Mobile communication system

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for providing control of the execution and stoppage of broadcasting services for each zone and for controlling changes to the type of wireless channel for supplying broadcasting services, and so forth in a mobile communication system that provides broadcasting services such as broadcast and multicast services. Here, a ‘multicast’ is a form of broadcasting for transmitting information to all contracted terminals and a ‘broadcast’ is a form of broadcasting for transmitting information to all terminals irrespective of contract.

FIG. 1 shows the constitution of broadcast services and multicast services of a conventional mobile communication network. Broadcast data and multicast data from an information distribution device 1 reaches a wireless network control device 3 via a fixed communication network 2 and a core network 2a that constitutes a switching network and is transmitted from all the base stations 4a, 4b, . . . in the service area to all the mobile devices 5 in the zone via the wireless network control device 3.

In the case of a conventional broadcasting method of this kind, broadcasting data is transmitted unconditionally from all the base stations in the service area. Further, when the service area (referred to as cell) of the base station is converted into sectors, broadcasting data is transmitted unconditionally to the sectors. For this reason, even in a case where a terminal receiving services does not exist in the cell or sector (generally referred to as the ‘zone’), transmission is performed from the base stations to an area where no terminal exists and, hence, there is the problem that wireless resources are used wastefully, the transmission power of the base station increases, and interference power increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to make it possible to use wireless resources efficiently and reduce the transmission power and interference power of the base station.

A second object of the present invention is to perform a zone transfer in a system that uses wireless resources efficiently without problems.

In the case of a first mobile communication system of the present invention, when one zone is established by combining one or more service areas or when the service areas are divided into a plurality of zones, a judgment standard (whether a terminal receiving a supply of services exists or not, for example) is established for each zone and broadcast data and multicast data, and so forth, are not transmitted from the base station to zones where the standard is not fulfilled (a terminal does not exist). Accordingly, in one zone, when the standard is not fulfilled, the transmission of broadcast data and multicast data is not performed and, therefore, the wireless resources in the zone can be used efficiently.

Further, when, as a result of movement by a terminal receiving a supply of services, the terminal exists in a region that also allows services to be received from a base station in another zone and the terminal requests wireless-channel data transmission from the base station, the data is transmitted on the wireless channel from the base station on the basis of the request. Alternatively, a network device detects the fact that the terminal receiving the supply of services exists in a region that allows services to be received from the other zone and the data is transmitted on a wireless channel from the base station of the other zone. Thus, a zone transfer in a system that uses wireless resources efficiently can be implemented without problems.

In a second mobile communication system of the present invention, when one zone is established by combining one or more service areas or when the service areas are divided into a plurality of zones, a judgment standard is established for each zone and the type of wireless channel (dedicated physical channel, common physical channel, for example) is determined on the basis of the judgment result. Thus, in one zone, the optimal wireless channel for transmitting broadcast data and multicast data can be selected in accordance with the judgment standard. Therefore, the wireless resources in the zone can be used efficiently and the transmission power and interference power of the base station can be reduced.

Further, when, as a result of movement by a terminal receiving a supply of services, the terminal exists in a region that also allows services to be received from a base station of another zone and when the terminal requests a wireless channel for the supply of services of the base station, a network device determines a wireless channel on the basis of this request and the data is transmitted on the wireless channel. Alternatively, the network device detects the fact that a terminal receiving the supply of services exists in a region that allows services to be received from another zone and, determines a wireless channel when the existence of terminals is detected, and transmits the data by means of the wireless channel. Thus, a zone transfer in a system that uses wireless resources efficiently can be implemented without problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the constitution of broadcast and multicast of a conventional mobile communication network;

FIG. 2 is a constitutional view of a mobile communication system that implements the broadcast and multicast of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block constitutional view of a wireless network control device;

FIG. 4 is a block constitutional view of a base station;

FIG. 5 is a block constitutional view of a terminal;

FIG. 6 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device or base station of a first embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a process flow that illustrates the operation of a terminal of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 shows the process flow of a modified example of the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows the process flow for confirming the existence of terminals;

FIG. 10 shows the process flow for confirming the number of terminals;

FIG. 11 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a second embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows the process flow of the base station of the second embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows the process flow of the terminal of the second embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a first modified example;

FIG. 15 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a second modified example;

FIG. 16 shows the process flow of a transmission power calculation;

FIG. 17 shows the process flow of another transmission power calculation;

FIG. 18 shows the process flow of yet another transmission power calculation;

FIG. 19 shows the process flow of the terminal of a third modified example;

FIG. 20 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a fourth modified example;

FIG. 21 shows the process flow of an interference amount calculation of a base station;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view of an interference power calculation when an dedicated physical channel is used;

FIG. 23 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a fifth modified example;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view of a zone-switching procedure of a third embodiment;

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view of another zone-switching procedure of the third embodiment;

FIG. 26 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of the third embodiment;

FIG. 27 shows the process flow of the movement-destination base station of the third embodiment;

FIG. 28 shows the process flow of the terminal of the third embodiment;

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view of a sequence of a modified example;

FIG. 30 is an explanatory view of another sequence of a modified example;

FIG. 31 shows the process flow of a wireless network control device of a modified example;

FIG. 32 is a modified example of FIGS. 25 and 30 of the third embodiment;

FIG. 33 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device in the sequence of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 shows the process flow of a movement-source base station;

FIG. 35 shows the process flow of a terminal;

FIG. 36 is a sequence in a case where a plurality of wireless network control devices is mounted in the embodiment of FIG. 32;

FIG. 37 shows the process flow of a movement-source wireless network control device of the sequence of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 shows the process flow of a movement-destination wireless network control device;

FIG. 39 is an example of a sequence in a case where a plurality of wireless network control devices is mounted in the embodiment of FIG. 32;

FIG. 40 shows the process flow of the movement-source wireless network control device of FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 shows the process flow of the movement-destination wireless network control device;

FIG. 42 is an explanatory view of a zone-switching sequence of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 43 is an explanatory view of another zone-switching sequence of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 44 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 45 shows the process flow of a terminal;

FIG. 46 is an explanatory view of a measurement value report condition;

FIG. 47 is an explanatory view of a sequence of a modified example;

FIG. 48 is an explanatory view of another sequence of a modified example;

FIG. 49 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a modified example;

FIG. 50 is an explanatory view of a zone-switching procedure of a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 51 is an explanatory view of another zone-switching procedure of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 52 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 53 shows the process flow of a movement-destination base station;

FIG. 54 shows the process flow of a terminal;

FIG. 55 shows an embodiment in which a physical channel receiving a supply of multicast (broadcast) services is switched between physical channels of a plurality of types in the sequence of FIG. 50;

FIG. 56 shows an embodiment in which a physical channel receiving a supply of multicast (broadcast) services is switched between physical channels of a plurality of types in the sequence of FIG. 51;

FIG. 57 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of a modified example;

FIG. 58 is an explanatory view of another zone-switching procedure of a modified example;

FIG. 59 shows the process flow of a wireless network control device of a modified example;

FIG. 60 shows a modified example of FIG. 51 and 58 of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 61 shows the process flow of a wireless network control device in the sequence of FIG. 60;

FIG. 62 shows the process flow of the terminal in the sequence of FIG. 60;

FIG. 63 is an explanatory view of a zone-switching procedure of a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 64 is an explanatory view of another zone-switching procedure of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 65 shows the process flow of a wireless network control device of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 66 shows an embodiment in which a physical channel receiving a supply of multicast (broadcast) services is switched between physical channels of a plurality of types in the sequence of FIG. 63;

FIG. 67 shows an embodiment in which a physical channel receiving a supply of multicast (broadcast) services is switched between physical channels of a plurality of types in the sequence of FIG. 64;

FIG. 68 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of a modified example;

FIG. 69 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a modified example;

FIG. 70 is a modified example of FIGS. 64 and 68 of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 71 shows the process flow of a wireless network control device in the sequence of FIG. 70;

FIG. 72 shows a process flow of the terminal in the sequence of FIG. 70;

FIG. 73 is an example of a sequence in a case where a plurality of wireless network control devices is mounted in the embodiment in FIG. 70;

FIG. 74 shows the process flow of the movement-source wireless network control device in the sequence of FIG. 73;

FIG. 75 shows the process flow of the movement-destination wireless network control device in the sequence of FIG. 73;

FIG. 76 is an example of a sequence in a case where a plurality of wireless network control devices b is mounted in the embodiment of FIG. 70;

FIG. 77 shows the process flow of the movement-source wireless network control device in the sequence of FIG. 76;

FIG. 78 shows the process flow of the movement-destination wireless network control device in the sequence of FIG. 76;

FIG. 79 is an explanatory view of a zone-switching procedure of a seventh embodiment;

FIG. 80 is an explanatory view of another zone-switching procedure of the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 81 shows the process flow of the terminal of the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 82 is a table illustrating specification at the time of the zone switching that is determined in the system according to an eighth embodiment;

FIG. 83 is a table illustrating channel switching specification after the zone switching according to an eighth embodiment;

FIG. 84 is an explanatory view of a zone-switching procedure of an eighth embodiment;

FIG. 85 is another explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of the eighth embodiment;

FIG. 86 is a table illustrating specification at the time of zone switching of the first modified example;

FIG. 87 is a table illustrating channel switching specification after the zone switching according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 88 is a table illustrating specification at the time of zone switching of a second modified example and channel switching specification after the zone switching;

FIG. 89 is a table illustrating specification at the time of zone switching of a third modified example and channel switching specification after the zone switching;

FIG. 90 is a table illustrating specification at the time of zone switching of a fourth modified example and channel switching specification after the zone switching;

FIG. 91 is a table illustrating specification at the time of zone switching of a fifth modified example and channel switching specification after the zone switching;

FIG. 92 is a sixth modified example of the eighth embodiment;

FIG. 93 is another example of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 94 is a seventh modified example of the eighth embodiment;

FIG. 95 is another example of the seventh modified example;

FIG. 96 is another example of the seventh modified example;

FIG. 97 is another example of the seventh modified example;

FIG. 98 is a table illustrating correspondence between combinations of mobile-source and mobile-destination channel types, the channels communicated to the terminals and the method of implementation;

FIG. 99 is a conceptual view of a tenth embodiment;

FIG. 100 is a constitutional example of report information;

FIG. 101 is a conceptual view of an eleventh embodiment; and

FIG. 102 is a constitutional example of report information.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(A) Overview of Inventions

(1) Overview of the First Invention

When one zone is established by combining one or more service areas or when the service areas are divided into a plurality of zones, a judgment standard (whether a terminal receiving a supply of services exists or not, for example) is established for each zone and, when the standard is not fulfilled (a terminal does not exist), broadcast data and multicast data, and so forth, are not transmitted from the base station to the zone.

Accordingly, in one zone, when the standard is not fulfilled, the transmission of broadcast data and multicast data is not performed. Therefore, the wireless resources in the zone can be used efficiently. For example, (1) a case where the judgment standard is the existence of terminals receiving a supply of services and (2) a case where the judgment standard is the service quality, number of services and number of terminals using the services will be described.

Supposing that the (i) judgment standard is ‘the existence of terminals receiving a supply of services’, the condition according to which the judgment standard is not satisfied is ‘a terminal receiving a supply of services does not exist’. Therefore, the base station or wireless network control device does not transmit broadcast data or multicast data unless a terminal receiving a supply of services exists in the zone.

(ii) Further, if the judgment standard is ‘service quality, number of services, and number of terminals using services’, the condition according to which the judgment standard is not fulfilled is ‘that the lowest service quality required for each of these services is calculated and the transmission amount required in order to satisfy the overall service quality exceeds the transmission amount that has been allocated to multicast (broadcast)’. In this case, the base station or wireless network control device stops services with the smallest number of service usage terminals and satisfies the judgment standard.

(2) Overview of the Second Invention

When one zone is established by combining one or more base station service areas or the service areas are divided into a plurality of zones, a judgment standard is set for each zone and a wireless channel type (dedicated physical channel, common physical channel, for example) is selected in accordance with the content of the judgment. Thus, in one zone, it is possible to select the optimal wireless channel for transmitting broadcast data and multicast data in accordance with the judgment standard. Therefore, the wireless resources in the zone can be used efficiently. Judgment standards include (1) the number of terminals receiving a supply of services, (2) the transmission power,required to provide services, (3) the amount of interference produced when services are supplied, and (4) the combination of services.

(i) Supposing that the judgment standard is ‘number of terminals receiving a supply of services’, a and b below may be considered as the conditions for selecting a wireless channel.

a. It can be assumed that terminals are uniformly present within a zone when there are a large number of terminals. Accordingly, if there are a large number of terminals, a common physical channel that allows the zone to be serviced by means of one channel is used. In a case where there are a small number of terminals, it can be assumed that terminals only exist in partial regions of the zone. Therefore, dedicated physical channels for which a technology such as beam forming, which enables an increase in the communication capacity within the zone, is employed, are used.

b. When there are a small number of terminals, dedicated logical channels that enable retransmission control are used and settings are made for efficient reception quality. When there are a large number of terminals, a common logical channel to which increase of the retransmission traffic is neglected is employed and settings are made to provide adequate reception quality.

A logical channel is a channel in an upper layer that is used to send and receive data between a terminal and a wireless network and a physical channel is a channel in a lower layer that is used to send and receive data between a base station and a terminal.

(ii) If a judgment standard is the ‘required transmission power in order to supply services’, the condition for selecting a wireless channel is to ‘compare the transmission power when data is transmitted by means of a common physical channel and the transmission power when data is sent on an dedicated physical channel and then select the physical channel with the smaller transmission power’.

(iii) If the judgment standard is ‘amount of interference that is produced when services are supplied’, the condition for selecting a wireless channel is to ‘compare the amount of interference when data is transmitted on a common physical channel and the amount of interference when data is sent on an dedicated physical channel and then select the physical channel with the smaller amount of interference’.

(iv) If the judgment standard is ‘combination of services’, the condition for selecting a wireless channel is ‘in a case where a combination of services enabling wireless resources to be used efficiently is possible, supply services supplied on an dedicated physical channel by means of the common physical channel’.

(3) Overview of the Third Invention

The third invention is related to intermittent reception of services in a zone transfer and appears in the forms (1) to (7) below.

(1) In the case of the system of the first invention, when a terminal receiving a supply of services moves to another zone, transmission from the other zone is requested. Thus, because the transmission of services is executed from the other zone in response to a request from the terminal even when the other zone is in a transmission stoppage state, zone switching can be performed by continuing services.

(2) In the case of the system of the first invention, the network device detects the fact that a terminal receiving a supply of services has moved to the another zone and starts transmission from the other zone even when the other zone is in the transmission stoppage state. Thus, because movement of the terminal is detected by the network device and the transmission of services from the other zone is performed even when the other zone is in the transmission stoppage state, zone switching can be performed by continuing services.

(3) In the case of the system of the second invention, when a terminal receiving a supply of services moves to another zone, the type of wireless channel whereby the terminal receives services in the other zone is requested and the network device communicates the wireless channel type of the zone to the terminal. The terminal is thus able to perform zone switching by continuing services.

(4) In the case of the system of the second invention, the network device detects the fact that a terminal receiving a supply of services has moved to another zone and communicates the wireless channel type for supplying services in the other zone to the terminal. The terminal is thus able to perform zone switching by continuing services.

(5) In the case of the system of the second invention, when a terminal receiving a supply of services moves to another zone, the terminal changes a current wireless channel type to a wireless channel type of the other zone in accordance with report information from the network device. Thus, because the terminal changes the wireless channel type of services in said another zone, zone switching can be performed by continuing services.

(6) In the case of the systems of the first and second inventions when a terminal receiving a supply of services moves to another zone, the terminal performs the zone transfer by switching a current wireless channel to a channel type determined by the system. That is, the terminal requests either one or both of the channel type receiving a supply of services in said another zone or the start request of transmission, the network device communicates the wireless channel type for supplying services to the terminal in the zone after the terminal has moved and, the terminal, after the terminal has moved to the other zone, changes the current wireless channel type to the channel type for supplying services in the other zone. The terminal is thus able to perform zone switching by continuing services.

(7) In the case of the systems of the first and second inventions, when a terminal receiving a supply of services moves to another zone, the terminal performs the zone transfer by switching a wireless channel to a channel type determined by the system. That is, the network device detects the fact that that the terminal has moved to another zone and notifies the terminal of a wireless channel type for supplying services in the zone following the move, and, after moving to the other zone, the terminal changes the current wireless type to the channel type for supplying services in the other zone. The terminal is thus able to perform zone switching by continuing services.

(B) System Constitution

FIG. 2 is a constitutional view of a mobile communication system that implements the broadcast and multicast of the present invention and is constituted by an information distribution device 10 that distributes broadcast data or multicast data, a wireless network control device 13 that receives the broadcast data or multicast data distributed by the information distribution device via a fixed communication network 11 and a core network 12 and transmits the data to the base station on a logical channel, base stations 14₁and 14₂that receive broadcast data or multicast data from the wireless network control device and transmit data to the terminal on a physical channel, and a terminal 15 that receives the broadcast data or multicast data. Although not illustrated, the wireless network control device 13 sometimes also receives broadcast data or multicast data distributed by the information distribution device 10 from the core network 12 without the involvement of the fixed communication network 11.

The base stations also appear with the number ‘14’ hereinafter.

FIG. 3 is a block constitutional view of the wireless network control device 13.

A core network interface portion 13a receives broadcast data and multicast data from the information distribution device 11 via the core network 12 and sends the data to a data processing portion 13b.

The data processing portion 13b maps broadcast data and multicast data that is inputted from the core network interface portion 13a and data (a terminal control signal) that is inputted from a wireless resource control portion 13c with a logical channel. Further, the data processing portion 13b fetches a data part of an interterminal control signal (control signal between terminals) that is inputted by a base station interface portion 13d and then sends the data part to the wireless resource control portion 13c. In addition, the data processing portion 13b transmits/stops transmission on the logical channel in accordance with an instruction from the wireless resource control portion 13c.

The base station interface portion 13d transmits broadcast data and multicast data that has been sent by the data processing portion 13b, an interterminal control signal and an inter-base station control signal (control signal between base stations) that has been sent by the wireless resource control portion 13c to the base stations 14₁and 14₂, sends an interterminal control signal that has been sent by a base station to the data processing portion 13b and sends the inter-base-station control signal to the wireless resource control portion 13c.

The wireless resource control portion 13c performs allocation and management, and so forth of wireless resources (the channel type, wireless channel (code in CDMA)) for communication between base stations and terminals. Further, the wireless resource control portion 13c judges the zone shift from peripheral-cell quality measurement information from the terminal and judges the transmission/stoppage of transmission of multicast (broadcast) data. In addition, the wireless resource control portion 13c performs processing to confirm the existence of terminals, processing to confirm the number of terminals, processing to calculate transmission power and processing to calculate the amount of interference.

FIG. 4 is a block constitutional view of the base station 14.

A wired transmission channel interface portion 14-1 sends broadcast data, multicast data and the interterminal control signal, which have been sent on a logical channel from the wireless network control device 13, to a modem portion 14-2 and sends the inter-base station control signal to a control portion 14-3. Further, the interterminal control signal inputted by the modem portion 14-2 and the inter-base station control signal inputted by the control portion 14-3 are sent to the wireless network control device 13.

The modem portion 14-2 subjects broadcast data, multicast data and the interterminal control signal that have been sent by the wired transmission channel interface portion 14-1 to error-correction encoding processing in accordance with instructions from the control portion 14-3 and performs mapping to physical channels and modulation processing. In addition, the modem portion 14-2 subjects the interterminal control signal that has been sent by the terminal to demodulation and error correction in accordance with instructions from the control portion 14-3, and then inputs the processed interterminal control signal to the wired transmission channel interface portion 14-1 and inputs the control signal from the terminal to the base station to the control portion 14-3. In addition, the modem portion 14-2 performs transmission/transmission stoppage processing in accordance with instructions from the control portion 14-3.

A transceiver portion and amplifier portion 14-4 receives the signal from the terminal, amplifies the signal by means of a low noise amplifier, and performs QPSK detection. Further, the modulated signal inputted from the modem portion 14-2 is rendered an RF signal and then transmitted to the terminal by means of an antenna following amplification by means of a transmission power amplifier.

The control portion 14-3 receives the inter-base station control signal from the wired transmission channel interface portion 14-1 and then instructs the modem portion 14-2 to set the wireless resources (example: the channel type, the wireless channel (code in CDMA)). Further, the control portion 14-3 receives the inter-base station control signal from the wired transmission channel interface portion 14-1 and instructs the modem portion 14-2 to set the transmission/transmission stoppage of the physical channel. In addition, the control portion 14-3 sends and receives control signals to and from a terminal existence confirmation processing portion or terminal number confirmation processing portion 14-5, a transmission power calculation processing portion or interference amount calculation processing portion 14-6 and a data transmission/transmission stoppage judgment portion 14-7, and instructs the modem portion 14-2 to set the channel type and to set data transmission/transmission stoppage.

The terminal existence confirmation processing portion or terminal number confirmation processing portion 14-5 performs terminal existence confirmation processing or terminal number confirmation processing in accordance with a control signal from the terminal that has been sent by the control portion 14-3 and with the wireless-resources usage status and sends the results to the control portion.

The transmission power calculation processing portion or interference amount calculation processing portion 14-6 performs transmission power calculation processing or interference amount calculation processing in accordance with a control signal from a terminal that has been sent by the control portion 14-3 and with the wireless resources usage status and sends the results to the control portion.

The data transmission/transmission stoppage judgment portion 14-7 performs data transmission/transmission stoppage judgment processing in accordance with the control signal from the terminal that has been sent by the control portion 14-3 and with the wireless resources usage status and sends the judgment result to the control portion.

FIG. 5 is a block constitutional view of the terminal 15.

A receiver portion 15a receives a signal from a base station, performs frequency conversion to render a high frequency signal a base band signal and performs a QPSK detection. A demodulation portion 15b subjects the received signal to demodulation and error correction in accordance with settings from a control portion 15c, acquires broadcast data and multicast data and sends the data to a data processing portion 15d. Further, the demodulation portion 15b similarly acquires an inter-wireless network control signal (a control signal between wireless networks) and an inter-base station control signal (a control signal between base stations) that have been sent by the receiver portion and sends these signals to the control portion 15c.

A reception field strength detection portion 15e detects the received signal strength (reception field strength), measures the reception power, interference power, and so forth of a reference signal (pilot signal) in the resident zone and peripheral zones, as well as the reception power, interference power, and so forth of the communication channel and sends the measurement results to the control portion 15c.

A modulation portion 15f subjects the data sent by the data-processing portion 15d to encoding for error correction in accordance with settings from the control portion 15c and performs mapping to physical channels and modulation processing before sending the processing results to a transmission portion 15g. Further, the modulation portion 15f similarly subjects the inter-wireless network control signal and inter-base station control signal that have been inputted by the control portion 15c to encoding for error correction in accordance with settings from the control portion and performs mapping to physical channels and modulation processing before sending the processing results to the transmission portion. Further, the inter-wireless network control signal and inter-base station control signal contain the measurement results of the reception field strength detection portion 15e.

The transmission portion 15g renders the modulated signal inputted by the modulation portion an RF signal and transmits the signal to the base station by means of an antenna after amplifying the signal by means of a transmission power amplifier.

The data-processing portion 15d processes the broadcast data and multicast data that have been sent by the demodulation portion 15b in accordance with the data type, sends the processed data to a display portion 15h and a speaker portion 15i to produce a rendering output and speech output respectively. Further, the data processing portion 15d sends the transmission data to the modulation portion 15f.

An operation portion 15j performs operations to request the provision of broadcast services and multicast services and to request an end to this provision before transmitting the request data to the control portion 15c.

The control portion 15c performs the following processing:

- Receives control signals from a wireless network control device and base station from the demodulation portion 15a.
- Transmits a control signal for the wireless network control device and base station to the modulation portion 15f.
- Instructs the modulation portion 15f and demodulation portion 15b to set the wireless resources (for example, the channel type, wireless channel (code in CDMA)) by means of a control procedure that is determined by the specifications beforehand on the basis of the control signal from the wireless network control device.
- Receives a call control signal from the wireless network control device or base station and sends a response control signal to the modulation portion 15f.
- Sends a control signal indicating a service provision request for broadcast services and multicast services and a request to stop this provision to the modulation portion 15f in accordance with a request from the operation portion 15j.
- Sends, when a condition designated by a control signal from the wireless network control device or base station is fulfilled on the basis of a measured value from the reception field strength detection portion 15e, the measured value to the modulation portion 15f in order to inform the wireless network control device or base station.
- Sends, when a condition that is designated by a control signal from the wireless network control device is fulfilled on the basis of a measured value from the reception field strength detection portion 15e, a control signal to request a zone update communication or channel setting for the movement-destination zone to the modulation portion 15f.
- Instructs, when a condition that is designated by a control signal from the wireless network control device is fulfilled on the basis of a measured value from the reception field strength detection portion 15e, the demodulation portion 15b and the modulation portion 15f to set wireless resources communicated by the wireless network control device beforehand.

The first embodiment is an embodiment in which the transmission of broadcast data and multicast data is not performed when a judgment standard is not fulfilled.

FIG. 6 shows the process flow of the first embodiment, wherein the judgment standard is the judgment standard (i) in the earlier overview of the first invention. The processing may be performed by the base station 14 or may be performed by the wireless network control device 13.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun and the service area of the base station is divided into one or more sectors (zones), processing to confirm the existence of terminals receiving services is performed in each of these zones (step 1). Details on the terminal existence confirmation processing will be provided subsequently with reference to FIG. 9.

It is then judged from the results of step 1 whether the number of terminals in each zone is “0” (step 2). If the number of terminals is “0”, transmission stoppage processing for the wireless channel in the relevant zone is performed (step 3). Further, when the base station 14 performs transmission stoppage processing, transmission on a physical channel is stopped. Further, in cases where the wireless network control device 13 performs the transmission stoppage processing, transmission on a logical channel is stopped.

On the other hand, if the number of terminals is not “0”, processing to start (continue) transmission of broadcast data and multicast data on a wireless channel is performed. Further, the transmission of broadcast data and multicast data is started on a physical channel when the base station performs processing to start transmission and on a logical channel when the wireless network control device performs processing to start (continue) transmission.

Following the processing of steps 3 and 4, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 5). When services have ended, the operation is terminated (step 6).

The case above was a case where all the processing is performed by the base station 14 or the wireless network control device 13. However, steps 1, 2, 5, and 6 may be performed by the wireless network control device 13, while steps 3 and 4 may be executed by the base station 14. In this case, the wireless network control device 13 performs the judgment of step 2 and then communicates the judgment results to the base station 14, whereupon the base station 14 terminates the physical channel.

FIG. 7 shows a process flow that illustrates the operation of the terminal.

The terminal 15 performs the following operation each time there is a call request from the base station 14 (or the wireless network control device 13). That is, terminal 15 performs reception processing in response to a call request from the base station 14 (or the wireless network control device 13) (step 1), and transmits a call response to the base station (wireless network control device) in response to a call request (step 2).

(c-1) FIRST MODIFIED EXAMPLE

Although the judgment standard is “the existence of terminals receiving a supply of services” in the first embodiment, the judgment standard may be the judgment standard (ii) in the earlier overview of the first invention. The judgment standard (ii) is “service quality, number of services, and number of terminals using the services (or the estimated number of terminals using services)”. The lowest service quality required by each of the services is calculated and the transmission amount required to supply all the services is determined and, in cases where the transmission amount exceeds the transmission amount allocated to the multicast (broadcast), services with a small number of terminals using the services are terminated to establish a transmission amount that is equal to or below the allocated transmission amount.

FIG. 8 shows the process flow of the first modified example and is an example of a case where processing to confirm the number of terminals and the transmission amount required to transmit all the services is performed by the base station 14 or the wireless network control device 13.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, processing to confirm the number of terminals receiving services is performed in the zone of each sector of the base station 14 (step 1). Processing to confirm the number of terminals will be described below with reference to FIG. 10.

It is judged whether the total transmission amount of services exceeds the total transmission amount allocated to multicast (broadcast) in a zone (step 2).

In cases where the total transmission amount of services exceeds the transmission amount allocated within the zone, the number of terminals for which services can be continued is judged (step 3).

In cases where the number of terminals is not the number of terminals for which services can be continued, wireless-channel transmission stoppage processing is performed (step 4). Further, in cases where the base station 14 performs the transmission stoppage processing, transmission on a physical channel is terminated. Further, when the wireless network control device 13 performs the transmission stoppage processing, transmission on a logical channel is terminated.

On the other hand, when the total transmission amount of services does not exceed the transmission amount allocated within the zone in step 2 and the number of terminals is the number of terminals for which services can be continued in step 3, processing to start (continue) transmission on a wireless channel is performed (step 5). The transmission of broadcast data and multicast data is started on a physical channel when the base station performs processing to start transmission and on a logical channel when the wireless network control device performs processing to start (continue) transmission.

Following the processing of step 4 or step 5, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 6) and, when services have ended, the operation is terminated.

Although a case where all the processing is performed by the base station 14 or the wireless network control device 13 was described above, steps 1, 2, 3 and 6 may be performed by the wireless network control device 13, while steps 4 and 5 may be executed by the base station 14. In this case, the wireless network control device 13 performs the judgment of step 2 or three and then communicates the judgment result to the base station 14, whereupon the base station 14 terminates the physical channel.

(c-2) TERMINAL EXISTENCE CONFIRMATION PROCESSING

FIG. 9 shows the process flow of terminal existence confirmation.

The base station 14 or wireless network control device 13 sets a variable x, which indicates the reference number of the terminal in a zone existence list at 1 (step 1). Thereafter, it is judged whether there is a request to stop the supply of services from the terminal (reduction request) with respect to the zone supplying services (step 2).

It is judged that there has been a service supply stoppage request in the following two cases, when

(1) when the terminal ends the call;

(2) when the terminal moves to another zone. When the terminal has moved, there are the following methods (1) and (2) for issuing a service supply stoppage request.

(1) A method that performs terminal existence confirmation processing by means of a base station. This method involves cases where:

- a communication is sent from a terminal to a movement-source base station; and
- a communication is sent from the wireless network control device 13 to the movement-source base station.

(2) A method that performs terminal existence confirmation processing by means of a wireless network control device. This method involves cases where:

- a communication is sent from terminal 15 to a wireless network control device; and
- the wireless network control device detects a terminal zone shift.

When there is a reduction request in step 2, a terminal with a reduction request is erased from the list (step 3) and the processing moves on to the processing of step 4. Thereafter, it is judged whether there has been a service supply request (registration request) from a terminal with respect to a zone supplying services (step 4). In the following three cases, it is judged that there has been a service supply request:

- when a terminal starts a call;
- when a terminal has moved from another zone;
- when the base station or wireless network control device seeks a response from a terminal as to whether services are required and there is a response regarding such a requirement.
  
  The following methods exist for issuing a service supply request when a terminal has moved. That is,

(1) A method that performs terminal existence confirmation processing by means of a base station. This method involves cases where:

- a communication is made from a terminal to the base station;
- a communication is made from the wireless network control device to the base station.

(2) A method that performs terminal existence confirmation processing by means of a wireless network control device. This method involves cases where:

- a communication is made from a terminal to the wireless network control device;
- a zone shift is detected by the wireless network control device.

When there is a registration request in step 4, a terminal for which there is a request is registered in the list and the processing moves to step 6.

Thereafter, variable y, which indicates the number of call repetitions in the existence processing, is set at 1 (step 6), a call from a user whose terminal reference number is x is made (step 7), response reception processing for the user with the reference number x in response to this call is performed (step 8), and it is judged whether there has been a response from the user with the reference number x (step 9).

When there is a response, the user for which there is a response is registered in the list or updated (step 10) and the terminal existence confirmation processing is stopped when a terminal exists.

On the other hand, if there is no response in step 9, it is judged whether the call repetition number y has reached the repetition termination number (step 11). As long as the repetition termination number has not been reached, the call repetition variabley is incremented (step 12) and the processing of step 7 and subsequent steps is repeated.

If the repetition termination number is reached in step 11, non-respondent users are erased from the list (step 13). Subsequently, the terminal reference number is incremented (step 14) and it is judged whether confirmation of the existence of all terminals has been performed (step 15). If confirmation of the existence of all terminals is not complete, the processing of step 2 and subsequent steps is repeated and, when no terminals exist when confirmation of the existence of all terminals is complete, the terminal existence confirmation processing is terminated.

(c-3) PROCESSING TO CONFIRM NUMBER OF TERMINALS

FIG. 10 shows the process flow for confirming the number of terminals. The processing of steps 1 to 8 is the same as the processing of steps 1 to 8 in FIG. 9.

The base station 14 or wireless network control device 13 performs processing to receive responses from a user terminal with the reference number x (step 8) and, shortly afterwards, judges whether there has been a response from the user with the reference number x (step 9). If there has been a response, the user of the response is registered in the list or updated (step 10) and the number of terminal n is incremented (n=n+1, step 11).

On the other hand, if there is no response in step 9, it is judged whether the call repetition number y has reached the repetition termination number (step 12). As long as the call termination number has not been reached, the call repetition variable y is incremented (step 13) and the processing of step 7 and subsequent steps is repeated. If the call repetition number y has reached the repetition termination number in step 12, users from which there has been no response are erased from the list (step 14).

Thereafter, the terminal reference number is incremented (x=x+1, step 15) and it is judged whether confirmation of the existence of all the terminals has been performed (step 16). If there are terminals for which existence confirmation has not been performed, the processing of step 2 and subsequent steps is repeated and, when confirmation of the existence of all the terminals is complete, processing to confirm the number of terminals n is terminated.

(D) Second Embodiment

The second embodiment is an example in which the optimum wireless channel for transmitting broadcast data and multicast data is selected in accordance with a judgment standard.

FIG. 11 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device 13 and represents a case where the judgment standard is the judgment standard (i) of the earlier overview of the second invention (the number of terminals receiving a supply of services) and where the wireless channel selection condition is a.

When multicast (broadcast) service shave begun, the wireless network control device 13 judges whether services are supplied on a common physical channel in the zone of each sector of the base station 14 supplying the services (step 1). If the physical channel supplying the services is a common physical channel, processing to confirm the number of terminals receiving services is performed (step 2). Subsequently, it is judged whether the number of terminals in the zone of each sector is “0” (step 3) and, if the number of terminals is not zero, it is judged whether the number of terminals in the zone is equal to or less than x1 (step 4). If the number of terminals is not equal to or less than x1, because there is an adequate number of terminals for supplying services on a common physical channel, the transmission on the common physical channel is continued (step 5). However, if the number of terminals is equal to or less than x1, there are an insufficient number of terminals for supplying services on a common physical channel and, therefore, a change is made to dedicated physical channels (step 6).

On the other hand, when the number of terminals is “0” in step 3, transmission stoppage processing is performed (step 7). Further, when the physical channel for supplying the services is not a common physical channel in step 1, it is judged whether the physical channel for supplying the services is an dedicated physical channel (step 8). If the physical channel for supplying the services is in dedicated physical channel, it is judged whether the number of terminals in the zone is equal to or more than x2 (step 9). In this case, the physical channel for supplying the services is an dedicated physical channel and the number of dedicated physical channels corresponds to the number of terminals, and, therefore, the number of terminals is found from the number of dedicated physical channels.

If the number of terminals is equal to or more than x2, there is sufficient number of terminals for supplying services on a common physical channel and, therefore, a change is made to a common physical channel (step 10). However, if the number of terminals is not equal to or more than x2, there is inadequate number of terminals for supplying services on a common physical channel and, therefore, the supply of services on dedicated physical channels is continued (step 11).

On the other hand, if the physical channel for supplying the services is not an dedicated physical channel in step 8, because all the terminals in the cell terminate services during the supply of services on dedicated physical channels, that is, because transmission stoppage is in progress, transmission stoppage is continued (step 12). Following the processing of steps 5 to 7 and 10 to 12, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 13) and, if services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, processing is terminated.

FIG. 12 shows the process flow of a base station.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, it is judged whether a change from a common physical channel to an dedicated physical channel has been instructed by the wireless network control device 13 (step 1).

If an instruction for a change to an dedicated physical channel has been issued, processing for the change to an dedicated physical channel is performed (step 2). On the other hand, if an instruction for a change to an dedicated physical channel has not been made, it is judged whether a change from an dedicated physical channel to a common physical channel has been issued by the wireless network control device 13 (step 3).

In the event of an instruction for a change to a common physical channel, processing for the change to a common physical channel is performed (step 4). However, if a change to a common physical channel has not been instructed, it is considered that no instruction for a physical-channel change has been made by the wireless network control device 13. Following processing to change the one or more physical channels, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 5). If services have not ended, processing returns to step 1, whereupon subsequent steps is repeated and, if services have ended, processing is terminated (step 6).

FIG. 13 shows the process flow of the terminal.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, it is judged whether a call request from the base station 14 (or the wireless network control device 13) has been made (step 1). If a call request has been made, processing to receive the call from the base station (wireless network control device) is performed (step 2) and, following reception processing, a response is transmitted to the base station (wireless network control device) (step 3).

On the other hand, if there is no call request in step 1, it is judged whether there is a physical-channel change request (step 4). If there is a physical-channel change request, processing to change the physical channel is performed (step 5).

After the processing above has ended, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 6) and, if these services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1, whereupon the processing of step 1 and subsequently steps is repeated and, if services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 7).

(d-1) FIRST MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The first modified example is a method for determining the wireless channel in a case of adopting the wireless channel selection condition b of the judgment standard (i) described in the overview of the second invention and FIG. 14 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device 13 of the first modified example.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, processing to confirm the number of terminals receiving services is performed (step 1). After the processing to confirm the number of terminals receiving services has ended, it is judged whether the number of terminals in the zone of each sector is ×0 (step 2). If the number of terminals is not “0”, it is judged whether the logical channel for supplying the services is a common logical channel (step 3). If the logical channel for supplying the services is a common logical channel, it is judged whether the number of terminals in the zone is equal to or less than x1.

If the number of terminals is not equal to or less than x1, the wireless resources can be efficiently used by supplying services on a common logical channel and, therefore, the transmission on the common logical channel is continued (step 5). However, if the number of terminals is equal to or less than x1, the wireless resources can be efficiently used by supplying services on an dedicated logical channel and, therefore, a change is made to dedicated logical channels (step 6).

If the number of terminals in step 2 is “0”, processing to stop transmission (continue stoppage) is performed (step 7). Further, if the logical channel for supplying the services is not a common logical channel in step 3, an dedicated logical channel is being used and, therefore, a judgment standard for an dedicated logical channel is used and it is judged whether the number of terminals in the zone is equal to or more than x2 (step 8).

If the number of terminals is equal to or more than x2, wireless resources can be used efficiently by supplying services on a common logical channel and, therefore, a change is made to a common logical channel (step 9). However, if the number of terminals is not equal to or more than x2, wireless resources can be efficiently used by supplying services on dedicated logical channels and, therefore, the supply of services on dedicated logical channels is continued (step 10).

After the processing of steps 5 to 7 and 9 to 10, it is judged whether the multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 11). If services have not ended, processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated.

(d-2) SECOND MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The second modified example is a method of determining the wireless channel in a case of adopting the judgment standard (ii) described in the overview of the second invention (the transmission power required to supply services) and FIG. 15 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, processing to calculate the transmission power of all the terminals receiving services is performed (step 1). The processing to calculate transmission power will be described subsequently with reference to the process flow of FIGS. 16 to 18.

After the processing to calculate the transmission power has ended, it is judged whether the transmission power within the zone of each sector is 0 (step 2). If the transmission power is not 0, it is judged whether the physical channel supplying the services is a common physical channel (step 3).

When the physical channel for supplying the services is a common physical channel, when it is assumed that the transmission power difference within the zone, that is, the common physical channel transmission power is Pc, and the dedicated physical channel transmission power is Pd, it is judged whether (Pc−Pd) is equal to or more than x1 (step 4).

If the transmission power difference (Pc−Pd) is not equal to or more than x1, that is, if Pc<Pd+x1, the transmission on the common physical channel is continued (step 5). However, if the transmission power difference (Pc−Pd) is equal to or more than x1, that is, if Pc=Pd+x1, a change is made to the dedicated physical channel (step 6).

Further, if the transmission power is 0 in step 2, processing to stop transmission (continue stoppage) is performed (step 7).

On the other hand, if the physical channel for supplying the services is not a common physical channel in step 3, an dedicated physical channel is being used, and, therefore, a judgment standard for an dedicated physical channel is employed and it is judged whether the transmission power difference (Pc−Pd) within the zone is equal to or less than −x2 (step 8). In cases where the transmission power difference (Pc−Pd) is equal to or less than −x2, that is, if Pc+x2=Pd, a change is made to a common physical channel (step 9). On the other hand, if the transmission power difference (Pc−Pd) is equal to or less than −x2, that is, if Pc>Pd−x2, the supply of services on an dedicated physical channel is continued (step 10).

After the processing of steps 5 to 7 and 9 to 10, it is judged whether the multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 11). In cases where services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is continued. If services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 12).

FIG. 16 shows the process flow for calculating transmission power and steps 1 to 8 are the same as those in FIG. 9.

Following the processing of step 8, it is judged whether there has been a response from the terminal with the reference number x (step 9). If there has been a response from the terminal, the terminal is registered in the list and updated together with the reception power value of the reference signal of the terminal (pilot signal) (step 10). Further, the call response from the terminal includes the reported value for the reception power of the reference signal of the terminal.

On the other hand, if there has been no response from the terminal, it is judged whether the call repetition number y has reached the repetition termination number (step 11). If the repetition termination number has not been reached, the call repetition variable y is incremented (step 12), and the processing returns to step 7, whereupon the processing of step 7 and subsequent steps is repeated. If the repetition termination number has been reached, users from which there has been no response are erased from the list (step 13).

Subsequently, the reference number of the terminal is incremented (step 14) and it is judged whether confirmation of the existence of all terminals has been performed (step 15). If there are terminals for which the existence confirmation has not then performed, the processing returns to step 2, and the processing of step 2 and subsequent steps is repeated. If confirmation of the existence of all terminals has ended, the reception power values of the reference signals reported from the terminals are totaled to determine the transmission power when an dedicated physical channel is used (step 16). Further, the transmission power when a common physical channel is used is set beforehand.

(d-3) THIRD MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The third modified example is an example in which the transmission power is calculated by performing the terminal call for each group and FIG. 17 shows the process flow for calculating transmission power of the third modified example.

The base station 14 or wireless network control device 13 sets the variables x1 and x2, which denote the reference numbers of the terminals within the zone, at 1, and a(=2) respectively (step 1). Subsequently, the base station 14 or wireless network control device 13 performs the same processing as the processing of steps 2 to 6 of FIG. 16. Following the execution of the process of step. 6, the base station 14 or wireless network control device 13 multiplexes the call data of all the terminals with reference numbers x1 to x2 to send the data to the terminals before making a call (step 7). Subsequently, the base station 14 or wireless network control device 13 performs processing to receive responses from the terminals with reference numbers x1 to x2 (step 8) and it is judged whether there has been a response from the terminals with reference numbers x1 to x2 (step 9).

Is there has been a response from the terminal, the terminal number is registered or updated in the list together with the reception power value of the reference signal of this terminal (pilot signal) (step 10). Further, the call response from the terminal includes the reception power report value of the reference signal of the terminal.

Subsequently, it is judged whether there has been a response from all the terminals with reference numbers x1 to x2 (step 11). If there has been a response from all the terminals x1 to x2, the processing of step 16 is performed and, if there has been no response, it is judged whether the call repetition number y has reached the repetition termination number (step 12). If the repetition termination number has not been reached, the call repetition variable y is incremented (step 13) and, among the terminals with reference numbers x1 to x2, the call data of terminals for which there has been no call response is multiplexed and transmitted to the terminals before a call is made (step 14), whereupon the processing of step 8 and subsequent steps is repeated.

If the repetition termination number has been reached in step 12, terminals from which there has been no response are erased from the list (step 15).

Following the above processing, the terminal reference number x1 is changed to x2+1 and x2 is changed to x2+a. That is, x1=x2+1 and x2=x2+a (step 16). Subsequently, it is judged whether confirmation of the existence of all terminals has been performed (step 17). If there are terminals for which existence confirmation has not then performed, the processing returns to step 2, whereupon the processing of step 2 and subsequent steps is repeated. If confirmation of the existence of all the terminals has ended, the reception power values of reported reference signals from the terminals are totaled to determine the transmission power when dedicated physical channels are used (step 18). Further, the transmission power when a common physical channel is used is set beforehand.

Although grouping under reference numbers in a list was implemented above, grouping may also be implemented by means of a lower digit n for the telephone number or a lower digit n for the device number. Further, the terminal processing operation is the same as that shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 shows another process flow of the transmission power calculation processing of the third modified example. This process flow differs from the process flow in FIG. 17 in that, (1) step 14 in FIG. 17 has been removed; (2) step 21 is provided and the base station issues a reception response confirmation communication to the terminal making the call response; (3) the terminal receiving the reception response confirmation communication does not respond even when called.

FIG. 19 shows the process flow of the terminal of the third modified example in FIG. 18.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, it is judged whether there has been a call request from the base station (step 1). If there has been a call request, processing to receive a call from the base station is performed (step 2). Subsequently, it is judged whether the received data is a call regarding the non-communication of reception response confirmation (step 3). A call regarding the non-communication of reception response confirmation is a call to the effect that a reception response confirmation communication has not yet been received. In the event of a call regarding the non-communication of reception response confirmation, a call response is issued to the base station (step 4).

In step 1, if there is no call request from the base station, it is judged whether there has been a reception response communication from the base station (step 5). If there has been a reception response communication, processing to receive the reception response confirmation communication is performed (step 6). However, if there has been no reception response communication, it is judged whether there has been a physical-channel change request (step 7). If there has been a physical-channel change request, processing to change the physical channel is performed (step 8).

Thereafter, after the processing of step 4 or 6 and 8 has ended, when there has been no call regarding the non-communication of reception response confirmation in step 3, or there has been no physical-channel change request in step 7, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 9). If the services have not ended, the processing returns a step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. However, if the services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 10).

(d-4) FOURTH MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The fourth modified example is a method of determining the wireless channel in a case of adopting the judgment standard (iii) described in the overview of the second invention (the interference amount generated when services are supplied) and FIG. 20 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, the terminal receiving services calculates the interference amount with respect to other communications (step 1). The processing to calculate the interference amount is performed by the base station or the wireless network control device 13 as detailed subsequently and the calculation results are acquired.

After the processing to calculate the interference amount has ended, it is judged whether the number of terminals in the zone of each sector is 0 (step 2). Further, processing to confirm the number of terminals during the interference amount calculation processing is performed.

If the number of terminals is not 0, it is judged whether the physical channel providing the services is a common physical channel (step 3).

If the physical channel for supplying the services is a common physical channel, it is judged whether the interference power difference is equal to or more than x1. That is, when it is assumed that the interference power of the common physical channel is Ic and the interference power of the dedicated physical channel is Id, it is judged whether (Ic−Id) is equal to or more than x1 (step 4). If the interference power difference (Ic−Id) is not equal to or more than x1, in other words, if Ic<Id+x1, the transmission on the common physical channel is continued (step 5). However, if the interference power difference (Ic−Id) is equal to or more than x1, that is, if Ic=Id+x1, a change is made to an dedicated physical channel (step 6).

In step 2, if the number of terminals is 0, processing to stop transmission (continue stoppage) is performed (step 7). Further, in step 3, if the physical channel for supplying the services is not a common physical channel, an dedicated physical channel is employed and, therefore, a judgment standard for an dedicated physical channel is employed and it is judged whether the interference power difference (Ic−Id) is equal to or less than −x2 (step 8).

In cases where the interference power difference (Ic−Id) is equal to or less than −x2, that is, if Ic+x2=Id, a change is made to a common physical channel (step 9). However, if the interference power difference (Ic−Id) is equal to or less than −x2, in other words, if Ic+x2>Id, the supply of services on an dedicated physical channel is continued (step 10).

FIG. 21 shows the process flow of an interference amount calculation by the base station on the wireless network control device 13 and is substantially the same as the process flow for calculating the transmission power shown in FIG. 16. The difference lies in the fact that, in step 16, the interference power when an dedicated physical channel is employed is determined by using reception power values reported by the terminal. Further, the interference power when a common physical channel is employed is calculated by using a preset transmission power value.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view of an interference power calculation.

The items of terminals 154 to 156, which are not channel switching targets, are referenced from the list of interference power measurement values reported when all the terminals 15₁to 15₆communicate with the base station 14 and the interference power from the terminals 15₁to 15₃constituting the channel-type switching targets is calculated.

The interference power recorded in the list is the total of (1) the interference from other cells, (2) interference from channels constituting channel-type switching targets, and (3) interference from the other channels within the cell in question. The interference power from other cells has a value that is dependent on the propagation loss and is determined beforehand (as the propagation loss increases, interference from the other cells increases). Further, the interference from channels constituting channel-type switching targets and the interference from the other channels within the cell in question are established by means of the ratio between the transmission powers P1 and P2 transmitted from the base station 14. Hereinabove, the interference power of channels constituting channel-type switching targets is calculated.

Suppose that the interference power recorded in the list=It, the interference power of the other cells=Io, the transmission power of channels constituting channel-type switching targets=P1, and the transmission power from the other channels within the cell in question=P2. The interference power I1 from channels constituting channel-type switching targets is then:

- I1=(It−Io)×P1/(P1+P2) based on the transmission power ratio.

On the other hand, when the channel-type is switched, the interference power It′ for terminals 15₄to 15₆that do not constitute channel switching targets is, supposing that the transmission power when the channel type is switched is P1′:

It′={(P1′+P2)/(P1+P2)}×(It−Io)+Io.

Further, P1 and P1′ are the total of the reception power report values from reporting terminals in step 10 in FIG. 20 when the physical channel is an dedicated physical channel and are transmission power values determined before hand by the system when the physical channel is a common physical channel.

(d-5) FIFTH MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The fifth modified example is a method of determining the wireless channel in a case of adopting the judgment standard (iv) described in the overview of the second invention (combination of services) and FIG. 23 shows the process flow of a wireless network control device.

When new multicast (broadcast services have begun, a list of service combinations for the common physical channel is retrieved (step 1). Subsequently, it is judged whether there is a suitable combination (step 2). For example, N broadcasting data items can be transmitted on a common physical channel and, where not all N broadcasting data items are transmitted, broadcasting data for new services can be transmitted on the common physical channel. Therefore, if there is scope in the common physical channel, it is judged that a suitable combination exists and, when there is no scope, it is judged that the combination is not a suitable combination.

If there is a suitable combination, it is judged whether the physical channel supplying the services is a common physical channel (step 3). If the physical channel supplying the services is a common physical channel, the transmission on a common physical channel is continued (step 4). If the physical channel supplying the services is not a common physical channel, a change is made to a common physical channel (step 5).

On the other hand, if there is no suitable combination in step 2, it is judged whether the number of terminals receiving new services is large or small (step 6). If the number of terminals receiving new services is large, transmission is performed on a new common physical channel (step 7). However, if the number of terminals receiving new services is small, transmission is performed on dedicated physical channels (step 8).

Following the processing of steps 4, 5, 7, and 8, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 9). If the services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If the services have ended, the processing is terminated. Further, the processing of the base station and terminal is the same as that in FIGS. 12 and 13.

(E) Third Embodiment

The third embodiment is an embodiment of a communication method in which, when a terminal receiving a supply of services has moved to a region that can be presumed to allow the terminal to receive services from another zone, the terminal issues a request to a network device to transmit broadcasting data (broadcast data or multicast data) from the other zone and the network device commences transmission on the basis of the request.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of the third embodiment.

Terminal 15 issues a request to start transmission by means of a zone update communication to the wireless network control device 13 via base station 14₂of the movement-destination zone (1).

The wireless network control device 13 issues a transmission start communication to the base station 14₂in the movement-destination zone as shown in table 1 in accordance with the state of the movement-destination zone (only in a case where the transmission has stopped). The wireless network control device 13 also issues a response to a request for an update communication confirmation to terminal 15 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (2).

The base station 14₂of the movement-destination zone starts to transmit broadcast data or multicast data in accordance with the communication from the wireless network control device 13 . . . (3).

Terminal 15 starts to receive the broadcast data or multicast data in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13 . . . (4).

TABLE 1State of movementCommunication todestinationResponse to terminalmovement-destination zoneTransmissionUpdate communicationStart of transmissionstoppageconfirmationCommon physicalUpdate communicationNonechannelconfirmation

Although, in FIG. 24, a request to start transmission by means of a zone update communication from terminal 15 is made to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂, a request to start transmission by means of a zone update communication can also be made to the wireless network control device 13 via the base station 14₁of the movement-source zone as shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 26 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device 13.

The wireless network control device 13 judges whether there is a request for a zone update communication from the terminal 15 when multicast (broadcast) services have begun (step 1). If there is a request for a zone update communication, it is judged whether the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission (step 2). If the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, the transmission start communication is transmitted to the movement-destination base station (step 3).

Following the process of step 3 or if the movement-destination base station 14₂has not stopped transmission in step 2 (is communicating on a common physical channel), an update communication confirmation is transmitted to terminal 15 (step 4). A short while afterward or when there is no zone update communication in step 1, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 5). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated.

FIG. 27 shows the process flow of the movement-destination base station.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, it is judged whether transmission has stopped (step 1). If transmission has stopped, it is judged whether there is a transmission start communication from the wireless network control device 13 (step 2). If there is a transmission start communication, transmission start processing is performed (step 3).

After the processing of step 3 has ended or in a case where transmission has not stopped in step 1 or there is no transmission start communication in step 2, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 4). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If the services have ended, the processing is terminated.

FIG. 28 shows the process flow of the terminal.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, it is judged whether a zone update condition (described later) is fulfilled (step 1). If the zone update communication condition is fulfilled, processing to transmit a zone update communication is performed (step 2). A short while afterward, processing to receive the update communication confirmation is performed (step 3) and processing to receive multicast (broadcast) data is executed (step 4).

After the processing of step 4 is complete or if the zone update communication condition is not fulfilled in step 1, it is judged were the multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 5). If the services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If the services have ended, the processing is terminated.

Examples of zone update communication conditions

The zone update communication condition is that the following two first and second conditions be fulfilled.

Supposing that the quality measured by means of a reference signal (pilot) (measured quality) is Qmeas and the lowest required quality is Qqmin, the first condition fulfils the following equation:

Qmeas=Qqmin.

Supposing that the measured quality of the resident zone (measured by means of the reference signal) is Qs and the measured quality (measured by means of the reference signal) of a peripheral zone is Qn, 1, . . . , Qn, n, the second condition is that at least one peripheral zone satisfying the following equation

Qs<Qn, x (where x is one value from 1 to n)

should exist continuously for a fixed time.

Further, as shown in FIG. 25, in cases where a request for the start of transmission is made to the wireless network control device 13 by means of a zone update communication via the base station 14₁of the movement-source zone, the first condition can be:

Qmeas=Qqmin−Δ1 and the second condition can be
Qs<Qn, x−Δ2.

That is, the zone update communication condition can be a zone update communication condition for the periphery of a region that is actually able to receive multicast (broadcast) services. As a result, the processing time required for zone switching can be extended, for example.

(e-1) MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The third embodiment represents a case where the wireless network control device 13 has already transmitted multicast (broadcast) data on a logical channel to each base station and the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits the above data to the terminal in accordance with an instruction from the wireless network control device 13. However, in the modified example, the wireless network control device 13 has not yet transmitted multicast (broadcast) data to the movement-destination base station 14₂and the data is transmitted to the movement-destination base station 14₂on a logical channel in accordance with a request from the terminal and is transmitted from the base station to the terminal.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view of a sequence of a modified example.

Terminal 15 issues a request to the wireless network control device 13 to start transmission by means of a zone update communication via the movement-destination base station 14₂.

If the wireless network control device 13 receives a zone update communication, same performs processing to start transmission as shown in table 2 in accordance with the state of the movement-destination base station 14₂. That is, if the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, the wireless network control device 13 issues an instruction to transmit multicast (broadcast) data to the movement-destination base station 14₂on a logical channel and to transmit the data to the terminal. Further, the wireless network control device 13 does nothing if the movement-destination base station 14₂is transmitting the data on a common physical channel.

TABLE 2State of movementCommunication todestinationResponse to terminalmovement-destination zoneTransmissionUpdate communicationStart of transmissionstoppageconfirmationCommon physicalUpdate communicationNonechannelconfirmation

Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 issues a response to the request by sending an update communication confirmation to terminal 15 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. Thereafter, terminal 15 starts receiving broadcast data or multicast data in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13.

In FIG. 29, terminal 15 issues a transmission start request to the wireless network control device 13 by means of a zone update communication via the movement-destination base station 14₂. However, as shown in FIG. 30, a request to start transmission can also be made to the wireless network control device 13 by means of the zone update communication via the base station 14₁of the movement-source zone.

FIG. 31 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a modified example. Further, the terminal processing is the same as that of the case of the third embodiment.

The wireless network control device 13 judges whether there is a request for a zone update communication from terminal 15 when multicast (broadcast) services have begun (step 1). If there is a request for a zone update communication, the wireless network control device 13 judges whether the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission (step 2). If the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, the transmission of multicast (broadcast) data is started on the logical channel to the movement-destination base station (step 3). As a result, the movement-destination base station 14₂maps the common logical channel to the physical channel and transmits the data on the common physical channel.

Following the processing of step 3 or if the movement-destination base station 14₂has not stopped transmission in step 2, an update communication confirmation message is transmitted to terminal 15 (step 4). A short while afterward or when there is no zone update communication in step 1, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 5). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated.

In the above embodiment, ‘zone update communication’ and ‘update communication confirmation’ were performed via the same base station that may also be performed via different base stations. In addition, in the above embodiment, a communication to the movement destination is not issued when the movement-destination base station communicates on a common wireless channel but a communication may be issued regardless of the state of the movement-destination base station. Further, a common physical channel and a common logical channel were used as the channel employed in the above embodiment. However, other channels, such as dedicated physical channels, dedicated logical channels, and a common physical channel could also be employed. These modified examples are also valid for the following embodiments.

(e-2) MODIFIED EXAMPLE OF FIGS. 25 AND 30
(e-2-1) FIRST MODIFIED EXAMPLE

FIG. 32 is a modified example of FIGS. 25 and 30 of the third embodiment and is an embodiment in which (1) physical-channel transmission and logical-channel transmission are both performed and in which (2) processing with respect to the movement-source zone and processing to set the user-data transmission channel are added. The sequence of FIG. 32 is implemented in cases where, for example, the movement-source zone 14₁communicates on a common physical channel and a common logical channel and the movement-destination zone 14₂does not supply services. Further, this sequence can also be applied to a case where the movement-source zone 14₁communicates on a common physical channel and a common logical channel and the movement-destination zone 14₂also communicates on a common physical channel and a common logical channel, and to a case where the movement-destination zone communicates on a common physical channel and a common logical channel, and so forth, for example.

Although the designations ‘zone update communication’ and ‘update communication confirmation’ in FIGS. 25 and 30 have been expediently changed in FIG. 32 to ‘zone update reservation’ and ‘zone update reservation completion’ respectively, these terms have the same meaning. Further, the ‘transmission start communication’ and ‘start of transmission’ of FIG. 25 and ‘start of transmission’ in FIG. 30 have been combined in (2) of FIG. 32 as ‘wireless channel setting, start of physical channel transmission, and start of logical channel transmission’. Further, ‘start of reception’ of (4) in FIGS. 25 and 30 is the same as ‘start of reception’ of (7) in FIG. 32.

When the operation is described, when the processing of (1), (2) has ended, terminal 15 receives setting information on the wireless channel (physical channel, logical channel) following the zone shift from the wireless network control device 13 in the form of a communication regarding zone update reservation completion via the movement-source zone 14₁. . . (3)

Subsequently, if a zone shift state exists, that is, in a state in which the data of the movement-destination zone can be received, the terminal 15 sets the wireless channel on the basis of the wireless channel information that is communicated by means of the zone update reservation completion communication. . . . (4), (5).

The setting of the user-data transmission channel is completed as a result of terminal 15 setting the wireless channel, whereupon the terminal starts reception. . . . (6), (7).

Thereafter, if data reception from the movement-source zone (movement-source zone base station) 14₁is impossible or unnecessary, terminal 15 communicates the fact that ‘the logical-channel or physical-channel transmission by the v zone base station can be stopped’ to the network control device 13 by means of a zone-update completion communication. . . . (8), (9)

Further, there are also cases where the processing of (7) and (8) is executed at the same time.

The wireless network control device 13, which has received the communication regarding zone update completion, checks the states of the movement-source zone 14₁and, for example, checks whether another terminal that has set the same user transmission channel as the terminal 15 performing the zone shift exists in the movement-source zone. If such a terminal does not exist, the wireless network control device issues an instruction to the movement-source base station 14₁to stop logical-channel transmissions and physical-channel transmissions and to cancel the wireless channel. . . . . (10)

As a result, the movement-source base station 14₁cancels the user-data transmission channel used by the terminal 15. A short while afterward, the wireless network control device 13 transmits a zone-update-completion confirmation communication, which indicates that processing for a communication regarding zone update completion of (9) is finished, to terminal 15 and terminates the serial processing. . . . (12)

Further, the terminal 15 transmits a zone update reservation and, following receipt of a zone update reservation completion, in cases where terminal 15 has not moved to the reserved zone, in the following cases (i) to (iv), for example, the wireless network control device 13 cancels the reservation of multicast (broadcast) services and stops the transmission of multicast (broadcast) services of the reserved zone.

(i) A case where the wireless network control device 13 activates a timer after receiving a zone update reservation and the timer ends without a zone-update completion communication being received.

(ii) A case where, when a zone update reservation communication is transmitted at regular intervals in a state where the terminal sends and receives multicast (broadcast) services, the wireless network control device 13 has not been able to receive the next zone update reservation communication and so forth even after a fixed time has elapsed after receiving a zone update reservation.

(iii) A case where a system that transmits a zone update reservation to only one zone or the transmission of a zone update reservation to only one zone is known, the wireless network control device newly detects the zone update reservation in another zone.

(iv) A case where a communication regarding the suspension of multicast (broadcast) service transmission from the terminal is performed. This case (iv) includes a case where that the communication is made directly to the zone transmitting the multicast (broadcast) services and a case where the communication is made via another zone.

Further, a zone update reservation communication can also be transmitted to a plurality of movement destinations. In this case, a plurality of movement-destination information items is included in one message or the zone update reservation notification is transmitted dedicatedly to each of the movement destinations. Further, although ‘zone update reservation’ of (1) in FIG. 32 is communicated in cases where a plurality of zone update communications is issued, when a shift has not been made to this zone, the transmission of data of the zone to which the terminal has not moved is suspended.

Further, in a cases where the terminal 15 has not been able to receive the zone update reservation completion of (3) even in the zone shift state of (4), a zone update reservation is transmitted once again via the movement-destination zone 14₂. Further, the wireless network control device 13 is also able to send the zone update reservation completion of (3) to both the movement-source zone 14₁and also the movement-destination zone 14₂. In this case, the terminal receives the zone update reservation completion in the movement-source zone 14₁prior to a zone update and in the movement-destination zone 14₂following a zone update.

FIG. 33 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device 13 in the sequence of FIG. 32. This process flow represents an embodiment in which, following the transmission of the ‘zone update reservation completion’, detection of the non-arrival of the terminal in the reserved zone is performed by means of a time base. When detection is unnecessary, steps 2, 6, 10, and 11 are not required and ‘processing to receive a zone-update completion communication’ is performed in place of step 6.

With the exception of the following operation, the process flow of the movement-destination base station 14₂is the same as the processing in FIG. 27.

- ‘Zone-update completion communication’ from terminal 15 is transmitted to the wireless network control device 13 in the procedure (9) in FIG. 32.
- ‘Zone update completion confirmation’ from the wireless network control device 13 is transmitted to terminal 15 in procedure (12) in FIG. 32.
- ‘Zone update communication’ (the name has been changed to ‘zone update reservation’) from terminal 15 is not transmitted to the wireless network control device 13.
  
  (This is because, although terminal 15 makes a transmission to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination zone 14₂in FIG. 24, in the sequence of FIG. 32, a transmission is made via the movement-source zone 14₁).
- ‘Update communication confirmation’ (‘the name has been changed to ‘zone update reservation completion’) from the wireless network control device 13 is not transmitted to terminal 15.

(This is because, although the wireless network control device 13 makes a transmission to terminal 15 via the movement-destination zone 14₂in FIG. 24, in the sequence of FIG. 32, a transmission is made via the movement-source zone 14₁).

- A logical channel loaded with multicast (broadcast) data is mapped to a physical channel.

FIG. 34 shows the process flow of the movement-source base station 14₁. In addition to the illustrated operations, the following operations are performed:

- An operation that transmits a ‘zone update reservation’ from the terminal 15 to the wireless network control device 13.
- An operation that transmits a ‘zone update reservation completion’ from the wireless network control device 13 to the terminal 15.

FIG. 35 shows the process flow of terminal 15. Detection of the zone shift state can also be rendered unnecessary if the state has the same conditions as the zone update reservation conditions.

(e-2-2) SECOND MODIFIED EXAMPLE

FIG. 36 is a sequence for a case where a message is transmitted by extending a plurality of wireless network control devices 13a and 13b in the embodiment of FIG. 32.

(1) The terminal 15 transmits a zone update reservation to the movement-source wireless network control device 13a via the movement-source zone 14₁.

(2) The movement-source wireless network control device 13a issues a request for multicast (broadcast) services to the core network 12 for the ‘provision of multicast (broadcast) services from the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b to the terminal 15 that has changed zone’.

(3) The core network 12, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service request, then issues a multicast (broadcast) service transmission instruction to transmit multicast (broadcast) services to the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b.

(4) The core network 12, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service request, also makes settings for the user data channel with the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b. Further, in cases where multicast (broadcast) data that can be supplied to the terminal 15 is transmitted from the core network 12, it is not necessary to additionally set the user channel.

(5) The movement-destination wireless network control device 13b, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service transmission instruction, makes wireless channel settings for communications with terminal 15 to and from the movement-destination zone 14₂and starts physical-channel and logical-channel transmissions. Further, in a case where multicast (broadcast) data is transmitted from the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b and settings for the wireless channel set for the terminal 15 are the same, it is not necessary to also make wireless-channel settings and perform physical-channel and logical-channel transmission.

(6) The movement-destination wireless network control device 13b makes settings for a user channel with the core network 12 by means of the processing of (4) and (5) above and makes settings for a wireless channel with the movement-destination wireless zone 14₂and, once physical-channel and logical-channel transmission is started, transmits a response to a multicast (broadcast) service transmission instruction to the core network 12.

(7) The core network 12, which has received a response to the multicast (broadcast) transmission instruction, transmits a multicast (broadcast) service request confirmation to the movement-source wireless network control device 13a in order to communicate the fact that the supply of multicast (broadcast) services is being performed by means of the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b.

(8) The movement-source wireless network control device 13a, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service request confirmation, transmits a zone update reservation completion to terminal 15.

(9) Terminal 15, which has received the zone update reservation completion, then executes the processing (7)′ of procedures (4) to (8) in FIG. 32. A short while afterward, a zone-update completion communication is transmitted to the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b via the movement-destination zone 14₂.

(10) The movement-destination wireless network control device 13b, which has received a zone-update completion communication, issues a multicast (broadcast) service cancellation request to the core network 12 in order to stop the supply of multicast (broadcast) services of the movement-source zone 14₁.

(11) The core network 12, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service cancellation request, then transmits a multicast (broadcast) service transmission stoppage instruction to the movement-source wireless network control device 13a.

(12) The movement-source wireless network control device 13a, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service transmission stoppage instruction, then stops logical-channel and physical-channel transmission and cancels the wireless channel. In cases where a terminal serviced with multicast (broadcast) data that is the same as the settings for the wireless channel that has been set for terminal 15 remains in the movement-source zone 14₁, the stoppage of physical-channel and logical-channel transmission and wireless-channel cancellation is unnecessary.

(13) In addition, the movement-source wireless network control device 13b performs user data channel cancellation. Further, in cases where a terminal that is serviced with multicast (broadcast) data that is the same as the settings of the wireless channel that is set for terminal 15 remains in the movement-source zone, user data channel cancellation is unnecessary.

(14) As described above, the movement-source wireless network control device 13a, which has performed logical-channel and physical-channel transmission stoppage, wireless-channel cancellation, and user data channel cancellation, then transmits a response to the multicast (broadcast) service transmission stoppage instruction to the core network 12.

(15) The core network 12, which has received the response to the multicast (broadcast) service transmission stoppage instruction, communicates the fact that ‘the supply of multicast (broadcast) services in the movement-source zone 14₁has ended’ to the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b by means of a multicast (broadcast) service cancellation request confirmation.

(16) The movement-destination wireless network control device 13b, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service cancellation request confirmation, communicates the fact that the processing with respect to the zone-update completion communication from terminal 15 is complete to terminal 15 by means of a zone update completion confirmation.

FIG. 37 shows the process flow for the movement-source wireless network control device 13a in the sequence of FIG. 36 and FIG. 38 shows the process flow of the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b.

(e-2-3) THIRD MODIFIED EXAMPLE

FIG. 39 is an example of a sequence in a case where a plurality of wireless network control devices 13a and 13b is mounted in the embodiment of FIG. 32.

(1) Terminal 15 transmits a zone update reservation to the movement-source wireless network control device 13a via the movement-source zone 14₁.

(2) The movement-source wireless network control device 13a communicates the fact that ‘terminal 15 has changed zone’ to the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b by means of a zone transfer communication.

(3) The movement-destination network device 13b transmits a multicast (broadcast) service request to the core network 12 in order to request the transmission of multicast (broadcast) services from the core network 12. Further, in cases where multicast (broadcast) data that can be supplied to terminal 15 has already been transmitted by the core network 12, the transmission of a multicast (broadcast) service request is unnecessary.

(4) The core network 12, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service request, performs user data channel setting in conjunction with the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b. Further, in cases where multicast (broadcast) data that can be supplied to terminal 15 has already been transmitted by the core network 12, it is not necessary to newly set the user data channel.

(5) Upon completion of the user data channel setting, the core network 12 transmits a multicast (broadcast) service transmission instruction to the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b. Further, in cases where multicast (broadcast) data that can be supplied to terminal 15 has already been transmitted from the core network 12, a multicast (broadcast) service transmission instruction is not issued.

(6) The movement-destination wireless network control device 13b, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service transmission instruction, commences wireless channel setting and the physical-channel and logical-channel transmission. Further, in a case were the setting of the wireless channel for supplying multicast (broadcast) services and the physical-channel and logical-channel transmission have already begun, and where the wireless channel setting set for terminal 15 is the same, it is not necessary to newly perform wireless channel setting and physical-channel and logical-channel transmission.

(7) Upon completion of the processing to start the wireless channel setting and physical-channel and logical-channel transmission, the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b transmits a response to the multicast (broadcast) service transmission instruction to the core network 12. Further, in cases where multicast (broadcast) data that can be supplied to terminal 15 is transmitted from the core network, it is unnecessary to transmit a response to the multicast (broadcast) service transmission instruction.

(8) When the wireless channel setting and the physical-channel and logical-channel transmission are complete, the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b transmits a response to the multicast (broadcast) service zone transfer communication to the movement-source wireless network control device 13a.

(9) The movement-source wireless network control device 13a, which has received the response to the multicast (broadcast) service zone transfer communication, then transmits a zone update reservation completion to terminal 15.

(9)′ Terminal 15, which has received the zone update reservation completion, executes the same operation as (4) to (8) in FIG. 32.

(10) A short while afterward, the zone-update completion communication is transmitted to the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b via the movement-destination zone.

(11) The movement-destination wireless network control device 13b transmits a multicast (broadcast) service zone transfer completion communication to the movement-source wireless network control device 13a. The multicast (broadcast) service zone transfer completion communication communicates the fact that ‘terminal 15 has completed the zone shift and the supply of multicast (broadcast) services by the mobile source zone 14₁, can be ended’.

(12) The movement-source wireless network control device 13a, which has received the multicast (broadcast) service zone transfer completion communication, issues a multicast (broadcast) service cancellation request to the core network 12 requesting the cancellation of the user data channel. Further, in cases where a terminal that is serviced with multicast (broadcast) data on the same user channel as the user data channel supplied to terminal 15 still remains in the movement-source zone 14₁, it is unnecessary to issue the user data channel cancellation request.

(13) Subsequently, the movement-source wireless network control device 13a stops physical-channel and logical-channel transmission and cancels the wireless channel. Further, in cases where a terminal that is serviced with multicast (broadcast) data that is the same as the wireless channel settings set for terminal 15 remains in the movement-source zone, it is unnecessary to stop the physical-channel and logical-channel transmission and perform wireless-channel cancellation.

(14) Cancellation of the user data channel between the movement-source wireless network control device 13a and the core network 12 is performed. In cases where a terminal that is serviced with multicast (broadcast) data on the same user channel as the user data channel supplied to terminal 15 remains in the movement-source zone, it is unnecessary to cancel the user data channel.

(15) Following the user data channel cancellation, the core network 12 transmits confirmation of the multicast (broadcast) service cancellation request to the movement-source wireless network control device 13a. In cases where a terminal that is serviced with multicast (broadcast) data on the same user channel as the user data channel supplied to terminal 15 remains in the movement-source zone, it is unnecessary to confirm the multicast (broadcast) service cancellation request.

(16) When the processing with respect to the multicast (broadcast) service zone transfer completion communication is complete, the movement-source wireless network control device 13a transmits a response to the multicast (broadcast) service zone transfer completion communication to the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b.

(17) The movement-destination wireless network control device 13b, which has received the response to the multicast (broadcast) service zone transfer completion communication, then communicates the fact that the processing with respect to the zone-update completion communication from terminal 15 is complete to terminal 15 by means of a zone update completion confirmation.

FIG. 40 shows the process flow of the movement-source wireless network control device 13a of FIG. 39. FIG. 41 shows the process flow of the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b.

(F) The Fourth Embodiment

The fourth embodiment is an embodiment in which a network device detects the fact that a terminal exists in a region that can be presumed to allow the terminal to receive services from another zone and in which the transmission of broadcast data or multicast data on a wireless channel from the other zone is started.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching sequence of the fourth embodiment.

Terminal 15 communicates a measurement value report (reception field strength and so forth) to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (1).

Upon receiving the measurement value report, the wireless network control device 13 detects the fact that the terminal has moved to another zone or is moving to another zone on the basis of the measured value from the terminal and determines zone-shift implementation . . . (2). Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 issues a communication to commence transmission to the movement-destination base station as shown in table 3 in accordance with the state of the movement-destination base station 14₂. That is, if the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, the wireless network control device 13 issues an instruction to start transmission and does nothing if the movement-destination base station 14₂is transmitting the data on a common physical channel. . . . (3)

TABLE 3State ofCommunication tomovement-movement-destination zonedestination base(movement-destinationstationResponse to terminalbase station)TransmissionChannel settingStart of transmissionstoppagecommunicationCommon physicalChannel settingNonechannelcommunication

Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 issues a channel setting communication to terminal 15 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (4).

A short while afterward, the movement-destination base station 14₂commences transmission in accordance with the transmission start communication from the wireless network control device 13 . . . (5).

As described above, terminal 15 starts to receive broadcast data or multicast data in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13 . . . (6).

Further, a transmission start completion and channel setting completion are sent back to the wireless network control device 13 in response to the transmission start communication and channel setting communication respectively. . . . (3)′, (4)′

Although a measurement value report is sent from terminal 15 to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂in FIG. 42, the measurement value report can also be sent to the wireless network control device 13 via the base station 14₁of the movement-source zone as shown in FIG. 43.

FIG. 44 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of the fourth embodiment.

The wireless network control device 13 judges whether there is a measurement value report from terminal 15 when multicast (broadcast) services have begun (step 1). If there is a measurement value report, the wireless network control device 13 decides, based on the report value, whether the terminal has shifted zone and judges how the zone shift is implemented on the basis of this decision (step 2).

When the zone shift implementation has been determined, it is judged whether the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission (step 3). If the movement-destination base station has stopped transmission, a transmission start communication is transmitted to the movement-destination base station (step 4).

Following the processing of step 4 or if the movement-destination base station has not stopped transmission in step 3 (transmission is taking place on a common physical channel), a channel setting communication is transmitted to terminal 15 (step 5).

Following the processing of step 5, or when there is no measurement value report in step 1 or the zone shift implementation is not determined in step 2, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 6). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step land the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated. Further, the operation of the movement-destination base station is the same as that of the third embodiment.

FIG. 45 shows the process flow of the terminal.

When multicast (broadcast) services have begun, it is judged whether a measurement value report condition (described later) is fulfilled (step 1). If the measurement value report condition is fulfilled, processing to transmit a measurement value report is performed (step 2).

Following the processing of step 2, receipt of a channel setting communication is awaited for a fixed time and it is judged whether the channel setting communication has been received (step 3). If a channel setting communication has been received, channel setting communication processing is performed (step 4). Subsequently, processing to receive multicast (broadcast) data in the movement-destination zone is performed (step 5).

Following completion of the processing of step 5 or if the measurement value report condition is not fulfilled in step 1 or there is no channel setting report in step 3, it is judged whether the multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 6). If the services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 is and subsequent steps is repeated. If the services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 7).

Further, the operation of the movement-destination base station is the same as that of the third embodiment.

FIG. 46 is an explanatory view of a measurement value report condition. The measurement report condition is fulfilled when the reception quality of a reference signal A in the movement-source zone deteriorates, the reception quality of a reference signal B in the movement-destination zone improves, and the reception quality in the movement-destination zone continues to be more favorable for a fixed time t or more than the reception quality in the movement-source zone.

Further, in cases where a measurement value report is issued to the wireless channel control device 13 via the base station 14₁of the movement-source zone as shown in FIG. 43, the reference-signal reception quality is raised by Δx and a measurement value report can also be issued from the periphery of the region that allows multicast (broadcast) services to actually be received. As a result, the time required for zone switching can be extended, for example.

(f-1) MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The fourth embodiment represents a case where multicast (broadcast) data has already been transmitted on a logical channel to each of the base stations by the wireless network control device 13 and the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits this data to a terminal in accordance with an instruction from the wireless network control device 13. The modified example represents a case where the multicast (broadcast) data has not been transmitted to the movement-destination base station 14₂by the wireless network control device 13 and in which the data is transmitted to the movement-destination base station 14₂on a logical channel on the basis of the measurement value report from the terminal and is then transmitted to the terminal from the base station.

FIG. 47 is an explanatory view of a sequence of a modified example.

Terminal 15 issues a measurement value report to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (1).

Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 performs processing to commence transmission as shown in table 4 in accordance with the state of the movement destination . . . (3). That is, if the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, the wireless network control device 13 issues an instruction to the base station to transmit multicast (broadcast) data to the movement-destination base station 14₂on a logical channel and to transmit the data to the terminal. Further, the wireless network control device 13 does nothing if the movement-destination base station 14₂is transmitting the data on the common physical channel.

Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 issues a channel setting communication to terminal 15 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (4).

TABLE 4State ofSettings for movement-movementdestination zone (movement-destinationResponse to terminaldestination base station)TransmissionChannel settingStart of transmissionstoppagecommunicationCommon logicalChannel settingNonechannelcommunication

Hereinabove, terminal 15 starts reception in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13.

Although the measurement value report is transmitted from terminal 15 to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂in FIG. 47, the measurement value report can also be issued to the wireless network control device 13 via the base station 14₁in the movement-source zone as shown in FIG. 48.

FIG. 49 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a modified example. This process flow is substantially the same as the process flow of the embodiment in FIG. 44 but the difference lies in the processing of step 4. In step 4 of the embodiment, if the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, the wireless network control device transmits a transmission start communication to the movement-destination base station. However, in the case of the modified example, transmission to the movement-destination base station is started. That is, if the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, the wireless network control device issues an instruction to the base station to transmit multicast (broadcast) data to the movement-destination base station 14₂on a logical channel and to transmit the data to the terminal.

Further, the operation of the terminal is the same as that of the fourth embodiment.

(G) Fifth Embodiment

The fifth embodiment is an embodiment in which, when a terminal receiving a supply of services is in a region that can be presumed to allow the terminal to receive services from another zone, the terminal issues a request to a network device for a wireless channel for supplying the services from the other zone and the network device communicates by allocating a wireless channel.

FIG. 50 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of the fifth embodiment.

Terminal 15 issues a request for wireless resources to the wireless network control device 13 by means of a channel setting request via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (1).

Upon receiving the channel setting request, the wireless network control device 13 issues a channel setting communication to the movement-destination base station 14₂as shown in table 5 in accordance with the state of the movement-destination base station . . . (2). Further, a response is made to the request by transmitting a channel setting communication to the terminal via the movement-destination base station . . . (2).

The movement-destination base station 14₂starts to transmit to the terminal on the channel that corresponds with the communication from the wireless network control device 13 (an dedicated physical channel or common physical channel) . . . (3).

Terminal 15 starts to receive multicast data or broadcast data in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13 . . . (4).

TABLE 5Communication toState ofState of movementResponse tomovement-destinationterminaldestinationTerminal operationterminalzoneDedicatedStoppedRequest to wirelessChannel settingChannel settingphysicalnetwork control devicecommunicationcommunicationchannelfor wireless resourcesDedicatedDedicatedRequest to wirelessChannel settingChannel settingphysicalphysical channelnetwork control devicecommunicationcommunicationchannelfor wireless resourcesDedicatedCommon physicalRequest to wirelessChannel settingChannel settingphysicalchannelnetwork control devicecommunicationcommunicationchannelfor wireless resourcesCommonStoppedRequest to wirelessChannel settingChannel settingphysicalnetwork control devicecommunicationcommunicationchannelfor wireless resourcesCommonDedicatedRequest to wirelessChannel settingChannel settingphysicalphysical channelnetwork control devicecommunicationcommunicationchannelfor wireless resourcesCommonCommon physicalRequest to wirelessChannel settingChannel settingphysicalchannelnetwork control devicecommunicationcommunicationchannelfor wireless resources

Although a channel setting request is sent from terminal. 15 to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂in FIG. 50, the channel setting request can also be sent to the wireless network control device 13 via the base station 14₁in the movement-source zone as shown in FIG. 51.

FIG. 52 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of the fifth embodiment.

The wireless network control device 13 judges whether there is a channel setting request from terminal 15 when multicast (broadcast) services have begun (step 1). If there is a channel setting request, the wireless network control device 13 transmits a channel setting communication to the movement-destination base station 14₂(step 2). As a result, the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits multicast data or broadcast data to the terminal on the channel thus set (dedicated physical channel or common physical channel).

Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 transmits a channel setting communication to the terminal 15 (step 3).

Following the processing of step 3 or when there is no channel setting request in step 1, it is judged whether the multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 4). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 5).

FIG. 53 shows the process flow of the movement-destination base station.

The movement-destination base station 14₂judges whether there has been a channel setting communication from the wireless network control device 13 when multicast (broadcast) services have begun (step 1). If there is a channel setting communication, the movement-destination base station 14₂performs channel setting processing and commences transmission (step 2). That is, the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits multicast data or broadcast data to the terminal on the channel thus set (dedicated physical channel or common physical channel).

Following the end of the processing of step 2 or when there is no channel setting communication in step 1, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 3). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step land the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 4).

In addition to the above operation, the movement-destination base station 14₂relays a channel setting communication to the terminal together with the channel setting request from terminal 15.

FIG. 54 shows the process flow of the terminal.

Terminal 15 judges whether the channel setting request condition is fulfilled when multicast (broadcast) services have begun (step 1). If the channel setting request condition is fulfilled, terminal 15 performs processing to transmit a channel setting request (step 2). Subsequently, terminal 15 performs processing to receive a channel setting communication (step 3). After receiving the channel setting communication, terminal 15 performs processing to receive multicast (broadcast) data on the channel thus set (dedicated physical channel or common physical channel) (step 4).

Following the end of the processing of step 4 or if the channel setting request condition is not fulfilled in step 1, it is judged with the multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 5). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the process is terminated (step 6).

The channel setting request condition in step 1 is the same as the ‘zone update communication condition’ of the third embodiment.

FIGS. 55 and 56 represent embodiments in which, in the sequences of FIGS. 50 and 51 respectively, terminal 15 switches a physical channel receiving a supply of multicast (broadcast) services between physical channels of a plurality of types when a plurality of physical channels is set at the same time. The difference lies in the fact that, in FIGS. 55 and 56, ‘start of transmission’ of procedure (3) in the sequences of FIGS. 50 and 51 has been changed to ‘change in mapping of data to physical channel’. That is, in FIGS. 55 and 56, the movement-destination zone 14₂transmits multicast (broadcast) data to terminal 15 by mapping the data to different channel types in accordance with a channel setting communication.

(g-1) MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The fifth embodiment represents a case where multicast (broadcast) data has already been transmitted on a logical channel to each of the base stations by the wireless network control device 13 and in which the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits the data to the terminal in accordance with an instruction from a wireless network control device 13. In the case of the modified example, multicast (broadcast) data is not transmitted to the movement-destination base station 14₂by the wireless network control device 13 and the data is transmitted to the movement-destination base station 14₂on a logical channel on the basis of the channel setting request from the terminal before being transmitted from the base station to the terminal.

FIG. 57 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of a modified example.

Terminal 15 issues a request for wireless resources to the wireless network control device 13 by means of a channel setting request via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (1).

Upon receiving the channel setting request, the wireless network control device 13 sets the channel of the movement-destination base station 14₂as shown in table 6 in accordance with the state of the movement-destination base station and performs transmission . . . (2). That is, if the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, an instruction is sent to the base station to transmit multicast (broadcast) data to the movement-destination base station 14₂on a logical channel and to transmit the data to the terminal. The movement-destination base station 14₂then starts to transmit to the terminal on the channel corresponding with the communication from the wireless network control device 13 (dedicated physical channel or, common physical channel).

Further, the wireless network control device 13 sends the channel setting communication to terminal 15 as per table 6 in accordance with the state of the movement-destination base station . . . (3).

Terminal 15 starts to receive broadcast data or multicast data in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13 . . . (4).

TABLE 6Settings forState ofState of movementResponse tomovement-destinationterminaldestinationTerminal operationterminalzoneDedicatedStoppedRequest to wirelessChannelChannel setting,logicalnetwork control devicesettingtransmissionchannelfor wireless resourcescommunicationDedicatedDedicated logicalRequest to wirelessChannelChannel setting,logicalchannelnetwork control devicesettingtransmissionchannelfor wireless resourcescommunicationDedicatedCommon logicalRequest to wirelessChannelNonelogicalchannelnetwork control devicesettingchannelfor wireless resourcescommunicationCommonStoppedRequest to wirelessChannelChannel setting,logicalnetwork control devicesettingtransmissionchannelfor wireless resourcescommunicationCommonDedicated logicalRequest to wirelessChannelChannel setting,logicalchannelnetwork control devicesettingtransmissionchannelfor wireless resourcescommunicationCommonCommon physicalRequest to wirelessChannelNonephysicalchannelnetwork control devicesettingchannelfor wireless resourcescommunication

Although, in FIG. 57, a channel setting request is sent from terminal 15 to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂, the channel setting request can also be sent to the wireless network control device 13 via the base station 14₁of the movement-source zone as shown in FIG. 58.

FIG. 59 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a modified example.

The wireless network control device 13 judges whether there is a channel setting request from the terminal when multicast (broadcast) services have begun (step 1). If there is a channel setting request, the wireless network control device 13 performs channel setting processing for the movement-destination base station 14₂and commences transmission. That is, if the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, the wireless network control device 13 issues an instruction to the base station to transmit multicast (broadcast) data to the movement-destination base station 14₂on a logical channel and to transmit the data to the terminal. The movement-destination base station 14₂then starts to transmit to the terminal on the channel set by the wireless network control device 13 (dedicated logical channel or common logical channel).

Following the processing of step 2, the wireless network control device 13 also transmits a channel setting communication to terminal 15 (step 3).

Following the processing of step 3 or when there is no channel setting request in step 1, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 4). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step land subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 5).

(g-2) MODIFIED EXAMPLE OF FIGS. 51 AND 58
(g-2-1) FIRST MODIFIED EXAMPLE

FIG. 60 is a modified example of FIGS. 51 and 58 of the fifth embodiment and represents an embodiment in which (1) physical-channel transmission and logical-channel transmission are both performed and in which (2) processing for the movement-source zone and processing to set the user-data transmission channel have been added. The sequence of FIG. 60 can also be applied to a case where, for example, the movement-source zone 14₁communicates on a common physical channel and a common logical channel and the movement-destination zone 14₂does not supply services or to a case where terminal 15 communicates on an dedicated physical channel and an dedicated logical channel at the movement destination when services are supplied on an dedicated physical channel.

In the sequence of FIG. 60, the designations ‘channel setting request’ and ‘channel setting communication’ in FIGS. 51 and 58 have been expediently changed to ‘zone update reservation’ and ‘zone update reservation completion’ respectively. Further, the ‘channel setting communication’ and ‘start of transmission’ of FIG. 51 and ‘start of transmission’ of FIG. 58 have been combined as ‘(2) wireless channel setting, start of physical channel transmission, and start of logical channel transmission’. Further, ‘start of reception’ of (4) in FIGS. 51 and 58 are the same as ‘start of reception’ of (7) in FIG. 60. The operation will be described below.

(3) Upon completion of the processing (1) and (2), terminal 15 receives information for setting the wireless channel (physical channel, logical channel) following a zone shift from the wireless network control device 13 by means of a zone update reservation completion communication.

(4) Terminal 15 detects the fact that a zone shift state has been assumed, i.e. a state where the data of the movement-destination zone 14₂can be received has been assumed, for example.

(5) Upon detecting a zone shift state, terminal 15 sets a wireless channel of a different type from the channel type of the movement source in accordance with wireless channel information that is communicated by means of the zone update reservation completion communication of (3).

(6) The setting of the user-data transmission channel is completed as a result of terminal 15 setting the wireless channel.

(7) Subsequently, terminal 15 starts to receive data.

(8) Thereafter, once reception from the movement-source zone 14₁has become impossible or reception is unnecessary, reception from the movement-source zone is stopped. (7) and (8) are sometimes performed at the same time.

(9) After reception has been stopped, terminal 15 issues a zone-update completion communication and communicates the fact that ‘it is possible stop the logical-channel and physical-channel transmission by the movement-source base station’ to the wireless network control device 13.

(10) The wireless network control device 13, which has received the zone-update completion communication, checks the state of the movement-source zone 14₁, for example, whether another terminal making the same user-transmission-channel settings as the terminal 15 making the zone shift exists in the movement-source zone 14₁. Further, if another terminal does not exist, logical-channel transmission and physical-channel transmission are stopped and the wireless channel is cancelled.

(11) As a result, the movement-source base station 14₁cancels the user-data transmission channel.

(12) Further, the wireless network control device 13 communicates ‘zone update completion confirmation ’ to terminal 15 in order to indicate that the processing resulting from receipt of the zone-update completion communication is complete. Further, in cases where terminal 15 transmits a zone update reservation and receives a zone update reservation completion and then the terminal does not move to the reserved zone, the wireless network control device cancels the multicast (broadcast) service reservation and stops transmission of multicast (broadcast) services in the reserved zone. A case where a reservation is cancelled is the same as that of (i) to (iv) in the first modified example of (e-2-1) of the third embodiment.

FIG. 61 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device 13 in the sequence of FIG. 60, wherein the part of step 3 in FIG. 33 has become steps 3 and 3′. FIG. 33 shows the operation of the wireless network control device 13 in a case where two states in which the movement-destination base station 14₁is transmitting and not transmitting are captured. Hence, the judgment of the state of the movement-destination base station is ‘whether transmission has stopped’. However, in FIG. 61, because there is a change in the type of the wireless channel, when the movement-destination base station is transmitting, processing to judge whether services are being supplied on a wireless channel that is different from the wireless channel being used for transmission by the movement-destination base station as shown in step 3′ is required and added.

The operation of the movement-destination base station 14₂in the sequence of FIG. 60 is the same as that of FIG. 53 except that the following operations have been removed.

- In procedure (9), ‘zone update completion communication’ from terminal 15 is transmitted to the wireless network control device 13.
- In procedure (12), the ‘zone update completion confirmation’ from the wireless network control device 13 is transmitted to terminal 15.
- The ‘channel setting request’ (the name has been changed to ‘zone update reservation’) from terminal 15 is not transmitted to the wireless network control device 13.

(This is because, although terminal 15 makes a transmission to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination zone 14₂in FIG. 53, in the sequence of FIG. 60, a transmission is made via the movement-source zone 14₁).

- ‘Channel setting communication’ (‘the name has been changed to ‘zone update reservation completion’) from the wireless network control device 13 is not transmitted to terminal 15.

(This is because, although the wireless network control device 13 makes a transmission to terminal 15 via the movement-destination zone 14₂in FIG. 53, in the sequence of FIG. 60, a transmission is made via the movement-source zone 14₁).

- A logical channel loaded with multicast (broadcast) data is mapped to a physical channel.

The operation of the movement-source base station 14₁in the sequence of FIG. 60 performs the following operations in addition to the operation of the movement-source base station 14₁in FIG. 34:

- In procedure (1), a ‘zone update reservation’ (the name has been changed from ‘channel setting request’) from terminal 15 is transmitted to the wireless network control device 13.
- In procedure (3), a ‘zone update reservation completion’ (the name has been changed from ‘channel setting communication’) from the wireless network control device 13 is transmitted to terminal 15.

FIG. 62 shows the process flow of terminal 15 in the sequence of FIG. 60 and differs from the process flow of FIG. 35 as a result of the addition of processing to change the channel type in step 5.

(g-2-2) SECOND MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The sequence in a case where a plurality of wireless network channels 13a and 13b is mounted in the embodiment of FIG. 60 performs a sequence that is the same as that of the third embodiment and the second modified example of (e-2-2). However, procedure (2) of FIG. 60 is executed in procedure (5) in this sequence, procedures (4) to (8) of FIG. 60 are executed in procedure (9) in this sequence, and procedure (10) of FIG. 60 is performed in procedure (12) in this sequence.

(g-2-3) THIRD MODIFIED EXAMPLE

A sequence of a case where a plurality of wireless network channels 13a and 13b is mounted in the embodiment in FIG. 60 performs a sequence that is the same as that of the third embodiment and the third modified example of (e-2-3). However, procedure (2) of FIG. 60 is executed in procedure (4) in this sequence, procedures (4) to (8) of FIG. 60 are executed in procedure (9) in this sequence, and procedure (10) of FIG. 60 is performed in procedure (13) in this sequence.

(H) Sixth Embodiment

The sixth embodiment is an embodiment of a mobile communication system in which a network device detects measurement results from a terminal receiving a supply of services or detects, from a report value, that the terminal exists in a region that can be presumed to allow the terminal to receive services from another zone, and sets the wireless channel to communicate on the wireless channel.

FIG. 63 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of the sixth embodiment.

Terminal 15 sends a measurement value report to the wireless network control device 13 via the mobile destination base station 14₂. . . (1).

The wireless network control device 13 detects the fact that the terminal has moved to another zone or is moving to another zone on the basis of the measurement value from the terminal and determines the implementation of zone shift control . . . (2).

Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 sends a channel setting communication to the movement-destination base station as shown in table 7 in accordance with the state of the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (3).

Further, the wireless network control device 13 sends a channel setting communication to terminal 15 via the movement-destination base station . . . (4).

The movement-destination base station 14₂starts to transmit broadcast data or multicast data to the terminal in accordance with the channel communication from the wireless network control device 13 . . . (5).

Terminal 15 starts to receive the data in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13.

TABLE 7Communication toState ofState of movementResponse tomovement-destinationterminaldestinationTerminal operationterminalzoneDedicatedStoppedMeasurement valueChannel settingChannel settingphysicalreport to wirelesscommunicationcommunicationchannelnetwork controldeviceDedicatedDedicated physicalMeasurement valueChannel settingChannel settingphysicalchannelreport to wirelesscommunicationcommunicationchannelnetwork controldeviceDedicatedCommon physicalMeasurement valueChannel settingChannel settingphysicalchannelreport to wirelesscommunicationcommunicationchannelnetwork controldeviceCommonStoppedMeasurement valueChannel settingChannel settingphysicalreport to wirelesscommunicationcommunicationchannelnetwork controldeviceCommonDedicated physicalMeasurement valueChannel settingChannel settingphysicalchannelreport to wirelesscommunicationcommunicationchannelnetwork controldeviceCommonCommon physicalMeasurement valueChannel settingChannel settingphysicalchannelreport to wirelesscommunicationcommunicationchannelnetwork controldevice

Although a measurement value report is sent from terminal 15 to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂in FIG. 63, a channel setting request can also be sent to the wireless network control device 13 via the base station 14₁of the movement-source zone as shown in FIG. 64.

FIG. 65 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of the sixth embodiment. The process flow of the movement-destination base station is the same as the process flow of the fifth embodiment (FIG. 53) and the process flow of the terminal is the same as the process flow of the fourth embodiment (FIG. 45).

The wireless network control device 13 judges whether there is a measurement value report from terminal 15 when multicast (broadcast) services have begun (step 1). If there is a measurement value report, the wireless network control device 13 judges how to implement zone shift control on the basis of the reported value (step 2). The measurement value report condition is the same as the condition of the fourth embodiment.

In cases where implementation of zone shift control is determined in step 2, the wireless network control device transmits a channel setting communication to the movement-destination base station 14₂(step 3). As a result, the movement-destination base station 14₂starts to transmit broadcast data or multicast data to the terminal on the channel set by the wireless network control device 13 (dedicated physical channel or common physical channel).

A short while afterward, the wireless network control device 13 transmits a channel setting communication to the terminal (step 4). As a result, terminal 15 is able to receive broadcast data or multicast data on the channel thus set (dedicated physical channel or common physical channel).

After the processing of step 4, or if there is no measurement value report in step 1 or implementation of the zone shift is not determined in step 2, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 5). If the services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 6).

FIGS. 66 and 67 are embodiments in which a physical channel receiving a supply of multicast (broadcast) services is switched between physical channels of a plurality of types in the sequence of FIGS. 63 and 64. The difference lies in the fact that, in FIGS. 66 and 67, ‘start of transmission’ in the procedure (5) of the sequence of FIGS. 63 and 64 has been changed to ‘change in mapping of data to physical channel’. That is, in FIGS. 66 and 67, when terminal 15 simultaneously sets a plurality of physical channels, the movement-destination zone 14₂maps multicast (broadcast) data with different channel types in accordance with the channel setting communication before sending the data to terminal 15.

(h-1) MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The sixth embodiment represents a case where multicast (broadcast) data has already been transmitted on a logical channel to each of the base stations by the wireless network control device 13 and in which the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits the data to the terminal in accordance with a channel setting communication from the wireless network control device 13. In this modified example, the wireless network control device 13 has not yet transmitted multicast (broadcast) data to the movement-destination base station 14₂and the data is transmitted to the movement-destination base station base station 14₂on a logical channel on the basis of the measurement value report from the terminal before being transmitted from the base station to the terminal.

FIG. 68 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of a modified example.

Terminal 15 transmits a measurement value report to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (1).

Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 performs processing to start transmission as shown in table 8 in accordance with the state of the movement-destination base station . . . (3). That is, if the movement-destination base station 14₂has stopped transmission, the wireless network control device 13 instructs the base station to transmit multicast (broadcast) data to the movement-destination base station 14₂on a logical channel and to start transmitting the data to the terminal.

Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 issues a channel setting communication to terminal 15 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (4).

Thereafter, terminal 15 starts to receive data in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13 . . . (5).

TABLE 8Settings forState ofState of movementResponse tomovement-destinationterminaldestinationTerminal operationterminalzoneDedicatedStoppedMeasurement valueChannel settingChannel setting,logicalreport to wirelesscommunicationtransmissionchannelnetwork controldeviceDedicatedDedicatedMeasurement valueChannel settingChannel setting,logicallogical channelreport to wirelesscommunicationtransmissionchannelnetwork controldeviceDedicatedCommon logicalMeasurement valueChannel settingNonelogicalchannelreport to wirelesscommunicationchannelnetwork controldeviceCommonStoppedMeasurement valueChannel settingStart of transmissionlogicalreport to wirelesscommunicationchannelnetwork controldeviceCommonDedicatedMeasurement valueChannel settingChannel setting,logicallogical channelreport to wirelesscommunicationtransmissionchannelnetwork controldeviceCommonCommon logicalMeasurement valueChannel settingNonelogicalchannelreport to wirelesscommunicationchannelnetwork controldevice

FIG. 69 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device of a modified example.

The wireless network control device 13 judges whether there are measurement report values from terminal 15 when multicast (broadcast) services have begun (step 1). If there are measurement report values, the wireless network control device 13 judges how to implement zone shift control on the basis of the report values (step 2). When implementation of zone shift control has been determined, channel setting processing is performed and transmission is started (step 3). A short while afterward, a channel setting communication is transmitted to terminal 15 (step 4).

Following the processing of step 4, or when there are no measurement report values in step 1 or when zone shift implementation is not determined in step 2, it is judged whether multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 5). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 6).

(h-2) MODIFIED EXAMPLE OF FIGS. 64 AND 68

FIG. 70 is a modified example of FIGS. 64 and 68 of the sixth embodiment and is an embodiment where (1) physical-channel transmission and logical-channel transmission are both performed and in which (2) processing for the movement-source zone and processing to set the user-data transmission channel are added. Further, where logical-channel transmission is concerned, although terminal 15 sends and receives messages to and from the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination zone 14₂in FIG. 68, messages are sent and received to and from the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-source zone 14₁in the modified example.

The sequence of FIG. 70 is implemented in a case where, for example, when the movement-source zone 14₁communicates on an dedicated physical channel and an dedicated logical channel and the movement-destination zone 14₂communicates on a common physical channel and a common logical channel, communication takes place on a common physical channel and a common logical channel at the movement destination. Further, this sequence can also be applied to a case where the movement-source zone 14₁communicates on an dedicated physical channel and an dedicated logical channel and communication takes place on a common physical channel and a common logical channel at the movement destination when the movement-destination zone 14₂does not supply services, for example.

In the sequence of FIG. 70, ‘(3) channel setting communication’, ‘(3)’ channel setting completion communication’ and ‘(5) start of transmission’ in FIG. 64 and the ‘(3) start of transmission’ in FIG. 68 are combined as ‘(3) wireless-channel setting, start of physical-channel transmission and start of logical-channel transmission’. Further, (6) reception processing in FIG. 64 and (5) start of reception in FIG. 68 are the same as (8) start of reception in FIG. 70.

When the operation is described, following the end of the processing of (1) to (3), terminal 15 receives setting information on the wireless channel (physical channel, logical channel) following the zone shift by means of a channel setting communication from the wireless network control device 13 . . . (4).

Terminal 15 checks the zone shift state and confirms the fact that the movement-destination zone 14₂has entered a state where data can be received. . . . (5)

Subsequently, a wireless channel that is different from the channel type of the movement source is set in accordance with wireless channel information that is communicated by means of the channel setting communication. . . . (6)

As a result of terminal 15 setting the wireless channel, the setting of the user-data transmission channel is completed and the terminal starts reception. . . . (7), (8)

Thereafter, if data reception from the mobile source zone 14₁is impossible or unnecessary, terminal 15 communicates the fact that ‘it is possible to stop the logical-channel and physical-channel transmission by the mobile source base station’ to the network control device 13 by means of a channel setting completion communication. . . . (9), (10)

The wireless network control device 13, which has received the channel setting completion communication, checks the state of the movement-source zone 14₁, for example, checks for the existence in the movement-source zone 14₁of another terminal that is performing the same user transmission channel settings as the terminal 15 making the zone shift and, if no such terminal is present, stops logical-channel transmission and physical-channel transmission and cancels the wireless channel. . . . (11)

As a result, the movement-source zone 14₁cancels the user-data transmission channel. . . . (12)

FIG. 71 shows the process flow of the wireless network control device 13 in the sequence of FIG. 70.

The operation of the movement-destination base station 14₂in the sequence of FIG. 70 is the same as that of FIG. 53 except that the following operations have been removed:

- In procedure (10), ‘channel setting completion’ from terminal 15 is transmitted to the wireless network control device 13.
- ‘Channel setting request’ from terminal 15 is not transmitted to the wireless network control device 13. This is because, although terminal 15 in FIG. 50 has made a transmission to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination zone 14₂, in the sequence of FIG. 70, ‘measurement value report’ is transmitted via the movement-source zone 14₁.
- ‘Channel setting communication’ from the wireless network control device 13 is not transmitted to terminal 15. This is because, in FIG. 50, the wireless network control device 13 made a transmission to terminal 15 via the wireless destination zone 14₂, but, in the sequence of FIG. 70, a transmission is made via the movement-source zone 14₁.
- A logical channel loaded with multicast (broadcast) data is mapped to a physical channel.

The operation of the movement-source base station 14₁in the sequence of FIG. 70 is the same as the processing of the movement-source base station in FIG. 34. However, this sequence further comprises a function to transmit the ‘measurement value report’ from terminal 15 to the wireless network control device 13 in procedure (1) and a function to transmit a ‘channel setting communication’ from the wireless network control device to terminal 15 in procedure (4).

The operation of terminal 15 in the sequence of FIG. 70 is as shown in FIG. 72. This operation differs from the processing in FIG. 62 as follows:

- Steps 1 and 2 of FIG. 62 are changed to steps 1, 2, 2′ in FIG. 72. This is because, in FIG. 62, when ‘zone update reservation’ is transmitted, ‘zone update reservation completion’ is compulsorily transmitted, but, in FIG. 72, a channel setting communication is not transmitted in accordance with the judgment by the wireless network control device 13.
- Step 10 in FIG. 62 has been omitted. This is because, although ‘zone update completion confirmation’ is received after a ‘zone update completion communication’ has been transmitted in FIG. 62, ‘channel setting completion’ is sent by way of response to the ‘channel setting communication’ in FIG. 72.
- ‘Zone update reservation completion reception processing’ in step 3 of FIG. 62 has been changed to ‘channel setting communication reception processing’ in step 3 of FIG. 72.
- ‘Zone update completion communication’ in step 8 of FIG. 62 has been changed to channel setting completion communication in step 8 of FIG. 72.

FIG. 73 is an example of a sequence in a case where a message is transmitted by mounting a plurality of wireless network control devices 13a and 13b in the embodiment in FIG. 70. In the sequence of FIG. 73, an operation that is the same as the sequence of FIG. 36 is performed with the exception of the following points:

(1) The commitment for a zone shift to another zone is not the ‘zone update reservation’ from terminal 15 but is instead determined by the movement-source wireless network control device 13a on the basis of the measurement value reported by terminal 15.

(2) ‘Zone update reservation completion’ is ‘channel setting communication’.

(3) ‘Zone update completion communication’ is ‘channel setting completion’.

(4) A message corresponding with ‘zone update completion confirmation’ is not required.

FIG. 74 shows the process flow of the movement-source wireless network control device 13a in the sequence of FIG. 73 and FIG. 75 shows the process flow of the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b in the sequence of FIG. 73.

FIG. 76 is an example of a sequence in a case where a message is transmitted by extending a plurality of wireless network control devices 13a and 13b in the embodiment of FIG. 70. In the sequence of FIG. 76, an operation that is the same as the sequence of FIG. 42 with the exception of the following points is performed.

(2) ‘Zone update reservation completion’ is ‘channel setting communication’.

(3) ‘Zone update completion communication’ is ‘channel setting completion’.

(4) A message corresponding with ‘zone update completion confirmation’ is not required.

FIG. 77 shows the process flow of the movement-source wireless network control device 13a in the sequence of FIG. 76 and FIG. 78 shows the process flow of the movement-destination wireless network control device 13b in the sequence of FIG. 76.

Further, the operation shown in FIGS. 70 to 78 can also be applied by means of the same procedure to the fourth embodiment.

(I) Seventh Embodiment

The seventh embodiment is an embodiment of a mobile communication system in which, when a terminal receiving a supply of services exists in a region that can be presumed to allow the terminal to receive services from another zone, the wireless channel of the movement-destination base station captured beforehand is employed and a change is made to the wireless channel of the movement-destination base station to receive the supply of services.

FIG. 79 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of a seventh embodiment.

The wireless network control device 13 reports channel setting information from each zone to the terminal via each base station . . . (1).

Terminal 15 determines zone shift implementation when the zone update condition is fulfilled . . . (2). Subsequently, terminal 15 receives channel setting information that has been reported by the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (3). The channel setting information includes a predetermined common wireless channel that corresponds with table 9 from a combination of wireless channel types of the movement-source base stations 14₁and 14₂.

A short while afterward, terminal 15 commences reception in the moving destination zone in accordance with the channel setting information designated by the wireless network control device 13.

TABLE 9State of terminal (movementsource)State of movement destinationOperation of terminalCommon wireless channelCommon wireless channelChange to settings of common wireless(common physical channel,(common physical channel,channel recorded in channel settingcommon logical channel)common logical channel)information (common physicalchannel, common logical channel)

Although channel setting information is reported to the terminal by the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂in FIG. 79, the channel setting information can also be reported via the base station 14₁of the movement-source zone as shown in FIG. 80.

FIG. 81 shows the process flow of the terminal of the seventh embodiment.

Terminal 15 performs the same judgment as ‘zone update communication condition’ of the third embodiment, for example, and judges how to implement zone shift control (step 1). When zone shift control is implemented, processing to receive the channel setting information is performed (step 2) and processing to receive multicast (broadcast) data is performed on the basis of the wireless channel that is set by means of channel setting information (step 3).

Following the end of the processing of step 3 or when the condition for zone shift implementation is not fulfilled in step 1, it is judged whether the multicast (broadcast) services have ended (step 4). If services have not ended, the processing returns to step 1 and the processing of step 1 and subsequent steps is repeated. If services have ended, the processing is terminated (step 5).

(J) Eighth Embodiment

The eighth embodiment is an embodiment of a mobile communication system in which, when a terminal receiving a supply of services move to another zone, the terminal performs the zone movement by switching the wireless channel to the channel type established by the system and, after the terminal has moved to the other zone, the terminal changes to the channel type for supplying services in the other zone.

The rules during the zone switching established by the system are shown in FIG. 82. This constitutes an example in which a terminal is always switched to an dedicated physical channel during zone switching.

Further, rules for channel switching following zone switching are shown in FIG. 83. If the movement-destination base station has stopped, after performing the zone movement, the terminal continues to communicate with the movement-destination base station on an dedicated physical channel. Further, if the movement-destination base station is communicating on an dedicated physical channel, the terminal continues to communicate with the movement-destination base station on an dedicated physical channel after performing the zone movement. Further, if the movement-destination base station is communicating on a common physical channel, the terminal continues to communicate with the movement-destination base station on the common physical channel by switching from an dedicated physical channel to the common physical channel.

(j-1) FIRST ZONE SWITCHING PROCEDURE

FIG. 84 is an explanatory view of the zone-switching procedure of the eighth embodiment when the broadcast channel of the movement-source terminal is an dedicated physical channel. This procedure is similar to the procedure of the sixth embodiment.

Terminal 15 sends a measurement value report to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂. . . (1). The wireless network control device 13 detects the fact that the terminal has moved to another zone or is moving to another zone based on measurement value from the terminal and determines implementation of zone shift control and determines the implementation of zone shift control . . . (2). Subsequently, the wireless network control device 13 communicates the settings of the dedicated physical channel to the movement-destination base station 14₂. Further, if the movement-destination base station 14₂is communicating with another terminal on a predetermined channel as shown in FIG. 82, the movement-destination base station 14₂continues to communicate with the other terminal in this state . . . (3). Further, the wireless network control device 13 communicates the settings of the dedicated physical channel to terminal 15 as shown in FIG. 82 via the movement-destination base station . . . (4). As described earlier, the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits broadcast data or multicast data to the terminal on an dedicated physical channel that is communicated by the wireless network control device 13 . . . (5). Terminal 15 starts to receive the data in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13 . . . (6).

A short while afterward, the wireless network control device 13 switches the communication channel of terminal 15 to the communication channel of the movement-destination base station 14₂as shown in FIG. 83 by sending a channel setting communication to terminal 15 . . . (7). For example, in cases where the movement-destination base station 14₂is transmitting broadcast data or multicast data on a common physical channel, the wireless network control device 13 sets the common physical channel in terminal 15 by means of the channel setting communication and, thereafter, the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits the data to all the terminals on the common physical channel.

According to the eighth embodiment, when it takes time to afford the movement-destination base station 14₂and terminal 15 the same physical channel, communications between the movement-destination base station 14₂and terminal 15 are first continued by connecting same by means of an dedicated physical channel and, thereafter, the time-consuming processing to render the channels the same can be performed. As a result, broadcast services are not cut off. That is, the terminal is able to perform zone switching with continued service.

(j-2) SECOND ZONE-SWITCHING PROCEDURE

FIG. 85 is another explanatory view of the zone switching procedure of the eighth embodiment when the broadcast channel of the movement-source terminal is a common physical channel. The procedure is the same as the procedure of the fifth embodiment.

Terminal 15 transmits a channel setting request to the wireless network control device 13 via the movement-destination base station 14₂upon detecting zone movement . . . (1). Upon receiving the channel setting request, the wireless network control device 13 communicates the settings of an dedicated physical channel to the movement-destination base station 14₂. Further, if the movement-destination base station 14₂is communicating with another terminal on a predetermined channel as shown in FIG. 82, communications with the other terminal are continued in this state . . . (2). Further, the wireless network control device 13 communicates the settings of an dedicated physical channel to terminal 15 as shown in FIG. 82 via the movement-destination base station . . . (2).

As described earlier, the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits broadcast data or multicast data to the terminal on an dedicated physical channel that is communicated by the wireless network control device 13 . . . (3). The terminal 15 starts to receive the data in the movement-destination zone at the time designated by the wireless network control device 13 . . . (4).

A short while afterward, the wireless network control device 13 switches the communication channel of the terminal 15 as shown in FIG. 83 to the communication channel of the movement-destination base station 14₂by sending a channel setting communication to terminal 15 . . . (5). For example, in cases where broadcast data or multicast data is transmitted by the movement-destination base station 14₂on a common physical channel, the wireless network control device 13 sets a common physical channel for the terminal 15 by means of the channel setting communication. Thereafter, the movement-destination base station 14₂transmits the data to all the terminals on the common physical channel.

As described earlier, when a terminal that is receiving a supply of services moves to another zone, the terminal performs the zone movement by switching the wireless channel to a channel type that is established by the system, requests the channel type for receiving a supply of services in the movement destination, communicates the wireless channel type whereby a network device supplies services to the terminal in the other zone and, after the terminal has moved to the other zone, changes to the channel type for supplying services in the other zone. Thus, the terminal is able to perform zone switching with continued service.

(j-3) FIRST MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The rules during the zone switching established by the system are shown in FIG. 86. This constitutes an example in which a terminal is always switched to an dedicated logical channel. Further, rules for channel switching following zone switching are shown in FIG. 87.

(j-4) SECOND MODIFIED EXAMPLE

Rules during zone switching established by the system and rules for channel switching following zone switching are shown in FIG. 88. This constitutes an example in which the terminal is switched to a common physical channel only when the movement-destination base station 14₂is serviced on a common physical channel and where the terminal is otherwise switched to an dedicated physical channel. The channel-type switching of this modified example can be implemented by means of the same procedure as the procedure shown in the eighth embodiment.

(j-5) THIRD MODIFIED EXAMPLE

Rules during zone switching established by the system and rules for channel switching following zone switching are shown in FIG. 89. This constitutes an example in which the terminal is switched to a common logical channel only when the movement-destination base station is serviced on a common logical channel and where the terminal is otherwise switched to an dedicated logical channel.

(j-6) FOURTH MODIFIED EXAMPLE

Rules during zone switching established by the system and rules for channel switching following zone switching are shown in FIG. 90. This constitutes an example in which zone switching is performed by means of the movement-source channel. The channel-type switching of this modified example can be implemented by means of the same procedure as the procedure shown in the eighth embodiment.

(j-7) FIFTH MODIFIED EXAMPLE

Rules during zone switching established by the system and rules for channel switching following zone switching are shown in FIG. 91. This constitutes an example in which the terminal performs zone switching by means of the movement source channel.

According to the eighth embodiment, when it takes time to afford the movement-destination base station and the terminal the same wireless channel, communications between the movement-destination base station and the terminal are first continued by connecting same by means of a wireless channel established by the system and, thereafter, the time-consuming processing to render the channels the same can be performed. As a result, broadcast services are not cut off.

Furthermore, according to the eighth embodiment, a zone shift can be performed regardless of the type of the physical channel for supplying the services by means of the movement-source base station 14₁and movement-destination base station 14₂. As a result, a zone shift can be executed on a channel that possesses the characteristic of not being susceptible to the interruption of data in the communication system or a channel that allows wireless resources in the periphery of the zone to the used efficiently, and so forth, whereby services can be improved and the system usage efficiency can be increased.

In this case, in an example where zone switching is performed on a channel that allows wireless resources in the zone periphery to be used efficiently, the procedure of (2) ‘detecting movement to another zone and determining zone shift implementation’ in FIG. 84 is a procedure known as (2) ‘other zone periphery movement detection and channel-type change determination’. Further, the ‘channel setting request’ of procedure (1) in FIG. 85 can also be transmitted by terminal 15 upon detection of arrival in the periphery of the other zone.

(j-8) SIXTH MODIFIED EXAMPLE

As shown in FIGS. 92 and 93, through the addition of the procedures indicated by the dotted lines to the sequences of FIGS. 84 and 85 respectively, the settings for the movement-source zone 14₁can also be made at the same time as or prior to the channel settings for the movement-destination zone 14₂.

(j-9) SEVEN MODIFIED EXAMPLE

As shown in FIG. 94, terminal 15 can also issue a ‘measurement value report’ that constitutes a trigger for issuing the ‘channel setting communication’ of procedure (7) between procedures (6) and (7) in FIG. 84.

Further, as shown FIG. 95, terminal 15 can also issue a ‘measurement value report’ that constitutes a trigger for issuing the ‘channel setting communication’ of procedure (5) between procedures (4) and (5) in FIG. 85.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 96 and 97, the constitution can be such that terminal 15 issues the ‘channel setting request’ of procedure (8) and the wireless network control device 13 issues the channel setting communication of (9) after procedure (6) of FIG. 84 and procedure (4) of FIG. 85 respectively.

Further, FIGS. 84 and 85 are examples in which a zone shift takes place via movement-destination zone 14₂when movement is from the movement-source zone 14₁to movement-destination zone 14₂but can instead take place via the movement-source zone 14₁.

(K) Ninth Embodiment

The ninth embodiment is an embodiment a system that performs a broadcast or multicast by means of a predetermined method (the third to seventh embodiments) in accordance with the channel type, transmission state, and transmission stoppage state of the wireless channel for supplying the services of the movement destination, as well as the channel type of the wireless channel of the terminal receiving a supply of services.

The table in FIG. 98 shows how to implement (1) the channel of communication to the terminal and (2) any of the methods of the third to seventh embodiments in correspondence with a combination of channel types of the movement source and movement destination.

Therefore, the system performs a broadcast or multicast in accordance with any of the methods of the third to seventh embodiments on the basis of the combination of channel types of the movement source and movement destination.

(L) Tenth Embodiment

The tenth embodiment is an embodiment in which the channel type, transmission state, and transmission stoppage state of the wireless channel for supplying the services of the movement destination is reported by the movement-destination base station 14₂. FIG. 99 provides a conceptual view. Further, FIG. 100 shows an example of the constitution of report information. The base station manages, for each service, (1) the transmission state (transmission in progress, transmission stopped), (2) the supply channel, (3) the wireless resources (frequency, spread code, time slot) and then creates and reports the table in FIG. 100.

(M) Eleventh Embodiment

The eleventh embodiment is an example where the channel type, transmission state, and transmission stoppage state of the wireless channel supplying the services of the movement source are reported by the movement-source base station 14₁.

FIG. 101 provides a conceptual view. Further, FIG. 102 shows an example of the constitution of report information. Each base station manages, for each of the services of adjacent zones, (1) the transmission state (transmission in progress, transmission stopped), (2) the supply channel, (3) the wireless resources (frequency, spread code, time slot) and then creates and reports the table in FIG. 102.

Although, in the above description, the service area of the base station was one zone or an area established by dividing the service area into a plurality of zones constituted a zone, a variety of zone definitions can be considered. For example, the service areas of one or more base stations can be combined to establish one zone or an area established by dividing the service area into a plurality of zones can constitute a zone.

According to the present invention above, a judgment standard (the existence of a terminal receiving a supply of services, for example) is established for one zone within a service area or for each zone divided into a plurality of zones and broadcast data or multicast data is not transmitted by the base station to a zone that does not satisfy the standard (in which a terminal is not present). Therefore, when the standard is not satisfied in one zone, broadcast data and multicast data are not transmitted, meaning that the wireless resources in the zone can be used efficiently.

In addition, according to the present invention above, when a terminal that is receiving a supply of services exists in a region that allows services to be received from the base station of another zone and the terminal requests wireless-channel data transmission from the base station, the data is transmitted on the wireless channel from the base station on the basis of the request, or it is detected that a terminal that is receiving a supply of services exists in a region that allows services to the received from another zone and the data is transmitted on the wireless channel from the base station of the other zone, whereby a zone shift in a system that makes efficient use of wireless resources can be performed without problems.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, a judgment standard is established for one zone in a service area or for each zone divided into a plurality of zones and a wireless channel type (dedicated physical channel, common physical channel, for example) is determined on the basis of the judgment result. Therefore, in one zone, the optimal wireless channel for transmitting broadcast data and multicast data can be selected in accordance with the judgment standard, whereby the wireless resources in the zone can be used efficiently and the transmission power and interference power of the base station can be reduced.

Moreover, according to the present invention, when a terminal that is receiving a supply of services exists in a region that allows services to be received from the base station of another zone and the terminal requests a wireless channel for supplying the services of the base station, the wireless channel is determined on the basis of the request and the data is transmitted on the wireless channel, or it is detected that a terminal receiving a supply of services exists in a region that allows services to be received from another zone and, when the existence of the terminal is detected, the wireless channel is determined and the data is transmitted on the wireless channel, whereby a zone shift in a system that makes efficient use of wireless resources can be performed without problems.

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	11078208	Mar 2005	US
Child	11730482	Apr 2007	US

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	PCT/JP02/11588	Nov 2002	US
Child	11078208	Mar 2005	US

Mobile communication system

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