Data communication method and apparatus via interlock between heterogeneous networks in radio access system supporting multi radio access technology

A method for allowing a multiple radio access technology (RAT) (multi-RAT) terminal to simultaneously communicate data via a first base station supporting a first RAT and a second base station supporting a second RAT in a radio access system supporting multi-RAT, the method comprising:

• performing data communication via a first carrier with the first base station;
• receiving control information required for accessing the second base station from the first base station;
• performing a scanning procedure for at least one second base station located in the vicinity of the first base station based on the control information;
• performing an access procedure with the second base station;
• and
• performing data communication via a second carrier with the accessed second base station,
• wherein the control information comprises beacon frame transmission timing information for the second base station, and the beacon frame transmission timing is maintained in transmission timing of a downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first base station with relative timing offset interval,
• wherein the relative timing offset interval indicates an interval between a downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first RAT and a beacon frame of the second RAT to synchronize the downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first RAT and the beacon frame of the second RAT,
• wherein the simultaneous communication of data via the first base station and the second base station occurs under control of a cellular network without switching mechanism in the multi-RAT terminal, and
• wherein the first RAT is a radio access technology supporting a cellular system, and the second RAT is a radio access technology supporting a wireless local area network (WLAN).

A method for simultaneously communicating data via a first base station supporting a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second base station supporting a second RAT in a radio access system supporting multiple RAT (multi-RAT), the method comprising:

• allowing the second base station to perform a registration procedure with the first base station;
• allowing the second base station to transmit a beacon frame to a terminal supporting multi-RAT (multi-RAT terminal);
• performing an access procedure with the multi-RAT terminal;
• and
• performing data communication via a virtual carrier with the multi-RAT terminal;
• wherein a transmission period of the beacon frame and a transmission period of a downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first base station have relative timing offset interval, and the virtual carrier is distinguished from a carrier performing data communication between the first base station and the multi-RAT terminal,
• wherein the relative timing offset interval indicates an interval between a downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first RAT and a beacon frame of the second RAT to synchronize the downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first RAT and the beacon frame of the second RAT,
• wherein the simultaneous communication of data via the first base station and the second base station occurs under control of a cellular network without switching mechanism in the multi-RAT terminal, and
• wherein the first RAT is a radio access technology supporting a cellular system, and the second RAT is a radio access technology supporting a wireless local area network (WLAN).

A multiple radio access technology (RAT) (multi-RAT) terminal for simultaneously communicating data via a first base station supporting a first RAT and a second base station supporting a second RAT in a radio access system supporting multi-RAT, the terminal comprising:

• a wireless communication unit configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals to and/or from the outside;
• and
• a controller connected to the wireless communication unit,
• wherein the controller controls to perform data communication via a first carrier with the first base station, controls the wireless communication unit to receive control information required for accessing the second base station from the first base station, controls to perform a scanning procedure for at least one second base station located in the vicinity of the first base station based on the control information, controls to perform an access procedure with the second base station, and controls the wireless communication unit to perform data communication via a second carrier with the accessed second base station,
• wherein the control information comprises beacon frame transmission timing information for the second base station, and the beacon frame transmission timing is maintained in transmission timing of a downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first base station with relative timing offset interval,
• wherein the relative timing offset interval indicates an interval between a downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first RAT and a beacon frame of the second RAT to synchronize the downlink frame or downlink sub-frame of the first RAT and the beacon frame of the second RAT,
• wherein the simultaneous communicating of data via the first base station and the second base station occurs under control of a cellular network without switching mechanism in the multi-RAT terminal, and
• wherein the first RAT is a radio access technology supporting a cellular system, and the second RAT is a radio access technology supporting a wireless local area network (WLAN).