Radio access network with meshed radio base stations
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorsCharles Wolfe, Larry Schnack
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wireless communication network supporting mobile communications includes a mesh of radio base stations (RBSs) interconnected as packet data routing network. The RBSs are RF-coupled together so that adjacent ones may relay communications traffic to each other. By attaching to the mesh of radio base stations at one or more attachment points, communications traffic may be routed between a base station controller and any one of the radio base stations in the mesh based on configuring the appropriate route through the mesh. Preferably, the mesh is implemented as an IP-based routing network with each radio base station in the mesh operating as an addressable routing node within the mesh.
Claims53
A radio access network supporting mobile terminal communications comprising:
- a mesh of RF-coupled radio base stations, each said radio base station operative to transmit and receive communications traffic to and from one or more mobile terminals, and to relay communications traffic to and from other ones of said radio base stations in said mesh;
- at least one concentrator coupled to at least one said radio base station in said mesh to carry the aggregate of communications traffic associated with said mesh;
- and
- a base station controller communicatively coupled to said at least one concentrator to process communications traffic to and from said mesh.
A method of providing wireless communication service coverage, the method comprising:
- passing communications traffic for a mobile terminal from a base station controller to a mesh of RF-coupled radio base stations;
- routing the communications traffic for said mobile terminal through one or more intervening radio base stations in said mesh as needed to reach a serving radio base station;
- transmitting the communications traffic for said mobile terminal from said serving radio base station to said mobile terminal;
- receiving communications traffic from said mobile terminal at said serving radio base station;
- and
- routing the communications traffic from said mobile terminal from said serving radio base station through one or more intervening radio base stations in said mesh as needed to reach said base station controller.
A radio base station for use in a meshed network of RF-coupled radio base stations, said radio base station comprising:
- a wireless backhaul interface to support backhaul communications between radio base stations comprising said meshed network;
- a wireless mobile terminal interface to support communication with one or more mobile terminals operating in a coverage area of said radio base station;
- a router to send and receive communications traffic through said wireless backhaul interface;
- said router adapted to relay communications traffic to other ones of said radio base stations in said meshed network when said radio base station is not the destination of communications traffic received through said wireless backhaul interface;
- said router further adapted to pass communications traffic for local processing and transmission via said wireless mobile terminal interface when said radio base station is the destination of communications traffic received through said wireless backhaul interface.
A method of processing communications traffic associated with a mobile terminal in a first radio base station forming part of a networked mesh of RF-coupled radio base stations, the method comprising:
- receiving packet data from an external source at said first radio base station in said mesh;
- processing said packet data locally in said first radio base station if said packet data is intended for said first radio base station;
- and
- relaying said packet data to a second radio base station if said packet data is not intended for said first radio base station.
A method of providing wireless communication service to a mobile terminal, the method comprising:
- receiving communication traffic for the mobile terminal at a first radio base station comprising one of a plurality of radio base stations that together comprise a networked mesh of radio base stations;
- transmitting the communications traffic from said first radio base station to a mobile terminal served by said first radio base station if the communications traffic is destined for said mobile terminal;
- and
- routing the communications traffic to a second said radio base station in said meshed network if the communications traffic is not destined for said first radio base station.
A method of providing wireless communication service to a mobile terminal, the method comprising routing communications traffic between a mobile terminal and a base station controller through a mesh of interconnected radio base stations, wherein a final radio base station in said mesh serving said mobile terminal receives communications traffic for said mobile terminal through at least one other radio base station in said mesh, and wherein said final radio base station routes communications traffic from said mobile terminal to said base station controller through at least one other radio base station in said mesh.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.