minimum value.
Again as a plan view,
A third subscriber station MS3 of the second mobile radio system M2 is so far within the first radio cell C1 from the first base station BS1 that the receiving power of the signal S at said subscriber station's position is below the critical limiting value. It therefore infers that no impairment will be caused by it to the reception of the first base station BS1 and accordingly will not send any information I to the second base station BS2 communicating with it.
Since the signal S in the exemplary embodiment according to
The examination, explained with the aid of
The signaling unit SG, which is assigned to the first base station BS1, transmits the signal S in each asymmetrical downlink band DL3 of all mobile radio systems overlapping the first mobile radio system M1 in places. To identify the uplink band UL1 being used by the first base station BS1, special signatures by means of which the uplink band UL1 being used is signaled in coded form are therein employed within the signal S.
Because the signal S of the signaling unit SG is transmitted in the same frequency band as that used for regular reception by the second subscriber station MS2 and by further subscriber stations of the second mobile radio system M2, said subscriber stations can receive the signal S without changing the frequency band received by them, which is to say without what are termed inter-frequency measurements, alongside their own connections S2 within the second mobile radio system.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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103 39 898.8 | Aug 2003 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP04/51919 | 8/26/2004 | WO | 2/28/2006 |