Method of managing home cell selection and related device

Method for managing specific cell selection and related device

The present invention relates to a method and communication device used in a wireless communication system, in particular to a method and communication device used in a wireless communication system to manage the selection of specific cells.

The System Architecture Evolution (SAE) system, which is regulated by the Third Generation Mobile Telecommunications Alliance (3GPP), is a new core network architecture in the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), which is the Internet The mass market of Internet Protocol (IP) provides cost-effective deployment and operation. Network evolution mainly includes meeting the wireless interface requirements of a long-term evolution (LTE) system, simplifying the network structure, and all-IP network (that is, all services are transmitted by packet switching, excluding circuit switching technology), and Supports continuity of actions and services between different types of access networks, such as 2G/3G, long-term evolution systems, and non-3GPP access systems.

System architecture evolution The system includes a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Serving Gateway (Serving Gateway), and a Public Data Network Gateway (PDN Gateway). The mobile management system is a control plane unit for managing network service addition, client authentication, and coordinating the establishment of related wireless loads in the evolutionary wireless access network.

System architecture evolution The function of the system includes the non-access-stratum (NAS) function performed by the client in idle mode, and an evolved universal mobile communication system is used between the client and the evolved packet core network (Evolved UMTS, E-UTRAN) the non-access layer signaling process, and the third layer signaling process between the user terminal and the evolved packet core network through the non-3GPP access network.

In the non-access layer, home cell deployment is defined as the use of a single base station in a building or a small cell group, such as in a campus. Access qualifications for special cells are limited to specific subscribers. In the deployment of special cells, a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell can be regarded as one of the special cell types, which is a part of the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). When the cell identification of the closed user group cell is stored in a whitelist of a user terminal, the user terminal can access the closed user group cell. In other words, the whitelist provides cell identification of multiple closed user group cells that can be accessed, so that the client is allowed to reside in the service range of the closed user group cells provided by the whitelist. Generally speaking, the whitelist is determined by the public mobile network.

Taking the current third-generation mobile communications alliance specifications, it has not clearly stipulated that when the whitelist has at least one CSG cell that can be accessed, but the client only finds an appropriate large cell and no CSG cell is found, the client should How to deal with this situation. Therefore, the client cannot select a CSG cell for access, resulting in a decrease in communication quality.

In addition, in terms of service provision, the service access fee of a CSG cell is lower than the service access fee of a large cell. Therefore, when selecting a cell, the user will set the client to prefer a CSG cell. In order to save the user's service access costs, in a cell selection process, CSG cells should have a higher priority order than other cells, such as large cells.

In a manual CSG cell selection function, the user terminal can provide the user with a manual function for starting a CSG cell search and selecting a CSG cell. Since the network terminal expects the client to select cells based on the result of a cell selection or cell reselection, the network terminal may stop this manual function. However, the current specifications do not provide a way to effectively control the activation of manual CSG cell selection.

On the other hand, a user may abnormally activate the manual CSG cell selection function. For example, in a manual CSG cell selection, the user selects a CSG cell that is not allowed to be accessed (such as a dedicated base station for other users). When a client attempts to access a CSG cell that is not allowed, the relevant specifications provide a service request rejection procedure, which has a specific rejection reason value. However, the service request rejection procedure involves the client and the mobile management entity. The base station must establish a connection with the mobile management entity, and the mobile management entity needs to check whether the client effectively accesses the CSG cell. This method wastes wireless resources and network resources in the process of handling whether the client accesses the CSG cell incorrectly, thereby reducing the performance of the client accessing CSG cells.

The invention provides a method for managing the selection of specific cells in a user terminal of a wireless communication system and a communication device thereof.

The present invention discloses a method for managing the selection of home cells, which is used in a client terminal of a wireless communication system, and the client terminal includes a whitelist that can provide a plurality of home cells that can be accessed The method includes: using a flag for cell selection, wherein the flag is used to store a priority data on at least one of a specific cell and a macro cell.

The present invention also discloses a communication device used in a wireless communication system to appropriately manage specific cell selection. The communication device includes a processor, a communication interface unit, a control unit, and a computer readable record media. The processor is used for processing a stored data; the communication interface unit is used for exchanging wireless signals with a remote communication device of the wireless communication system; the control unit is coupled to the processor and the communication interface unit for According to the processing result of the processing sheet, the communication interface unit and the communication device are controlled; the computer can read the recording medium and is coupled to the processor for storing the storage data. Among them, the storage data includes a white list for providing a plurality of special cells that can be accessed, and a flag for storing priority data about at least one of the special cells and the large cells, and Make cell selection.

The present invention also discloses a method for managing the selection of specific cells, which is used in a client of a wireless communication system. The client includes a whitelist that can provide a plurality of specific cells that can be accessed. The method includes: Use a flag to control a manual specific cell selection function.

The present invention also discloses a communication device used in a wireless communication system to appropriately manage specific cell selection. The communication device includes a processor, a communication interface unit, a control unit, and a computer readable record media. The processor is used for processing a stored data; the communication interface unit is used for exchanging wireless signals with a remote communication device of the wireless communication system; the control unit is coupled to the processor and the communication interface unit for According to the processing result of the processing sheet, the communication interface unit and the communication device are controlled; the computer can read the recording medium and is coupled to the processor for storing the storage data. Among them, the stored data includes a white list for providing a plurality of special cells that can be accessed, and a flag for controlling a manual special cell selection function.

The present invention also discloses a method for managing the selection of specific cells, which is used in a client of a wireless communication system. The client includes a whitelist that can provide a plurality of specific cells that can be accessed. The method includes: Under a manual special cell selection function, when a special cell that does not belong to the white list is selected, the manual special cell selection function is terminated.

The present invention also discloses a communication device used in a wireless communication system to appropriately manage specific cell selection. The communication device includes a processor, a communication interface unit, a control unit, and a computer readable record media. The processor is used for processing a stored data; the communication interface unit is used for exchanging wireless signals with a remote communication device of the wireless communication system; the control unit is coupled to the processor and the communication interface unit for According to the processing result of the processing sheet, the communication interface unit and the communication device are controlled; the computer can read the recording medium and is coupled to the processor for storing the storage data. Among them, the stored data includes a white list for providing a plurality of special cells that can be accessed, and a program code for selecting a special cell that does not belong to the white list under a manual special cell selection function. When special cells are selected, the manual special cell selection function is terminated.

Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system 10. The architecture of the wireless communication system 10 is based on a System Architecture Evolution (SAE), which includes a user terminal 100 and a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) 110. The structure of the PLMN 110 is well known to those with ordinary knowledge in this field, and will not be repeated here. When the client 100 resides in a macro cell 112 of a Radio Access Network (RAN) 114 of the PLMN 110, the PLMN 110 can determine a whitelist of the client 100, which provides a plurality of Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cells that can be accessed. The CSG cell can be regarded as a special cell that allows the client 100 to access, and is provided by a special network. The client 100 searches for appropriate CSG cells based on the white list to access the CSG service. The above-mentioned wireless access network can be a Global Mobile Communications System/Enhanced Data Rate GSM Evolution Radio Access Network (GSM EDGE Radio Access Network, GERAN), a Universal Mobile Radio Access Network (UMTS) RAN, UTRAN) or a long-term evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE) system wireless access network.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless communication device 20 may be the client 100 in FIG. 1, which includes a processor 200, a computer-readable recording medium 210, a communication interface unit 220, and a control unit 230. The computer readable recording medium 210 can be any data storage device for storing a stored data 212 to be read and processed by the processor 200. The computer-readable recording medium 210 may be a subscriber identity module (SIM), read-only memory (read-only memory, ROM), random-access memory (RAM), optical disc CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, or carrier signals (such as Internet data transmission). The control unit 230 is used for controlling the state and related operations of the communication interface unit 220 and the communication device 20 according to the processing result of the processor 200. The communication interface unit 220 is preferably a wireless receiver for wireless communication with the base station.

The stored data 212 includes a program code 214, a white list 216, and flags F1 and F2. The white list 216 can provide a plurality of CSG cells that can be accessed, the number of which is set by the network. When the communication device 20 resides in a large cell of a special network, it can search for CSG cells through the white list 216 to obtain CSG services.

The flag F1 is used to store priority data on at least one of specific cells (such as CSG cells) or large cells for cell selection. In this case, the embodiment of the present invention provides a specific cell selection process to allow the user to select a specific cell or a large cell. Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a schematic diagram of a specific cell selection process 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The specific cell selection process 30 is used in a client with a whitelist for managing CSG cell selection, and can be compiled into a program code 214. The specific cell selection process 30 includes the following steps:

Step 300: Start.

Step 302: When the white list is not blank, read a flag for cell selection, wherein the flag stores priority information about at least one of the specific cell or the large cell.

Step 304: According to the flag, select a specific cell or a large cell.

Step 306: End.

According to the specific cell selection process 30, when the whitelist includes at least one CSG cell, the user terminal reads a flag, and selects a CSG cell or a large cell based on the flag. According to the compiled code 214, the flag is the flag F1, which can be stored in a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or stored data 212, and the white list is the white list 216.

It is worth noting that the priority data in the above-mentioned embodiment includes information about special cells, large cells, or both special and large cells. For example, the flag can be set to "CSG cells only", "CSG One of "Cell Priority", "Large Cell Priority", and "No Priority". When the flag is set to "Only CSG cells", the client can only select one CSG cell to reside. When the flag is set to "CSG Cell Priority", when selecting a cell, the client first searches for a CSG cell to reside in the whitelist. If the client cannot find any CSG cell in the whitelist, but finds a large cell, the client selects the large cell to reside. When the flag is set to "Large Cells Priority", when selecting cells, the client will preferentially search for a large cell to reside. If the client cannot find any large cells in the whitelist, but finds a CSG cell in the whitelist, the client selects the CSG cell to reside. When the flag is set to "No Priority", when selecting cells, the user can select any CSG cell or a large cell to reside in the whitelist.

Preferably, the flag can be updated by a user, or based on a dedicated signaling message that is transmitted by the network where the client resides. In addition, the dedicated signaling message can be a dedicated signaling message. Short message service (short message service) messages.

In addition, the embodiment of the present invention can provide a manual CSG cell selection function on the client side, so that the user can manually control the client terminal to start a CSG cell search, and select any CSG cell among the CSG cells that are searched. In this case, the flag F2 is used to control the manual CSG cell selection function.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a cell selection management process to avoid system errors caused by improperly starting the manual CSG cell selection function. Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram of a cell selection management process 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cell selection management process 40 is used in a client with a whitelist for managing CSG cell selection, and can be compiled into a program code 214. The cell selection management process 40 includes the following steps:

Step 400: Start.

Step 402: Read a flag.

Step 404: According to the flag, it is determined to start the manual specific cell selection function.

Step 406: End.

According to the cell selection management process 40, when necessary (such as when the power is turned on), the user terminal reads the flag, and according to the flag, determines whether to activate the manual CSG cell selection function.

Preferably, the flag is the flag F2 of the communication device 20 and is stored in the user identification module or the storage data 212. In addition, the flag can be updated according to a dedicated signaling message, which is sent by the network where the client terminal resides, and the dedicated signaling message can be a short message service message.

Through the cell selection management process 40, the network can control the client to activate or deactivate the manual CSG cell selection function by updating the setting of the flag.

When the manual CSG cell selection function is activated, the client can search for CSG cells outside the whitelist. In this case, the embodiment of the present invention provides a cell selection management process to help the network side manage the manual CSG cell selection function of the user side. Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a schematic diagram of a cell selection management process 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cell selection management process 50 is used in a client with a whitelist for managing CSG cell selection, and can be compiled into a program code 214. The cell selection management process 50 includes the following steps:

Step 500: Start.

Step 502: When a CSG cell that does not belong to the whitelist is selected, the manual CSG cell selection function is terminated.

Step 504: End.

According to the cell selection management process 50, when the user terminal selects a CSG cell that does not belong to the whitelist, the manual CSG cell selection function is terminated. In other words, the operation of selecting any CSG cell that does not belong to the whitelist will trigger the user terminal to terminate the manual CSG cell selection function.

In the prior art, a CSG cell service base station is a part of the network, and it performs a specific procedure with a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to terminate the CSG cell selection. Through the cell selection management process 50, the embodiment of the present invention clearly shows that when the selected CSG cells are not in the whitelist, the user terminal can actively terminate the manual CSG cell selection function, thus avoiding the processing between the CSG cell service base station and the mobile management entity Whether the user terminal accesses the program incorrectly, and avoids the abnormal activation of the CSG cell selection function.

In summary, the embodiments of the present invention provide users with a better CSG cell service function and improve the control function of the manual CSG cell selection function.

The foregoing descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

<p>10. . . Wireless communication system</p><p>100. . . user terminal</p><p>110. . . Public land mobile network</p><p>114. . . Wireless access to the network</p><p>112. . . Large cell</p><p>20. . . Communication device</p><p>200. . . processor</p><p>210. . . Computer readable recording media</p><p>220. . . Communication interface unit</p><p>230. . . control unit</p><p>212. . . Save data</p><p>214. . . Code</p><p>216. . . whitelist</p><p>F1, F2. . . Flag</p><p>30, 40, 50. . . process</p><p>300, 302, 304, 306, 400, 402, 404, 406, 500, 502, 504. . . step</p>

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a specific cell selection process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a cell selection management process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another cell selection management process according to an embodiment of the present invention.