Radio base station and mobile station

A system and method to prevent collision between mobile stations to which the same C-RNTI is allocated in a simple implementation while avoiding a problem of C-RNTI depletion in a phantom cell is disclosed. A radio base station includes an allocation unit configured to allocate multiple C-RNTIs to each of mobile stations, and the allocation unit performs adjustment such that collision of search spaces to which PDCCH resources are allocated does not occur among the multiple mobile stations.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a radio base station and a mobile station.

BACKGROUND ART

In LTE (Long Term Evolution), as shown inFIG. 9, radio base stations eNB#A and eNB#B are configured to allocate C-RNTIs (Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identities) to mobile stations UE performing communication in cells #A and #B under the radio base stations eNB#A and eNB#B and to perform data exchange with the mobile stations UE (see Non-Patent Document 1).

The allocation of C-RNTIs is performed cell by cell. In LTE, as shown inFIG. 9, the same C-RNTI cannot be allocated to a mobile station UE#1and a mobile station UE#2which perform communication in the same cell #A. Meanwhile, the same C-RNTI can be allocated to the mobile station UE#1(or the mobile station UE#2) and a mobile station UE#3which perform communication in the different cells #A and #B, respectively.

The C-RNTIs are configured to be allocated in a “Contention based RA (Random Access) procedure” and a handover procedure.

Moreover, the radio base station eNB is configured to allocate resources for downlink data transmission and uplink data transmission by using the C-RNTI allocated to each of the mobile stations UE.

Meanwhile, in the “Rel-12 workshop” of 3GPP, many proposals on “Small cell enhancement” have been made as a topic of FRA (Future Radio Access).

In such proposals, a concept related to “phantom cell” is being considered.

As shown inFIG. 10, unlike a conventional macro cell, the phantom cell forms one large cell by combining many small cells and can cover a large area.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, as shown inFIG. 11, 65535 C-RNTIs are managed in each of the cells (macro cells and phantom cells) and one C-RNTI needs to be allocated to each of the mobile stations UE.

When a coverage area of the phantom cell is large, the number of mobile stations UE performing communication in the phantom cell increases, and the following problem is conceivable: there is a possibility that the C-RNTIs to be allocated to the mobile stations UE deplete in the phantom cell.

In order to overcome this problem, the following operation is conceivable. As shown inFIG. 12, although one C-RNTI is allocated to each of mobile stations UE in the macro cell, one C-RNTI is allocated to multiple mobile stations UE in the phantom cell (i. e. one C-RNTI is shared by multiple mobile stations UE).

However, in this operation, as shown inFIG. 13, there is a possibility that the mobile stations UE#1and UE#2to which the same C-RNTI is allocated in the same cell receive the same PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) and the mobile station UE#2to which the radio base station eNB does not intend to send information erroneously receives allocation information for the mobile station UE#1.

Specifically, since LTE is configured such that a search space to be searched by each mobile station UE is uniquely determined depending on the C-RNTI, the search spaces to be searched by the mobile stations UE#1and UE#2are the same if the same C-RNTI#A is allocated to the mobile stations UE#1and UE#2as shown inFIG. 14.

Hence, a PDCCH signal for the mobile station UE#1transmitted by the radio base station eNB is received by not only the mobile station eNB#1but also the mobile station UE#2.

As a result, the mobile station UE#2with which the radio base station eNB does not intend to exchange signals may receive downlink signals or transmit uplink signals.

Hereafter, such situation is referred to as “collision between the radio base stations UE”.

Note that a case where the mobile station UE#2with which the radio base station eNB does not intend to exchange signals receives downlink signals through a PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel) is a problem from the view point of IOT (Interoperability Test).

Moreover, when the mobile station UE#2with which the radio base station eNB does not intend to exchange signals transmits uplink signals through a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel), this transmission causes interference with the other mobile station UE#1.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems described above, and an objective thereof is to provide a radio base station and a mobile station which can prevent collision between mobile stations to which the same C-RNTI is allocated in a simple implementation while avoiding the problem of C-RNTI depletion in a phantom cell.

A first feature of the present invention is summarized as a radio base station including an allocation unit configured to allocate a plurality of C-RNTIs to each of mobile stations. Here, the allocation unit performs adjustment such that collision of search spaces to which PDCCH resources are allocated does not occur between the mobile stations.

A second feature of the present invention is summarized as a mobile station including: a management unit configured to manage a plurality of C-RNTIs allocated by a radio base station; and a reception unit configured to search for a PDCCH resource for the mobile station in search spaces corresponding to the plurality of C-RNTIs.

A third feature of the present invention is summarized as a mobile station including: a management unit configured to manage a plurality of C-RNTIs allocated by a radio base station; and a reception unit configured to search for a PDCCH resource for the mobile station in a search space corresponding to a primary C-RNTI out of the plurality of C-RNTIs by performing descrambling processing in a portion of the search space by using the primary C-RNTI and by performing descrambling processing in a remaining portion of the search space by using a secondary C-RNTI out of the plurality of C-RNTIs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(Mobile Communication System of First Embodiment of Present Invention)

A mobile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 5.

As shown inFIG. 1, the mobile communication system of the present embodiment is an LTE mobile communication system and includes a radio base station eNB#1managing a cell #1. Here, the cell #1is a phantom cell formed by combining multiple small cells.

Moreover, in the mobile communication system of the present embodiment, it is assumed that mobile stations UE#1to UE#4exist in the cell #1as shown inFIG. 1.

As shown inFIG. 2, the radio base station eNB#1of the present embodiment includes an allocation unit11and a transmission unit12.

The allocation unit11is configured to be capable of allocating multiple C-RNTIs to each of the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4.

As shown inFIG. 3, in the mobile communication system of the present embodiment, the allocation unit11is configured to allocate a C-RNTI#A and a C-RNTI#B to the mobile station UE#1and allocate the C-RNTI#A and a C-RNTI#C to the mobile station UE#2.

The allocation unit11is configured to perform adjustment such that collision of search spaces to which PDCCH resources are allocated do not occur among the multiple mobile stations UE#1to UE#4.

As described above, the mobile communication system is configured such that the search space to be searched by each of the mobile stations is uniquely determined depending on a C-RNTI.

As shown inFIG. 3, the allocation unit11thus performs adjustment such that the a PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#1is allocated to a search space #B corresponding to the C-RNTI#B, and a PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#2is allocated to a search space #C corresponding to the C-RNTI#C. This can avoid occurrence of the collision described above.

Specifically, if the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#1(or the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#2) is allocated to a search space #A, there is a possibility that a PDCCH signal is received by the both of the mobile station UE#1and the mobile station UE#2. Accordingly, the allocation unit11allocates no PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#1(or the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#2) to the search space #A.

The allocation unit11may be configured to determine whether collision occurs between the mobile station UE#1and the mobile station UE#2by considering the distance between the mobile station UE#1and the mobile station UE#2and the like.

The distance between the mobile station UE#1and the mobile station UE#2may be expressed as the physical distance between the mobile stations UE or as the physical distance between the cells or the radio base stations eNB to which the respective mobile stations UE are connected.

The transmission unit12is configured to transmit various signals to each of the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4.

For example, the transmission unit12is configured to notify each of the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4of the C-RNTIs allocated by the allocation unit11.

Moreover, the transmission unit12is configured to transmit the PDCCH signals to each of the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4by using the PDCCH resource allocated by the allocation unit11.

Here, since the configurations of the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4are basically the same, their configurations will be described as the configuration of the mobile station UE. As shown inFIG. 4, the mobile station UE of the present embodiment includes a reception unit21and a management unit22.

The reception unit21is configured to receive various signals from the radio base station eNB.

For example, the reception unit21is configured to receive multiple C-RNTIs which are notified to the mobile station UE by the radio base station eNB and which are allocated to the mobile station UE, from the radio base station eNB.

The reception unit21may be configured to receive the multiple C-RNTIs through “RRC Connection Reconfiguration”, “RRC Connection Configuration”, or the like transmitted by the radio base station eNB.

The management unit22is configured to manage the multiple C-RNTIs received by the reception unit21.

The reception unit21is configured to search all of the search spaces, corresponding to the multiple C-RNTIs managed by the management unit22, for the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE, i.e. attempts decoding of the PDCCH signals for the mobile station UE.

For example, as shown inFIG. 3, the reception unit21of the mobile station UE#1is configured to attempt decoding of the PDCCH signals for the mobile station UE in the search spaces #A and #B, and the reception unit21of the mobile station UE#2is configured to attempt decoding of the PDCCH signals for the mobile station UE in the search spaces #A and #C.

As a result, the mobile stations UE#1and UE#2can each receive the PDCCH signals for itself without colliding with each other.

An operation of the mobile communication system in the present embodiment, specifically an operation of the mobile station UE in the present embodiment will be described below with reference toFIG. 5.

As shown inFIG. 5, in step S101, the mobile station UE determines whether multiple C-RNTIs are allocated to the mobile station UE by the radio base station eNB.

If “YES”, the operation proceeds to step S102. If “NO”, the operation proceeds to step S103.

In step S102, the mobile station UE searches for the PDCCH resource in all of search spaces corresponding to the multiple C-RNTIs.

Meanwhile, in step S103, the mobile station UE searches for the PDCCH resource in a search space corresponding to one C-RNTI.

A mobile communication system according to a first modified example of the present invention will be described below with reference toFIGS. 6 to 8, focusing on differences from the aforementioned mobile communication system in the first embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 6, in a case where: the allocation unit11of the radio base station eNB allocates the C-RNTI#A and the C-RNTI#B to the mobile station UE#l, the C-RNTI#A and the C-RNTI#C to the mobile station UE#2, a C-RNTI#D and the C-RNTI#C to the mobile station UE#3, and the C-RNTI#D and a C-RNTI#E to the mobile station UE#4; and the allocation unit11allocates the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#1to the search space #B corresponding to the C-RNTI#B, the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#2to the search space #0corresponding to the C-RNTI#C, the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#3to the search space #0corresponding to the C-RNTI#C, and the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#4to a search space #E corresponding to the C-RNTI#E, collision between the mobile station UE#1and the mobile station UE#2and collision between the mobile station UE#3and the mobile station UE#4can be prevented. However, collision between the mobile station UE#2and the mobile station UE#3cannot be prevented.

In view of this, in the mobile communication system of the first modified example, the reception unit21of the mobile station UE is configured to search for the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE in a search space corresponding to a “Primary C-RNTI” out of the multiple C-RNTIs managed by the management unit22by performing descrambling processing in one portion of the search space by using the “Primary C-RNTI”, and by performing the descrambling processing in a remaining portion of the search space by using a “Secondary C-RNTI” out of the multiple C-RNTIs.

In this example, the radio base station eNB is configured to notify the mobile station UE of the “Primary C-RNTI” and the “Secondary C-RNTI”.

For example, as shown inFIG. 7, the reception unit21of the mobile station UE#1is configured to search for the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#1in the search space #A corresponding to the C-RNTI#A which is the “Primary C-RNTI” by performing the descrambling processing in one portion #A1of the search space #A by using the C-RNTI#A, and by performing the descrambling processing in a remaining portion #A2of the search space #A by using the C-RNTI#B.

Moreover, the reception unit21of the mobile station UE#2is configured to search for the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#2in the search space #A corresponding to the C-RNTI#A which is the “Primary C-RNTI” by performing the descrambling processing in the one portion #A1of the search space #A by using the C-RNTI#A, and by performing the descrambling processing in the remaining portion #A2of the search space #A by using the C-RNTI#C.

Furthermore, the reception unit21of the mobile station UE#3is configured to search for the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#3in a search space #D corresponding to the C-RNTI#D which is the “Primary C-RNTI” by performing the descrambling processing in one portion #D1of the search space #D by using the C-RNTI#D, and by performing the descrambling processing in a remaining portion #D2of the search space #D by using the C-RNTI#C.

Moreover, the reception unit21of the mobile station UE#4is configured to search for the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#4in the search space #D corresponding to the C-RNTI#D which is the “Primary C-RNTI” by performing the descrambling processing in the one portion #D1of the search space #D by using the C-RNTI#D, and by performing the descrambling processing in the remaining portion #D2of the search space #D by using C-RNTI#E.

The radio base station eNB is configured to notify the mobile stations UE of the aforementioned one portion #A1/#D1of the search space and the aforementioned remaining portion #A2/#D2of the search space in the cases described above.

Note that the ratio of the aforementioned one portion #A1/#D1of the search space to the aforementioned remaining portion #A2/#D2may be determined in advance.

The allocation unit11of the radio base station eNB is configured to allocate the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#1to the remaining portion #A2of the search space #A corresponding to the C-RNTI#A and performs scrambling processing by using the C-RNTI#B in the case described above.

Moreover, the allocation unit11of the radio base station eNB is configured to allocate the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#2to the remaining portion #A2of the search space #A corresponding to the C-RNTI#A and perform the scrambling processing by using the C-RNTI#C.

Furthermore, the allocation unit11of the radio base station eNB is configured to allocate the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#3to the remaining portion #D2of the search space #D corresponding to the C-RNTI#D and perform the scrambling processing by using the C-RNTI#C.

Moreover, the allocation unit11of the radio base station eNB is configured to allocate the PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE#4to the remaining portion #D2of the search space #D corresponding to the C-RNTI#D and perform the scrambling processing by using the C-RNTI#E.

An operation of the mobile communication system in the first modified example, specifically, an operation of the mobile station UE in the present modified example will be described below with reference toFIG. 8.

As shown inFIG. 8, in step S201, the mobile station UE determines whether multiple C-RNTIs are allocated to the mobile station UE by the radio base station eNB.

If “YES”, the operation proceeds to step S202. If “NO”, the operation proceeds to step S203.

In step S202, the mobile station UE performs the descrambling processing (i.e. checks CRC of PDCCH) in one portion of a search space corresponding to the “Primary C-RNTI” by using the “Primary C-RNTI” and performs the descrambling (i.e. checks CRC of PDCCH) in a remaining portion of the search space corresponding to the “Primary C-RNTI” by using the “Secondary C-RNTI”.

Meanwhile, in step S203, the mobile station UE searches for a PDCCH resource in a search space corresponding to one C-RNTI (i.e. checks CRC of PDCCH by using the one C-RNTI).

The features of the present embodiment may also be expressed as follows.

A first feature of the present embodiment is summarized as a radio base station eNB including an allocation unit11configured to allocate multiple C-RNTIs to each of mobile stations UE#1to UE#4. Here, the allocation unit11performs adjustment such that collision of search spaces to which PDCCH resources are allocated does not occur between the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4.

In such a configuration, it is possible to prevent collisions between the mobile stations UE while avoiding the problem of C-RNTI depletion in a phantom cell.

In the first feature of the present embodiment, the allocation unit11performs the adjustment in consideration of a distance between two of the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4.

In such a configuration, the radio, base station eNB determines that no collision occurs between the mobile stations UE which are away from each other by a predetermined distance or more in a phantom cell even when the same C-RNTI is allocated to the mobile stations, and may not perform the aforementioned adjustment. As a result, it is possible to reduce the processing load of the radio base station eNB.

A second feature of the present embodiment is summarized as a mobile station UE including: a management unit22configured to manage multiple C-RNTIs allocated by a radio base station eNB; and a reception unit21configured to search for a PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE in search spaces corresponding to the multiple C-RNTIs.

In such a configuration, it is possible to prevent collisions between the mobile stations UE while avoiding the problem of C-RNTI depletion in a phantom cell.

A third feature of the present embodiment is summarized as a mobile station UE including: a management unit22configured to manage multiple C-RNTIs allocated by a radio base station eNB; and a reception unit21configured to search for a PDCCH resource for the mobile station UE in a search space corresponding to a “Primary C-RNTI” out of the multiple C-RNTIs by performing descrambling processing in a portion of the search space by using the “Primary C-RNTI” and by performing descrambling processing in a remaining portion of the search space by using a “Secondary C-RNTI” out of the multiple C-RNTIs.

In such a configuration, it is possible to prevent collisions between the mobile stations UE while avoiding the problem of C-RNTI depletion even when many mobile stations UE exist in a phantom cell.

It should be noted that the foregoing operations of the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4and the radio base station eNB may be implemented by hardware, may be implemented by a software module executed by a processor, or may be implemented in combination of the two.

The software module may be provided in a storage medium in any format, such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM), a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, or a CD-ROM.

The storage medium is connected to a processor so that the processor can read and write information from and to the storage medium. Instead, the storage medium may be integrated in a processor. The storage medium and the processor may be provided inside an ASIC. Such an ASIC may be provided in the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4and the radio base station eNB. Otherwise, the storage medium and the processor may be provided as discrete components inside the mobile stations UE#1to UE#4and the radio base station eNB.

Hereinabove, the present invention has been described in detail by use of the foregoing embodiment. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the embodiment described in the specification. The present invention can be implemented as an altered or modified embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which are determined by the description of the scope of claims. Therefore, the description of the specification is intended for illustrative explanation only and does not impose any limited interpretation on the present invention.

Note that the entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-007667 (filed on Jan. 18, 2013) is incorporated by reference in the present specification.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention can provide a radio base station and a mobile station which is capable of preventing collisions between mobile stations to which the same C-RNTI is allocated in a simple implementation while avoiding the problem of C-RNTI depletion in a phantom cell.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

eNB#1radio base station