Device, base station, and control methods thereof in wireless communication system

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). A control method of a device according to one embodiment of the present invention may comprise the steps of: receiving, from a first base station, information on at least one second base station existing within a critical distance from the first base station; and determining, on the basis of the information, whether a wireless communication system of the at least one second base station is to be used.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a wireless communication system and, more specifically, to a device and method for easily connecting to a 5G communication system and efficiently using a service related to the 5G communication system.

BACKGROUND ART

In a region in which a general 4G communication system and a 5G communication system coexist, there is the need for a method that enables a device to easily use both the 4G and 5G communication systems.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

In accordance with the need, an aspect of the disclosure is to enable a device using a general 4G communication system to easily use a 5G communication system.

Solution to Problem

A method for controlling a device in a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the disclosure may include: receiving, from a first base station, information relating to at least one second base station existing within a critical distance from the first base station; and determining, based on the information, whether to use a wireless communication system of the at least one second base station.

Meanwhile, a method for controlling a first base station according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include: broadcasting information relating to at least one second base station existing within a critical distance from the first base station, wherein the information includes at least one of a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of the at least one second base station, location information of the at least one second base station, coverage information of the at least one second base station, density information of the at least one second base station, and information relating to the strength of a signal of a communication system of the at least one second base station, and based on the information, a device having received the information determines whether to use a wireless communication system of the at least one second base station.

In addition, a device in a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the disclosure may include: a transceiver configured to transmit or receive a signal; and a controller configured to: control the transceiver to receive, from a first base station, information relating to at least one second base station existing within a critical distance from the first base station; and based on the information, determine whether to use a wireless communication system of the at least one second base station.

Meanwhile, a first base station in a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the disclosure may include: a transceiver configured to transmit or receive a signal; and a controller configured to control the transceiver to broadcast information relating to at least one second base station existing within a critical distance from the first base station, wherein the information includes at least one of a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of the at least one second base station, location information of the at least one second base station, coverage information of the at least one second base station, density information of the at least one second base station, and information relating to the strength of a signal of a communication system of the at least one second base station, and based on the information, a device having received the information determines whether to use a wireless communication system of the at least one second base station.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the disclosure, a device can previously determine whether a 5G communication system is connectable or whether the 5G communication system can be used continuously, by using information broadcast by a 4G base station.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

In describing the embodiments, descriptions related to technical contents which are well-known in the art to which the disclosure pertains, and are not directly associated with the disclosure, will be omitted. Such an omission of unnecessary descriptions is intended to prevent obscuring of the main idea of the disclosure and more clearly transfer the main idea.

In the disclosure, a terminal may include generally a mobile terminal and may indicate a device that is previously joined in a mobile communication system and receives services provided from the mobile communication system. The mobile terminal may include a smart device, such as a smart phone, and a tablet PC, which merely corresponds to an example, and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, in the following description, a term for identifying an access node, terms for indicating network entities, terms for indicating messages, a term for indicating an interface between network entities, terms for indicating various identification information, and the like are examples for convenience of explanation. Therefore, the disclosure may not be limited by the terminologies provided below, and other terms that indicate subjects having equivalent technical meanings may be used.

For convenience of description, terms and names defined in 3GPP LTE (3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution) standards will be used in the disclosure. However, the disclosure is not limited to the terms and names, and may be applied to a system following another standard in the same way.

A structure of a next generation mobile communication system to which the disclosure may be applied will be briefly described. A wireless access network of a next generation mobile communication system (hereinafter, new radio (NR) or 5G) includes a next generation base station (new radio node B, hereinafter, NR gNB or NR base station) and a new radio core network (NR CN). A user terminal (new radio user equipment, hereinafter, NR UE or terminal) accesses an external network through a NR gNB and a NR CN.

The NR gNB corresponds to an evolved node B (eNB) of a conventional LTE system. The NR gNB is connected to the NR UE through a wireless channel and may provide an outstanding service compared to a conventional node B. In the NR system, all the user traffic is serviced thorough shared channels, and thus an apparatus that collects state information, such as the buffer states of UEs, an available transmission power state, and a channel state, and performs scheduling, is required, and an NR NB serves as the apparatus. One NR gNB generally controls a plurality of cells. In order to implement very-high-speed data transfer compared to the current LTE, the NR gNB may have a bandwidth wider than the conventional maximum bandwidth, may employ an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (hereinafter, referred to as OFDM) as a wireless access technology, and a beamforming technology may be additionally integrated therewith. Further, an adaptive modulation and coding (hereinafter, referred to as an AMC) scheme for determining a modulation scheme and a channel coding rate according to a channel state of the terminal is employed. The NR CN may perform functions such as mobility support, bearer configuration, and QoS configuration. The NR CN is an apparatus which is responsible for various control functions as well as a mobility management function for a terminal, and is connected to a plurality of base stations. Also, the NR system may be linked to a conventional LTE system, and the NR CN is connected to a MME through a network interface. The MME is connected to an eNB that is a conventional base station.

Hereinafter, a base station described according to an embodiment of the disclosure may indicate a 5G base station that transmits a signal by using a beam formed by beamforming in a super-high frequency (mmWave) band as described above.

FIGS. 1A and 1Billustrate an embodiment in which a coverage of at least one 5G base station exists within a coverage of a 4G base station.

Specifically,FIG. 1Aillustrates an embodiment in which one 5G base station110exists within a coverage105of a 4G base station100. Generally, a coverage115of the 5G base station110may be smaller than the coverage105of the 4G base station100. Therefore, as the inclusion illustrated inFIG. 1A, the coverage115of the 5G base station110may be included in the coverage105of the 4G base station100.

In the case as illustrated inFIG. 1A, 5G wireless communication service may be smoothly provided within the coverage115of the 5G base station110. However, in the coverage105of the 4G base station100except for the coverage115of the 5G base station110, 4G wireless communication service may be smoothly provided, and 5G wireless communication service may not be smoothly provided.

Meanwhile,FIG. 1Billustrates an embodiment in which a plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180exist within a coverage105of a 4G base station100. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1B, 5G wireless communication service may be smoothly provided within coverages115,125,135,145,155,165,175, and185of the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180.

The 4G base station100of the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 1Bmay broadcast information relating to at least one 5G base station to a device.

For example, the 4G base station100illustrated inFIG. 1Amay broadcast information relating to the 5G base station110. In addition, the 4G base station100illustrated inFIG. 1Bmay broadcast information relating to the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180.

The information broadcast by the 4G base station100may include a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of a corresponding 5G base station, location information of the 5G base station, coverage information of the 5G base station, density information of the 5G base station, information relating to the strength of a signal of a communication system of the 5G base station, and the like. The coverage information of the 5G base station may indicate information relating to the location and area of a region in which a wireless signal is smoothly transmitted or received to or from the 5G base station. The density information of the 5G base station may indicate information indicating how dense the installation of the 5G base station is. For example, if the number of 5G base stations installed within a critical area is a first number or greater, the density is “high”, if the number of 5G base stations installed within the critical size is smaller than the first number and equal to or greater than a second number, the density is “medium”, and if the number of 5G base stations installed within the critical size is smaller than the second number, the density is “low”. Furthermore, the 4G base station may broadcast information relating to the density “high”, “medium”, or “low” as the density information of the 5G base station.

In other words, information broadcast by the 4G base station100may enable the device having received the information to determine whether to easily use a wireless communication system provided by the 5G base station.

Therefore, if the device having received the information determines, based on the received information, that a wireless communication service provided by the 5G base station is smooth, the device may attempt to connect to the 5G base station. In addition, if the device having previously connected to the 5G base station determines whether a wireless communication service provided by the 5G base station will be smooth continuously, the device may determine whether to operate a program or application based on the 5G communication service.

Furthermore, the device having received the information may control On/Off of a 5G chip for use of a 5G wireless communication service, based on information transmitted by the 4G base station100. For example, if the 4G base station100broadcasts information indicating that a 5G wireless communication service within a critical distance has a high quality and the density of a 5G base station is high, a device having received the information may turn on the power of a 5G chip that has been turned off. In addition, the device may attempt to connect to the 5G base station.

While the device is previously connected to a 5G base station and uses a communication service provided by the 5G base station, if the device receives information broadcast by the 4G base station, the device may determine, based on the information, whether to maintain the connection to the 5G base station. Specifically, if according to the information transmitted by the 4G base station, it is determined that the density of the 5G base station decreases or the strength of a signal of the 5G base station decreases, the device may disconnect from the 5G base station and turn off the power of the 5G chip. In addition, the device may terminate an application or program that is operating based on a 5G wireless communication service, or inform a user to terminate the application or program.

Meanwhile, the 4G base station100may broadcast a message including location information of at least one 5G base station. For example, the 4G base station100may broadcast global positioning system (GPS) information or map information relating to the location of at least one 5G base station. A terminal having received location information of the 5G base station may identify the location of the 5G base station. In addition, the terminal may determine whether to use a 5G wireless communication service, the determination being performed based on the location of the 5G base station and a moving path of the terminal.

Furthermore, a device may calculate the maintenance possibility of a 5G wireless communication service, based on the number of messages including information relating to 5G base stations, received from the 4G base station100. For example, if the received messages including the information relating to the 5G base stations are large, the device may calculate a high possibility that the device stays within the coverages of the 5G base stations. Meanwhile, if the received messages including the information relating to the 5G base stations are small, the device may calculate a low possibility that the device stays within the coverages of the 5G base stations.

Meanwhile,FIG. 2illustrates an embodiment in which coverages of a plurality of 5G base stations having different service smoothness exist within a coverage of a 4G base station.

The embodiment inFIG. 2illustrates an example in which a first 5G base station110to an eighth 5G base station180exist within a coverage105of a 4G base station100. If the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180provide wireless communication services having different smoothness, respectively, the 4G base station100may broadcast information indicating the smoothness of the services of the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180.

If the smoothness of the wireless communication services provided by the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180, respectively, may be determined based on the strength of signals transmitted by the 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180, respectively. The smoothness may be determined based on the surroundings of the 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180. For example, if a structure, such as screening fence, a wall, or a building, exists in the vicinity of a random 5G base station, the random 5G base station may be determined to provide a wireless communication service having low smoothness.

Specifically, the smoothness qualities of the services of the 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180may be measured by provided 5G usage statistics of a user. In relation to the smoothness of the services of the 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180, a database including quality information of a 5G network may be constructed by receiving 5G quality information of a user from the 4G base station100or the 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180.

For example, the 4G base station100may receive, from at least one device, feedback on wireless communication services provided by the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180. The plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180may receive, from at least one device, feedback on wireless communication services. Then, the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180may transmit the feedback to the 4G base station100. Therefore, the 4G base station100may measure, based on the feedback, the qualities of the 5G wireless communication services by the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180. Accordingly, the 4G base station100can broadcast information indicating the smoothness of the services of the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180.

The 4G base station100may broadcast the information together with public land mobile network (PLMN) identifiers of the plurality of 5G base stations110,120,130,140,150,160,170, and180, location information of the second base station, or the like.

Therefore, a device receiving the information may predict a location at which a 5G wireless communication service is smooth, based on the information. Also, based on the received information, the moving direction and speed of the device, and the like, the device may determine whether a wireless communication service of each of the 5G base stations is available. For example, the device is a vehicle and the vehicle is traveling in a self-driving mode by using 5G wireless communication service. The vehicle may identify destination information, current location and speed information, and the like of the vehicle. During traveling in the self-driving mode, if the vehicle receives the information illustrated inFIG. 2and broadcast by a 4G base station, the vehicle may determine whether the vehicle can continue autonomous driving by using the 5G wireless communication service, the determination being performed based on the destination information, and the current location and speed information of the vehicle. If a result of the determination indicates that the vehicle is not able to autonomously drive any longer by using the 5G wireless communication service, the vehicle may output a 5G wireless communication service termination warning message to a user. The vehicle may terminate the self-driving mode by using the 5G wireless communication service. Also, the vehicle may change the 5G wireless communication service to 4G wireless communication service to continue the self-driving mode. To this end, the vehicle may attempt to connect to the 4G base station and continue the self-driving mode by using 4G wireless communication service provided by the 4G base station.

Specifically, the following specific description will be based onFIG. 3. A 4G base station300may broadcast information relating to a 5G base station310existing within a coverage305. The information relating to the 5G base station310may include a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of the 5G base station310, location information of the 5G base station310, coverage information of the 5G base station310, density information of the 5G base station310, information relating to the strength of a signal of a communication system of the 5G base station310, or the like.

A vehicle320existing within a coverage315of the 5G base station310may be traveling in a self-driving mode by using a wireless communication service of the 5G base station310. Screen A indicated by reference numeral330may be displayed in the vehicle320.

Meanwhile, according to the aforementioned method, if the vehicle320having received the information broadcast by the 4G base station300tries to deviate from the coverage315of the 5G base station310, screen B indicated by reference numeral340may be displayed in the vehicle320. In other words, the vehicle320may output a 5G wireless communication service termination warning message to a corresponding user.

The vehicle320may terminate the self-driving mode by using the 5G wireless communication service. For example, if after the 5G wireless communication service termination warning message is output, the user inputs a self-driving mode terminating command or a critical time interval has passed, the vehicle320may terminate the self-driving mode by using the 5G wireless communication service.

Also, the vehicle may change the 5G wireless communication service to a 4G wireless communication service to continue the self-driving mode. To this end, the vehicle320may attempt to connect to the 4G base station300and continue the self-driving mode by using a 4G wireless communication service provided by the 4G base station300. The vehicle320may output a user interface (UI) for informing the user that the self-driving mode is performed by using the 4G wireless communication service.

Meanwhile,FIG. 4illustrates a connection state of a mobile device receiving information from a 4G base station according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, before entering with a coverage405of a 4G base station400, a device420may exist within a coverage435of another 4G base station430.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4, a 5G base station does not exist within a critical distance from the another 4G base station430. Therefore, the device420may not be able to receive information relating to a 5G base station. For example, the another 4G base station430may only broadcast a 4G PLMN ID.

While the device420is moving to the coverage405of the 4G base station400from the coverage435of another 4G base station430, the device may perform handover from the another 4G base station430to the 4G base station400. As described above, the device420may receive information relating to a 5G base station410as well as information relating to the 4G base station from the 4G base station400. For example, the device420may receive both a PLMN ID of the 4G base station and a PLMN ID of the 5G base station from the 4G base station400. Therefore, the device420having moved into the coverage of the 4G base station400may sense a 5G PLMN as described inFIG. 4.

Meanwhile, the device420may further receive, from the 4G base station400, a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of the 5G base station410, location information of the 5G base station410, coverage information of the 5G base station410, density information of the 5G base station410, information relating to the strength of a signal of a communication system of the 5G base station410, or the like.

If the device420is determined, based on the information, to be able to be connected to the 5G base station410, the device420may transmit a signal for connecting to the 5G base station410. If a connection to the 5G base station410has succeeded, the device420may transmit or receive a signal by using the 5G wireless communication service.

Also, the device420may determine whether the device420can use a wireless communication system of the 5G base station410, the determination being performed based on information broadcast by the 4G base station400, the moving direction and moving speed of the device420, and the like.

For example, the information broadcast by the 4G base station400may include information relating to the location of the 5G base station410. Therefore, the device420may determine whether the device is approaching the 5G base station410, the determination being performed based on the moving direction thereof. The device420may calculate, based on the moving speed, when the device reaches the coverage of the 5G base station410. Therefore, the device420may determine a time point at which the device transmits a signal for connecting to the 5G base station415, the determination being performed based on information broadcast by the 4G base station400, the moving direction and moving speed of the device420, and the like. The device420may change an Off state of a 5G chip to an On state.

Also, if the 5G wireless communication service is determined to be usable, based on information broadcast by the 4G base station400, the moving direction and moving speed of the device420, and the like, the device420may inform a corresponding user that the user can use the 5G wireless communication service. The device420may execute a service corresponding to a 5G communication system. For example, the device420may execute an application operating in a 5G communication system. The device420may change an execution level of an application into a level corresponding to the 5G communication system.

For example, the device420may activate a configured random service or application through application profiling only if a 5G communication system is used.

Specifically, if the device420is connected to the 5G base station410, the device may download a large file having a critical size (e.g. 1 gigabyte) or greater. For example, even though a separate download command is not input from the user, if a connection to the 5G base station410has succeeded, the device420may download the large file.

The device420may update a background application. For example, even though a separate download command is not input from the user, if a connection to the 5G base station410has succeeded, the device420may update a background application.

Meanwhile, the device420may execute a differentiated service, such as panorama view conversion, automatic resolution adjustment, or a super-large file download, by using a 5G bandwidth.

The embodiment ofFIG. 4illustrates one 5G base station410, but a plurality of 5G base stations410may exist within a critical distance from the 4G base station400. The 4G base station400may broadcast messages including information relating to 5G base stations410existing within a critical distance in proportion to the number of the 5G base stations. Therefore, the device420may calculate the maintenance possibility of a 5G wireless communication service, based on the number of messages including information relating to the 5G base station410, received from the 4G base station400. For example, if the number of the received messages including information relating to the 5G base station410is large, the device may calculate a high possibility that the device stays within the coverage of the 5G base station410. Meanwhile, if the number of the received messages including information relating to the 5G base station410is small, the device420may calculate a low possibility that the device stays within the coverage of the 5G base station410.

Meanwhile, if the device420does not have a suitable application executed by using a wireless communication service provided by the 5G base station410, the device420may put registration of information relating to a 5G coverage on hold or not activate the 5G chip in order to reduce terminal power consumption.

Also, if the device420deviates from the coverage of the 5G base station410, the device420may turn off the 5G chip that has been turned on. The device420may change a 4G chip into an On state.

Meanwhile,FIG. 5is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

First, in operation S500, a device may receive, from the first base station, information relating to at least one second base station existing within a critical distance from the first base station. The first base station may be a 4G base station. The second base station may be a 5G base station.

In operation S510, the device may determine whether the device is connected to the first base station. If a result of the determination indicates that the device is connected to the first base station, the device may transmit, based on the information, a signal for connecting to the second base station, in operation S520. The information transmitted by the first base station may include at least one of a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of the second base station, location information of the second base station, coverage information of the second base station, density information of the second base station, and information relating to the strength of a signal of a communication system of the second base station.

In addition, in operation S530, if a connection to the second base station has succeeded, the device may transmit or receive a signal by using a communication system of the second base station. Also, the device may calculate the availability of the communication system of the second base station, based on at least one of the moving direction and the moving speed of the device. Based on the calculated availability, the device may determine whether to disconnect from the second base station.

Meanwhile, if a result of the determination of S510indicates that the device is not connected to the first base station, for example, the device is connected to the second base station, the device may determine, based on the information, whether to maintain the connection to the second base station or disconnect from the base station, in operation S540.

FIG. 6is a block diagram illustrating elements of a base station according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The base station may be a 4G base station or a 5G base station.

A base station600may include a transceiver610and a controller620. First, the transceiver610may transmit or receive a signal. For example, the transceiver610may transmit or receive a signal to or from another base station or a terminal. If the base station600is a 4G base station, the another base station may be a 5G base station.

Meanwhile, the controller620is an element for controlling the base station600overall.

The controller620may control the transceiver610to broadcast information relating to at least one second base station existing within a critical distance from the first base station.

The information may include at least one of a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of the at least one second base station, location information of the at least one second base station, coverage information of the at least one second base station, density information of the at least one second base station, and information relating to the strength of a signal of a communication system of the at least one second base station.

Also, based on the information, a device having received the information may determine whether to use a wireless communication system of the at least one second base station.

FIG. 7is a block diagram illustrating elements of a device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, a device700may include a transceiver710and a controller720.

First, the transceiver710may transmit or receive a signal. For example, the transceiver710may transmit or receive a signal to or from a base station or another terminal. The device700may transmit or receive a signal to or from a 5G base station as well as a 4G base station.

The controller720is an element for controlling the base station700overall.

The controller720may: control the transceiver to receive, from a first base station, information on at least one second base station existing within a critical distance from the first base station; and determine, based on the information, whether to use a wireless communication system of the at least one second base station.

The information transmitted by the first base station may include at least one of a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of the at least one second base station, location information of the at least one second base station, coverage information of the at least one second base station, density information of the at least one second base station, and information relating to the strength of a signal of a communication system of the at least one second base station.

In the case when the information is received while the device is connected to the first base station, if the wireless communication system of the second base station is determined, based on the information, to be usable, the controller720may control the transceiver710to transmit a signal for connecting to the second base station. Also, if a connection to the second base station has succeeded, the controller720may control the transceiver710to transmit or receive a signal by using a communication system of the second base station.

If the information broadcast by the first base station is received through the transceiver710while the device700is connected to the second base station, the controller720may determine, based on the information, whether to maintain the connection to the second base station or disconnect from the second base station.

If the information broadcast by the first base station is received through the transceiver710while the device700is connected to the second base station, the controller720may calculate the availability of the communication system of the second base station, based on the information and at least one of the moving direction and the moving speed of the device. Based on the calculated availability, the controller720may determine whether to disconnect from the second base station.

The device700may further include a 5G chip. If the information is received while the device700is connected to the first base station, the controller720may control, based on the information, the 5G chip to be turned on, which has been turned off.

The first base station may be an LTE base station, and the second base station may be a 5G base station.

FIG. 8illustrates a 4G chip800, a 5G chip810, and an AP chip820of a device. A device may include both the 4G chip800and the 5G chip810. Under the control of the application processor (AP) chip820of the device, the 4G chip800and the 5G chip810may be controlled to be turned on or off.

For example, the AP chip820of the device may connect to the 4G chip800and receive a wireless communication service provided by a 4G base station, before the AP chip receives information relating to a 5G base station from the 4G base station and attempts to connect to the 5G base station.

If information relating to the 5G base station is received from the 4G base station and the 5G base station is determined to be connectable, the AP chip820of the device may switch the connection from the 4G chip800to the 5G chip810. The AP chip820of the device is able to attempt to connect to the 5G base station by using the 5G chip810.

A device as described above can previously determine whether a 5G communication system is connectable or whether the 5G communication system can be used continuously, by using information broadcast by a 4G base station.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, the disclosure is not limited thereto. It is apparent that various modified implementations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure claimed by the claims, and the modified implementations should not be construed separately from the technical idea or view of the disclosure.