IP based cellular communication system utilizing advanced tunnels and encapsulation methods useful in conjunction therewith

A method for internet protocol (IP) based cellular communication in an IP based cellular communication system comprising a plurality of base stations and a cellular communication system core connected to each of the plurality of base stations and including an IP connectivity gateway operative to receive at least one packet having an IP-address designating a node in the cellular communication system, to add thereto a header of a base station serving the node, and to forward the at least one packet with the header to a router, the method comprising:

• providing at least one moving relay having an individual mobile station functionality and an individual base station functionality which is addressed by the cellular communication system core using the individual mobile station functionality's IP address;
• and
• providing a router coupled to the gateway, configured to recognize packets for the individual base station as designated to a mobile station and operative for routing, packets received from the gateway, as follows:
• packets whose IP address is any one of the plurality of base stations, are routed to the base stations;
• and at least one packet designated to an IP address of a mobile station is routed back to the gateway, wherein
• the router is operative to receive the packets from an IP connectivity gateway at the cellular communication system core which is connected to each of the plurality of base stations,
• at least one of the packets includes:
• an IP-address designating a node in the cellular communication system, and
• a header, added by the gateway and recognized by the router, of a base station serving the node,
• the method is configured to support multiple relay scenarios with dynamic topology, in which relay connections vary over time, in that the at least one mobile station functionality, user entity (UE), with plural potential connections to plural nodes respectively, is provided in the at least one relay, with IP level relayed information regarding various of said plural potential connections via the at least one relay that said UE is currently connected to, the plural nodes including at least one of (a) base stations and (b) relay nodes' base station functionalities, and
• decision making functionality is provided to:
• dynamically derive from said information, a correct IP routing over multiple relays, from among multiple alternative routes available for a one to one entity connection, which will connect said UE to a given final destination via a suitable number of available relay nodes, given a current topology of said available relay nodes, and
• dynamically select a relay for the UE to be served by, from among said plural potential connections, accordingly.

An Internet Protocol (IP)-based cellular communication system operative in conjunction with a moving relay, the system comprising:

• an IP connectivity gateway coupled to a network router and to a mobility management entity;
• and
• a router configured to:
• route, to the gateway, at least one packet designated to an IP address of at least one moving relay, wherein
• the router is configured to use a tunneling protocol other than a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) tunneling protocol,
• the at least one moving relay includes a first moving relay comprising base station functionality, a radio manager and mobile station functionality, all co-located,
• the base station functionality is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby defining a first radio link there between,
• said base station functionality has a physical connection to the co-located radio manager,
• the mobile station functionality communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define a second radio link,
• the radio manager comprises:
• a radio resource manager, and
• functionality for exchanging information with radio managers included in moving relays other than the first moving relay,
• the radio manager is configured to use the exchanged information to select, for at least one individual mobile station which seeks to be served by establishing a standard connection, one of:
• a static base station;
• and a base station functionality, to which to connect the individual mobile station in order to provide cellular communication services thereto,
• the system is configured to support multiple relay scenarios with dynamic topology, in which relay connections vary over time, in that at least one mobile station functionality, user entity (UE), with plural potential connections to plural nodes respectively, is provided in the at least one relay, with IP level relayed information regarding various of said plural potential connections via the at least one relay that said UE is currently connected to, the plural nodes including at least one of (a) base stations and (b) relay nodes' base station functionalities, and
• decision making functionality is provided to:
• dynamically derive from said information, a correct IP routing over multiple relays, from among multiple alternative routes available for a one to one entity connection, which will connect said UE to a given final destination via a suitable number of available relay nodes, given a current topology of said available relay nodes, and
• dynamically select a relay for the UE to be served by, from among said plural potential connections, accordingly.