U.S. patent application number 15/466197 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-06 for method and apparatus for controlling communication of a portable terminal in a wireless communication system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Byounghoon JUNG, Jungsoo JUNG, Jung-Min MOON, Seung-Hoon PARK, Sunheui RYOO.
Application Number | 20170195955 15/466197 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57528205 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170195955 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RYOO; Sunheui ; et
al. |
July 6, 2017 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION OF A PORTABLE
TERMINAL IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a 5.sup.th Generation (5G) or
pre-5G communication system supporting a higher data transfer rate
after a 4.sup.th Generation (4G) communication system such as Long
Term Evolution (LTE). In particular, a method and an apparatus for
controlling communication of a terminal in a wireless communication
system are provided. The method includes receiving information
regarding an operation of a second system by using a first
communication module configured to support a first system and
controlling an activation state of a second communication module
configured to support the second system, based on the information
regarding the operation of the second system.
Inventors: |
RYOO; Sunheui; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; JUNG; Jungsoo; (Seongnam-si, KR) ; MOON;
Jung-Min; (Suwon-si, KR) ; PARK; Seung-Hoon;
(Seoul, KR) ; JUNG; Byounghoon; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
57528205 |
Appl. No.: |
15/466197 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15142647 |
Apr 29, 2016 |
|
|
|
15466197 |
|
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02D 70/24 20180101;
H04W 52/0212 20130101; H04W 28/0221 20130101; Y02D 30/70 20200801;
Y02D 70/1262 20180101; H04W 52/0229 20130101; H04W 52/0216
20130101; H04W 48/12 20130101; Y02D 70/144 20180101; H04W 88/06
20130101; Y02D 70/142 20180101; H04W 52/0235 20130101; H04W 48/16
20130101; Y02D 70/21 20180101; H04W 4/08 20130101; Y02D 70/166
20180101; H04W 16/14 20130101; H04W 52/0219 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 52/02 20060101
H04W052/02; H04W 28/02 20060101 H04W028/02; H04W 4/08 20060101
H04W004/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 29, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0060647 |
Jun 29, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0092378 |
Claims
1. A method for operating a terminal in a wireless communication
system, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station of a
first system, via a first communication module for the first
system, a signal comprising information indicating whether downlink
traffic is generated for another terminal; and transmitting, to the
another terminal, a signal for requesting to control an activation
state of a communication module corresponding to the downlink
traffic.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication module
corresponding to the downlink traffic is configured to support at
least one of the first system and the second system, and wherein
the signal for requesting to control the activation state is
transmitted from the first communication module or a third
communication module or a third module different from the first
module.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming a group with
the another terminal based on at least one of user input
information, association history information stored in the
terminal, and information acquired through signal
transmission/reception to/from a neighboring terminal.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: determining the
terminal as a representative terminal between the terminal which
has formed the group and the another terminal, wherein the
representative terminal is determined based on at least one of a
plurality of communication schemes supported by terminals in the
group, a capacity of a communication module of each terminal in the
group, a remaining power level of each terminal in the group,
reception signal quality of each terminal in the group, and a
topology for terminals in the group.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first communication module is
determined as a downlink monitor module among a plurality of
communication modules included in the representative terminal, and
wherein the downlink monitor module is determined based on at least
one of a communication scheme supported by each terminal in the
group, capacity of each of the plurality of communication modules,
reception signal quality of each of the plurality of communication
modules, a channel occupation probability of each of the plurality
of communication modules, a power consumption amount of each of the
plurality of communication modules, a type of an accessed base
station, and a topology for terminals in the group.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication module is
in an activation state when the signal is generated.
7. A method for operating a terminal in a wireless communication
system, the method comprising: receiving, from another terminal,
via a first communication module corresponding to a first system, a
signal for requesting to control an activation state of a second
communication module corresponding to a second system; and
controlling the activation state of the second communication module
corresponding to the second system based on the signal received
from the another terminal.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the controlling of the activation
state of the second communication module corresponding to the
second system based on the received signal comprises activating the
second communication module based on the received signal, and
wherein downlink data is received from a base station of the second
system by using the activated second communication module.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the activation state of the
second communication module is changed according to the signal
received from the another terminal.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising: forming a group with
the another terminal based on at least one of user input
information, association history information stored in the
terminal, and information acquired through signal
transmission/reception to/from a neighboring terminal.
11. An apparatus of a terminal in a wireless communication system,
the apparatus comprising: at least one communication module
including a first communication module; and at least one processor,
operatively coupled to the at least one communication module,
configured to: receive, from a base station of a first system, via
the first communication module for the first system, a signal
comprising information indicating whether downlink traffic is
generated for another terminal, and transmit, to the another
terminal, a signal for requesting to control an activation state of
a communication module corresponding to the downlink traffic.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communication module
corresponding to the downlink traffic is configured to support at
least one of the first system and the second system, and wherein
the signal for requesting to control the activation state is
transmitted from the first communication module or a third
communication module or a third module different from the first
module.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor
is further configured to form a group with the another terminal
based on at least one of user input information, association
history information stored in the terminal, and information
acquired through signal transmission/reception to/from a
neighboring terminal.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor
is further configured to determine the terminal as a representative
terminal between the terminal which has formed the group and the
another terminal, and wherein the representative terminal is
determined based on at least one of a plurality of communication
schemes supported by terminals in the group, a capacity of a
communication module of each terminal in the group, a remaining
power level of each terminal in the group, reception signal quality
of each terminal in the group, and a topology for terminals in the
group.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first communication
module is determined as a downlink monitor module among a plurality
of communication modules included in the representative terminal,
and wherein the downlink monitor module is determined based on at
least one of a communication scheme supported by each terminal in
the group, capacity of each of the plurality of communication
modules, reception signal quality of each of the plurality of
communication modules, a channel occupation probability of each of
the plurality of communication modules, a power consumption amount
of each of the plurality of communication modules, a type of an
accessed base station, and a topology for terminals in the
group.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first communication
module is in an activation state when the signal is generated.
17. An apparatus of a terminal in a wireless communication system,
the apparatus comprising: at least one communication module
including a first communication module; and at least one processor,
operatively coupled to the at least one communication module,
configured to: receive, from another terminal, via the first
communication module corresponding to a first system, a signal for
requesting to control an activation state of a second communication
module corresponding to a second system, and control the activation
state of the second communication module corresponding to the
second system based on the signal received from the another
terminal.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor
is further configured to activate the second communication module
based on the received signal, and wherein downlink data is received
from a base station of the second system by using the activated
second communication module.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the activation state of the
second communication module is changed according to the signal
received from the another terminal.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor
is further configured to form a group with the another terminal
based on at least one of user input information, association
history information stored in the terminal, and information
acquired through signal transmission/reception to/from a
neighboring terminal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation application of prior
application Ser. No. 15/142,647, filed on Apr. 29, 2016, which
claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) of a Korean patent
application filed on Apr. 29, 2015 in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office and assigned Serial number 10-2015-0060647, and a
Korean patent application filed on Jun. 29, 2015 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial number
10-2015-0092378, the entire disclosure of each of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus
for controlling communication of a terminal supporting a
multi-radio access technology in a wireless communication system.
More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and
an apparatus for decreasing power consumption of a terminal
simultaneously supporting a licensed band communication system and
an unlicensed band communication system in a licensed and
unlicensed band multi-radio access technology (RAT)
environment.
BACKGROUND
[0003] To meet a demand on wireless data traffic which has been in
an increasing trend after a 4.sup.th Generation (4G) communication
system was commercialized, there is an ongoing effort to develop an
improved 5.sup.th Generation (5G) communication system or a pre-5G
communication system. For this reason, the 5G communication system
or the pre-5G communication system is called a beyond 4G network
communication system or a post long term evolution (LTE)
system.
[0004] To achieve a high data transfer rate, the 5G communication
system is considered to be implemented in an mmWave band (e.g.,
such as a 60 GHz band). To reduce a propagation path loss at the
mmWave band and to increase a propagation delivery distance,
beamforming, massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO), full
dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, and
large scale antenna techniques are under discussion in the 5G
communication system.
[0005] In addition, to improve a network of a system, techniques,
such as an evolved small cell, an advanced small cell, a cloud
radio access network (RAN), an ultra-dense network, device to
device (D2D) communication, a wireless backhaul, a moving network,
cooperative communication, coordinated multi-points (COMP), and
reception interference cancellation, and the like, are being
developed in the 5G communication system.
[0006] In addition thereto, hybrid frequency shift keying and
quadrature amplitude modulation (FQAM) and sliding window
superposition coding (SWSC) as an advanced coding modulation (ACM)
technique and filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), non orthogonal
multiple access (NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA), and
the like, as an advanced access technology are being developed in
the 5G system.
[0007] Further, recently, there is an ongoing discussion on a
technique for effectively operating a multi-modem terminal
simultaneously supporting a licensed band communication system and
an unlicensed band communication system in a licensed and
unlicensed band multi-radio access technology (RAT)
environment.
[0008] The above information is presented as background information
only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No
determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to
whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with
regard to the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
[0009] Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least
the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at
least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the
present disclosure is to provide a method and an apparatus for
decreasing power consumption of a terminal simultaneously
supporting a licensed band communication system and an unlicensed
band communication system in a licensed and unlicensed band
multi-radio access technology (RAT) environment.
[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a
method and an apparatus for keeping an activation state of some
communication modules among a plurality of communication modules
supporting different RATs and included in a terminal in a licensed
and unlicensed band multi-RAT environment, and for controlling an
activation state of the other communication modules.
[0011] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a
method and an apparatus for performing downlink monitoring for at
least one different terminal by one terminal in a licensed and
unlicensed band multi-RAT environment, and for controlling an
activation state of at least one communication module for the at
least one different terminal.
[0012] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a
method of controlling a terminal in a wireless communication system
is provided. The method includes receiving information regarding an
operation of a second system by using a first communication module
configured to support a first system, and controlling an activation
state of a second communication module configured to support the
second system, based on the information regarding the operation of
the second system.
[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
a method of a base station supporting a first system is provided.
The method includes detecting a presence/absence of downlink
traffic of a second system for a terminal, and transmitting
information regarding an operation of the second system of the
terminal to the terminal via a link of the first system based on
the presence/absence of the downlink traffic of the second
system.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
a method of a base station supporting a second system is provided.
The method includes determining whether first information for
indicating a communication module state of a second system
controlled by a first system for a terminal is matched to second
information for indicating a communication module state of a second
system of the terminal, and requesting, if the first information is
not matched to the second information, to change the communication
module state of the second system of the terminal.
[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
an apparatus of a terminal in a wireless communication system is
provided. The apparatus includes a first communication module
configured to support a first system, a second communication module
configured to support a second system, and a controller configured
to receive information regarding an operation of the second system
by using the first communication module and, based on the
information regarding the operation of the second system, control
an activation state of the second module.
[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
an apparatus of a base station supporting a first system is
provided. The apparatus includes a communication module, and a
controller configured to detect a presence/absence of downlink
traffic of a second system for a terminal, and transmit information
regarding an operation of the second system of the terminal to the
terminal via a link of the first system based on the
presence/absence of the downlink traffic of the second system.
[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
an apparatus of a base station supporting a second system is
provided. The apparatus includes a communication module, and a
controller configured to determine whether first information for
indicating a communication module state of a second system
controlled by a first system for a terminal is matched to second
information for indicating a communication module state of a second
system of the terminal, and request, if the first information is
not matched to the second information, to change the communication
module state of the second system of the terminal.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
a method of controlling a terminal in a wireless communication
system is provided. The method includes receiving, from a base
station of a first system via a first communication module
configured to support the first system, a signal containing
information for indicating whether downlink traffic is generated
for at least one different terminal, and transmitting, to the at
least one terminal, a signal for requesting to control an
activation state of a communication module corresponding to the
downlink traffic.
[0019] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
a method of controlling a terminal in a wireless communication
system is provided. The method includes receiving from a different
terminal a signal for requesting to control an activation state of
a second communication module corresponding to a second system via
a first communication module corresponding to a first system, and
controlling the activation state of the second communication module
corresponding to the second system based on the signal received
from the different terminal.
[0020] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
an apparatus of a terminal in a wireless communication system is
provided. The apparatus includes a communication unit having a
plurality of communication modules supporting different systems,
and a controller configured to receive, from a base station of a
first system via a first communication module configured to support
the first system, a signal containing information for indicating
whether downlink traffic is generated for at least one different
terminal, and transmit, to the at least one terminal, a signal for
requesting to control an activation state of a communication module
corresponding to the downlink traffic.
[0021] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
an apparatus of a terminal in a wireless communication system is
provided. The apparatus includes a communication unit having a
plurality of communication modules supporting different systems,
and a controller configured to receive from a different terminal a
signal for requesting to control an activation state of a second
communication module corresponding to a second system via a first
communication module corresponding to a first system, and control
the activation state of the second communication module
corresponding to the second system based on the signal received
from the different terminal.
[0022] The present disclosure can decrease power consumption of a
terminal in a licensed and unlicensed band multi-RAT environment in
such a manner that, among a plurality of communication modules
supporting different RATs and included in the terminal, an
activation state of a 1.sup.st communication module supporting a
1.sup.st RAT is kept, and at least one different communication
module is activated only in the presence of traffic through a
corresponding system and is deactivated in the absence of traffic.
The present disclosure also can decrease power consumption in
terminals in a group in such a manner that a group of a plurality
of terminals is formed and thereafter a representative terminal in
the group performs downlink monitoring for different terminals in
the group, and controls an activation state of a communication
module for different terminals in the group according to a result
of the downlink monitoring.
[0023] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the
disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction
with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the
present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of
certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent
from the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a network system in a licensed band and
unlicensed band multi-radio access technology (RAT) environment
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a network structure of a
multi-RAT environment according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a power saving mode (PSM) mechanism of a
wireless local area network (WLAN) according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a power consumption rate depending on a
PSM operation of a user equipment (UE) according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates a situation in which an access point (AP)
fails to occupy a channel in an environment in which overlapping
WLANs are congested according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of controlling an activation
state of a 2.sup.nd access module of a UE supporting a multi-RAT
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates a signal flow for activating a 2.sup.nd
access module of a UE according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0032] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a signal flow for activating a
2.sup.nd access module of a UE according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 8C illustrates a UE operation and uplink resource
allocation based on beacon option information included in a
2.sup.nd access module activation signal according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 8D illustrates activation, deactivation, and
transmission of a 2.sup.nd access module through 1.sup.st access
control transmission according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, and a time and operation of receiving a beacon signal
of a 2.sup.nd access evolved nodeB (eNB) by a UE according
thereto;
[0035] FIG. 8E illustrates a traffic indication map (TIM)
configuration of a typical beacon signal according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 8F illustrates a frame structure of a short beacon
signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 8G illustrates information included in a short beacon
signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 8H illustrates information included in a short beacon
signal based on a frame structure of a short beacon signal
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0039] FIG. 8I illustrates beam training using a short beacon
signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0040] FIG. 9 illustrates a signal flow for a case where an eNB for
a 2.sup.nd access module of a UE is changed according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0041] FIG. 10A illustrates a signal flow for deactivating a
2.sup.nd access module of a UE based on control transmission of a
1.sup.st access eNB according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0042] FIG. 10B illustrates an operation based on
transmission/reception of a last packet number when a 2.sup.nd
access module of a UE is deactivated according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 11A illustrates a signal flow for deactivating a
2.sup.nd access module autonomously by a UE based on initial
deactivation timer information of the UE according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0044] FIG. 11B illustrates a situation of deciding a state for a
2.sup.nd access module of a UE by the UE and a 1.sup.st access eNB
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0045] FIG. 12A illustrates a signal flow for controlling a state
of a 2.sup.nd access module by a 2.sup.nd access eNB based on a
timer mismatch of a UE and a 1.sup.st access eNB according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0046] FIG. 12B illustrates a signal flow for controlling a state
of a 2.sup.nd access module of a UE according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0047] FIG. 12C illustrates a signal flow for prohibiting
deactivation of a UE by a 2.sup.nd access eNB according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0048] FIG. 12D illustrates a cause of a state mismatch occurrence
on a 2.sup.nd access module of a UE and a method of correcting the
state mismatch according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0049] FIG. 13 illustrates a media access control (MAC) header for
indicating a state of a 2.sup.nd access module by a UE according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0050] FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate a procedure of operating a
1.sup.st access eNB according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0051] FIG. 15 illustrates a procedure of operating a 2.sup.nd
access eNB according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0052] FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a procedure of operating a UE
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0053] FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of a 1.sup.st access eNB
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0054] FIG. 18 illustrates a block diagram of a 2.sup.nd access eNB
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0055] FIG. 19 illustrates a block diagram of a UE according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0056] FIG. 20 illustrates an operation of a UE and each AP in an
environment in which an operator AP and a private AP coexist
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0057] FIG. 21 illustrates an operation state of an AP according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0058] FIGS. 22A to 22D illustrate a user interface for an
operation of a UE in an environment in which an operator AP and a
private AP coexist according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0059] FIG. 23 illustrates a system structure in which a UE
controls an activation state of an access module for at least one
different UE according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0060] FIG. 24 illustrates an operation of forming a group of a UE
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0061] FIG. 25 illustrates an operation of a master UE according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0062] FIG. 26 illustrates an operation of a slave UE according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0063] FIG. 27 illustrates a situation in which one group is formed
of a plurality of UEs owned by a user according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0064] FIG. 28 illustrates a radio access technology supported by
UEs in a group according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0065] FIG. 29 illustrates an activation state of a WLAN module for
a case where UEs in a group has access to an operator AP according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0066] FIG. 30 illustrates an activate state of a WLAN module for a
case where UEs in a group have access to a private AP according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0067] FIG. 31 is a block diagram of a UE for controlling an access
module by forming a group with different UEs according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0068] Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like
reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements,
features, and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0069] The following description with reference to the accompanying
drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of
various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the
claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details
to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as
merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize that various changes and modifications of the
various embodiments described herein can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition,
descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be
omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0070] The terms and words used in the following description and
claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are
merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent
understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description
of various embodiments of the present disclosure is provided for
illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the
present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
[0071] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an,"
and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a component
surface" includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
[0072] By the term "substantially" it is meant that the recited
characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly,
but that deviations or variations, including for example,
tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and
other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in
amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was
intended to provide.
[0073] A mobile station (MS) according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure may be fixed or mobile, and may also be called
other terms, such as a user equipment (UE), a mobile terminal (MT),
a user terminal (UT), a subscriber station (SS), a wireless device,
a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device, and the
like.
[0074] Further, a base station (BS) according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure is generally a fixed station which
communicates with the MS, and may also be called other terms, such
as an evolved-nodeB (eNB), a base transceiver system (BTS), an
access point, and the like.
[0075] The present disclosure described hereinafter relates to a
method and an apparatus for decreasing power consumption of a UE
simultaneously supporting a licensed band communication system and
an unlicensed band communication system in a licensed and
non-licensed band multi-radio access technology (RAT)
environment.
[0076] FIG. 1 illustrates a network system in a licensed band and
unlicensed band multi-RAT environment according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure, in an environment in which a macro cell network
of a licensed band and a small cell network of an unlicensed band
coexist, a UE 120 may communicate with a macro eNB 100 of the
licensed band and small eNBs 111 to 117 of the unlicensed band.
Therefore, the UE 120 according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure may include a communication module for communicating
with the macro eNB 100 of the licensed band and a communication
module for communicating with the small eNBs 111 to 117 of the
unlicensed band. Herein, the macro eNB 100 may occupy a channel by
using the licensed band, have a wide coverage, use a narrow
bandwidth, and provide a low data transfer rate. On the other hand,
the small eNBs 111 to 117 may occupy a channel by using the
unlicensed band, have a narrow coverage, use a wide bandwidth, and
provide a high data transfer rate.
[0078] For example, if the macro eNB 100 of the licensed band is
assumed as an eNB 200 of a long term evolution (LTE) system and if
the small eNBs 111 to 117 of the unlicensed band are assumed as an
access point (AP) 210 of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a
network structure of a multi-RAT environment for communicating with
the UEs 120 and 220 may be the same as shown in FIG. 2A or 2B.
[0079] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a network structure of a
multi-RAT environment according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure.
[0080] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a UE 220 may transmit/receive
data and signaling to/from an eNB 200 and an AP 210. In this case,
the AP 210 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
directly transmits/receives data for the UE 220 to/from a gateway
(GW)/home subscriber server (HSS) 240, but may transmit/receive
signaling for the UE 220 to/from a mobility management entity (MME)
230 and the GW/HSS 240 via the eNB 200. Further, the AP 210
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may
transmit/receive data and signaling for the UE 220 to/from the MME
230 and the GW/HSS 240 via the eNB 200.
[0081] For example, the small eNBs 111 to 116 (e.g., the AP 210)
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may
transmit/receive signaling for the UEs 120 and 220 via the macro
eNB 100 (e.g., the eNB 200). Further, the small eNBs 111 to 116
(e.g., the AP 210) according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure may transmit/receive data for the UEs 120 and 220 via
the macro eNB 100, or may directly transmit/receive the data
to/from a higher network node.
[0082] For convenience of explanation, a case where the small eNBs
111 to 116 (e.g., the AP 210) transmit/receive data and signaling
via the macro eNB 100 (e.g., the eNB 200) is assumed hereinafter in
the embodiment of the present disclosure described. However, the
embodiment of the present disclosure described hereinafter may also
be applied to a case where the small eNBs 111 to 116 (e.g., the AP
210) transmit/receive signaling via the eNB 100 (e.g., the eNB 200)
and directly transmit/receive data to/from a higher network node.
Only a difference occurring when the small eNBs 111 to 116 directly
transmit/receive data for the UE to/from the higher network node is
described below.
[0083] FIG. 3 illustrates a power saving mode (PSM) mechanism of a
WLAN according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0084] Referring to FIG. 3, in general, a UE supporting a WLAN of
an unlicensed band uses a PSM mechanism to decrease power
consumption. The PSM mechanism implies a mechanism in which a
communication module supporting the WLAN of the UE operates in an
awake status in a beacon duration periodically repeated, and if it
is identified that there is no downlink traffic through a received
beacon, operates in a sleep mode until a next beacon duration. For
example, an AP 210 of the WLAN periodically transmits a beacon 310,
and in this case, a traffic indication map (TIM) included in the
beacon indicates a presence/absence of traffic to a UE 220.
Therefore, the UE 220 receives the beacon 310 by operating a WLAN
communication module in the awake status according to a periodic
transmission duration of the beacon 310. Upon identifying of the
absence of downlink traffic based on the received beacon 310, the
UE 220 may operate the WLAN communication module in the sleep state
until a next duration of the beacon 310.
[0085] As described above, the UE operating according to the PSM
mechanism must operate the WLAN communication module in the awake
status in every beacon transmission duration periodically repeated
even though there is no downlink data, and thus may periodically
consume a great amount of power.
[0086] FIG. 4 illustrates a power consumption rate depending on a
PSM operation of a UE according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0087] Referring to FIG. 4, an amount of power consumed in a
duration in which the UE operates in the awake status (e.g., a
warming-up time duration and an active time duration) is greater
than an amount of power consumed in a sleep duration. For example,
power consumed in the warming-up time duration is 27.5 mW, which is
greater by more than 8000 times the power 0.0033 mW consumed in the
sleep time duration. Therefore, in a situation in which there is no
downlink data for the UE, the UE operates in the awake status to
periodically receive a beacon, thereby unnecessarily consuming
power. To address such an unnecessary power consumption issue,
there is a method of increasing a beacon transmission period, which
may cause a delay in downlink data transmission to the UE.
[0088] In addition, the UE operating according to the PSM
mechanisms may not be able to receive downlink data due to a
failure in occupying a channel of an AP in an environment in which
a plurality of APs are congested.
[0089] FIG. 5 illustrates a situation in which an AP fails to
occupy a channel in an environment in which overlapping WLANs are
congested according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0090] Referring to FIG. 5, in an environment in which a plurality
of APs having an overlapping coverage are congested, each AP 210
may not be able to occupy a channel in a pre-set beacon
transmission period. In this case, the AP 210 may transmit a beacon
signal at a different time other than a time corresponding to the
pre-set beacon transmission period. For example, if the AP 210
succeeds in the channel occupation, a beacon is transmitted at time
points a, b, c, d, and e, whereas if the AP 210 fails in the
channel occupation, a situation may occur in which the beacon
cannot be transmitted at the time point b 500 and thus the beacon
is transmitted at a time point b' 501. A UE operates in an awake
status only in the pre-set beacon transmission period according to
the PSM mechanism, and thus cannot receive the beacon transmitted
at the time point b' 501. Therefore, even if information for
indicating a presence of downlink data for the UE 220 exists in the
beacon transmitted at the time point b' 501, the UE 220 cannot
recognize this and thus operates in the sleep status.
[0091] Accordingly, an embodiment of the present disclosure
describes a method and an apparatus for avoiding a downlink data
transmission delay and/or data reception failure situation while
minimizing unnecessary power consumption of a UE.
[0092] The embodiment of the present disclosure described
hereinafter is for keeping an activation state of some
communication modules among a plurality of communication modules
supporting different RATs and included in the UE in a licensed and
unlicensed band multi-RAT environment, and is for controlling an
activation state of the other communication modules. In the
embodiment described hereinafter, a macro cell network of a
licensed band is called a 1.sup.st access system, and a small cell
network of an unlicensed band is called a 2.sup.nd access system.
However, the embodiment described hereinafter may also be equally
applied to a case where the 1.sup.st access system is the small
cell network of the unlicensed band, and the 2.sup.nd access system
is the macro cell network of the licensed band. In addition,
although the embodiment of the present disclosure is described
hereinafter under the assumption that the UE supports the 1.sup.st
access system and the 2.sup.nd access system for convenience of
explanation, various embodiments of the present disclosure may also
be equally applied to a case where the UE supports three or more
access systems.
[0093] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of controlling an activation
state of a 2.sup.nd access module of a UE supporting a multi-RAT
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 6, a UE 620 includes a 1.sup.st access
module supporting a 1.sup.st access system and a 2.sup.nd access
module supporting a 2.sup.nd access system. The access module
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include
at least one of a modem, a radio frequency (RF) module, and a power
amplifier (PA).
[0095] The UE 620 according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure may communicate with a 1.sup.st access eNB 600 while
keeping an activation state of a 1.sup.st access module 621.
Further, the UE 620 according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure may activate or deactivate a 2.sup.nd access module 622
based on information received from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
while keeping the activation state of the 1.sup.st access module
621. For example, the UE 620 according to the embodiment of the
present disclosure detects a presence/absence of traffic to be
received via a 2.sup.nd access link, based on information received
via a link of the 1.sup.st access system from the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600. The UE 620 activates the 2.sup.nd access module 622 in the
presence of traffic to be received via the 2.sup.nd access link,
and deactivates the 2.sup.nd access module 622 in the absence of
the traffic to be received via the 2.sup.nd access link. In the
embodiment of the present disclosure, an activation state of an
access module implies that the access module operates in an awake
status (or mode), and a deactivation state of the access module may
imply that the access module operates in a sleep status (or
mode).
[0096] For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 detects generation
of downlink traffic to be transmitted to the UE 620 via a 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610. When downlink data is received from a higher
network node, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may detect the generation
of downlink traffic. The 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may transmit a
signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd access module 622
to the UE 620 via a 1.sup.st access link. Accordingly, the UE 620
activates the 2.sup.nd access module 622 in a deactivation state in
preparation for receiving a signal from the 2.sup.nd access eNB via
the 2.sup.nd access link. The 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits the
detected downlink data to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. The 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610 transmits to the UE 620 the downlink data received
from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 via the 2.sup.nd access link. The
UE 620 receives the downlink data from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610
by using the activated 2.sup.nd access module 622.
[0097] In addition, according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, if downlink data is no longer received from the higher
network node within a pre-set time after the downlink data is
transmitted to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, the 1.sup.st access eNB
600 may transmit a signal for instructing deactivation of the
2.sup.nd access module 622 to the UE 620 via the 1.sup.st access
link. The UE 620 may deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module 622,
based on the deactivation instruction signal of the 2.sup.nd access
module 622 from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600.
[0098] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
if downlink data is no longer received from the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610 within a pre-set time after the downlink data is received, the
UE 620 may automatically deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module 622.
For example, the UE 620 may deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module
622 by using a timer, instead of receiving the deactivation
instruction signal of the 2.sup.nd access module 622 from the
1.sup.st access eNB 600. Information on the timer may be received
from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600, or may be stored in the UE
620.
[0099] FIG. 7 illustrates a signal flow for activating a 2.sup.nd
access module of a UE according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. It is assumed herein that the 2.sup.nd access module of
the UE is in a deactivation state.
[0100] Referring to FIG. 7, in operation 701, a 1.sup.st access eNB
600 detects downlink traffic to be transmitted to a UE 620 via a
2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
receives downlink data for a 2.sup.nd access system of the UE 620
from a higher network node. In operation 703, the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 identifies that the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
in the deactivation state. For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
may identify that the 2.sup.nd access module is in the deactivation
state, based on pre-stored state information for the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620.
[0101] Thereafter, in operation 705, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
transmits a signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd
access module to the UE 620 via a 1.sup.st access link. According
to the embodiment of the present disclosure, if the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 is an LTE system of a licensed band, the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 may instruct the UE 620 to activate the 2.sup.nd access
module by using a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration
message. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
if the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is the LTE system of the licensed
band, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may instruct the UE 620 to
activate the 2.sup.nd access module by using a media access control
(MAC) common emitter (CE) signal for controlling an activation
state of a secondary (S) cell. According to another embodiment of
the present disclosure, if the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is the LTE
system of the licensed band, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may
instruct the UE 620 to activate the 2.sup.nd access module by using
a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). In the aforementioned
embodiments of the present disclosure, since the RRC
reconfiguration message, the MAC CE, and the PDCCH have different
transmission rates or transmission delays, any one of the RRC
reconfiguration message, the MAC CE, and the PDCCH may be selected
based on how quickly the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 must
be activated.
[0102] In operation 707, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 stores the
state information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 by
changing its state to an activation state. In operation 709, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits downlink data to the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610. According to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, an order of performing operations 705, 707, and 709 may
be changed depending on a design rule.
[0103] The UE 620 receives the signal for instructing activation of
the 2.sup.nd access module via the 1.sup.st access module, and in
operation 721, activates the 2.sup.nd access module.
[0104] The 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 receives downlink data from the
1.sup.st access eNB 600, and in operation 711, transmits the
downlink data to the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access link.
[0105] Accordingly, the UE 620 may receive the downlink data
transmitted from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via the 2.sup.nd
access module.
[0106] In addition, although not shown in FIG. 7, the UE 620 may
activate the 2.sup.nd access module, and thereafter may transmit a
response signal for the signal for instructing activation of the
2.sup.nd access module to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. According to
the embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE 620 may transmit
the response signal to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 via the 1.sup.st
access link. According to another embodiment of the present
disclosure, the UE 620 may transmit the response signal to the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via a 2.sup.nd access link. In this case,
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may deliver the response signal to the
1.sup.st access eNB 600.
[0107] In addition, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may transmit the
state information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 to
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For example, whenever the state
information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
changed, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may transmit the changed state
information to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For another example,
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may periodically transmit the state
information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620.
[0108] FIG. 8A illustrates a signal flow for activating a 2.sup.nd
access module of a UE according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0109] FIG. 8D illustrates activation, deactivation, and
transmission of a 2.sup.nd access module through 1.sup.st access
control transmission, and a time and operation of receiving a
beacon signal of a 2.sup.nd access eNB by a UE according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0110] FIG. 8E illustrates a TIM configuration of a typical beacon
signal. It is assumed herein that the 2.sup.nd access module of the
UE is in a deactivation state according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0111] Referring to FIGS. 8A, 8D, and 8E, in operation 801, a
1.sup.st access eNB 600 detects downlink traffic to be transmitted
to a UE 620 via a 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For example, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 receives downlink data for a 2.sup.nd
access system of the UE 620 from a higher network node. In
operation 803, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 identifies that the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in the deactivation state.
For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may identify that the
2.sup.nd access module is in the deactivation state, based on
pre-stored state information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the
UE 620.
[0112] Thereafter, in operation 805, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
transmits a signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd
access module to the UE 620 via a 1.sup.st access link. According
to the embodiment of the present disclosure, if the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 is an LTE system of a licensed band, the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 may instruct the UE 620 to activate the 2.sup.nd access
module by using an RRC reconfiguration message. According to
another embodiment of the present disclosure, if the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 is the LTE system of the licensed band, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 may instruct the UE 620 to activate the 2.sup.nd
access module by using an MAC CE signal for controlling an
activation state of an S cell. According to another embodiment of
the present disclosure, if the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is the LTE
system of the licensed band, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may
instruct the UE 620 to activate the 2.sup.nd access module by using
a PDCCH. In the aforementioned embodiments of the present
disclosure, since the RRC reconfiguration message, the MAC CE, and
the PDCCH have different transmission rates or transmission delays,
any one of the RRC reconfiguration message, the MAC CE, and the
PDCCH may be selected based on how quickly the 2.sup.nd access
module of the UE 620 must be activated.
[0113] In operation 807, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 stores the
state information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 by
changing its state to an activation state. The 1.sup.st access eNB
600 instructs the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 to transmit a short
beacon in operation 809, and transmits downlink data to the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 in operation 811. According to the
embodiment of the present disclosure, an order of performing
operations 805 to 811 may be changed depending on a design
rule.
[0114] The UE 620 receives the signal for instructing activation of
the 2.sup.nd access module via the 1.sup.st access module, and in
operation 821, activates the 2.sup.nd access module.
[0115] The 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits the short beacon in
operation 813 according to the short beacon transmission
instruction received from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. Thereafter,
in operation 815, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits the
downlink data to the UE 620 via a 2.sup.nd access link. As shown in
FIG. 8D, a short beacon 852 is not transmitted at a time of
transmitting a periodically repeated beacon 850 but is transmitted
at a time point between beacon transmission periods. This is for
allowing the UE 620 to receive a 2.sup.nd access module activation
signal via the 1.sup.st access module, to activate the 2.sup.nd
access module, thereafter to receive the short beacon 852 instead
of waiting until a next beacon reception duration, and thereafter
to immediately receive downlink data. As shown in FIG. 8E, the
short beacon may be configured by including only some pieces of
information required by the UE 620 to receive downlink data among a
plurality of pieces of information included in a well-known beacon
signal. A configuration for the short beacon will be described
below with reference to FIGS. 8F to 8H.
[0116] Accordingly, the UE 620 may receive the downlink data
transmitted from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via the 2.sup.nd
access module. According to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the UE 620 of which the 2.sup.nd access module is
activated may acquire additional information required to receive
downlink data by receiving the short beacon 852 in operation 813,
and thus may receive the downlink data via the 2.sup.nd access
module in operation 815 without having to wait until a next beacon
transmission time. Therefore, a wake-up delay of the UE 620 can be
decreased.
[0117] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure,
operations 809 and 811 may be skipped, and the 1.sup.st access eNB
600 may transmit additional information included in the 2.sup.nd
access module activation instruction signal to be transmitted to
the UE 620. The additional information may be information regarding
downlink data to be transmitted via the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610.
[0118] In addition, although not shown in FIG. 8A, the UE 620 may
activate the 2.sup.nd access module, and thereafter may transmit a
response signal for the signal for instructing activation of the
2.sup.nd access module to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. According to
the embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE 620 may transmit
the response signal to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 via the 1.sup.st
access link. According to another embodiment of the present
disclosure, the UE 620 may transmit the response signal to the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via the 2.sup.nd access link. In this case,
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may deliver the response signal to the
1.sup.st access eNB 600.
[0119] In addition, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may transmit the
state information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 to
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For example, whenever the state
information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
changed, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may transmit the changed state
information to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For another example,
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may periodically transmit the state
information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620.
[0120] FIG. 8B illustrates a signal flow for activating a 2.sup.nd
access module of a UE according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0121] FIG. 8D illustrates a time of transmitting a beacon signal
of a 2.sup.nd access eNB and receiving a beacon signal of a UE
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0122] FIG. 8E illustrates a frame structure of a typical beacon
signal according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0123] Referring to FIGS. 8B, 8D, and 8E, a UE 620 may activate
only a 1.sup.st access module in operation 820. For example, a
2.sup.nd access module may be deactivated. In this case, a 2.sup.nd
access eNB 611 and a 2.sup.nd access eNB 612 may transmit a beacon
in a beacon transmission period in operation 822. However, since
only the 1.sup.st access module is in an activation state, the UE
620 cannot receive the beacon signal of the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611
and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 612.
[0124] Meanwhile, in operation 824, a 1.sup.st access eNB 600
detects traffic for the 2.sup.nd access system. For example, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 receives downlink traffic to be transmitted
to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 or to the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 611 from a higher network node. The 1.sup.st access eNB
600 identifies that the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in
a deactivation state, and in operation 826, transmits a 2.sup.nd
access module activation instruction signal to the UE 620. For
example, based on pre-stored state information for the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may
identify that the 2.sup.nd access module is in the deactivation
state. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
2.sup.nd access module activation instruction signal may include
beacon option information and uplink resource allocation
information. The beacon option information may indicate a type of a
beacon signal transmitted by the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 or 612. In
other words, the beacon option information may indicate whether a
short beacon signal is transmitted by the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611
or 612. For example, if the beacon option information is "0", it
may indicate that the short beacon signal is not transmitted by the
2.sup.nd access eNB 611 or 612, and if the beacon option
information is "1", it may indicate that the short beacon signal is
transmitted by the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 or 612. Further, the
uplink resource allocation information may indicate information of
uplink resources allocated to transmit an activation response
signal of the UE 620. Herein, the activation response signal
implies a signal for informing the 1.sup.st access eNB of whether
the UE 620 has received the beacon signal of the 2.sup.nd access
eNB. Further, without an additional scheduling request (SR) of the
UE, uplink resources allocation is performed for a beacon reception
response. This uplink resource allocation may vary depending on
whether a short beacon is transmitted. For example, if the beacon
option information is "0", since the UE responds to whether a
beacon is received via a 1.sup.st access uplink after periodic
beacon reception is achieved, the 1.sup.st access eNB allocates an
uplink resource to the UE after a next periodic beacon. Otherwise,
if the beacon option information is "1", it is adjusted such that
an uplink resource is allocated after a short beacon. It is assumed
in FIG. 8B that the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits a 2.sup.nd
access module activation response signal including "beacon
option=1" as the beacon option information. In addition, the
2.sup.nd access module activation response signal in operation 826
may be transmitted based on any one of an RRC reconfiguration
message, an MAC CE, and a PDCCH.
[0125] In operation 830, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits
downlink data to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 to which the UE 620
has access. In operation 832, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 buffers
downlink data received for the UE 620 from the 1.sup.st access eNB
600.
[0126] The UE 620 receives a 2.sup.nd access module activation
instruction signal via the 1.sup.st access module, and in operation
828, activates the 2.sup.nd access module. Thereafter, in operation
834, the UE 620 transmits a 2.sup.nd access module activation
response signal to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 via the 2.sup.nd
access module. In operation 836, the UE 620 may drive a short
beacon reception (SBR) timer for receiving a short beacon signal.
According to a design rule, operations 834 and 836 may be performed
simultaneously, or operation 834 may be performed after operation
836 is performed.
[0127] Upon receiving the 2.sup.nd access module activation
response signal from the UE 620 in a state where the downlink data
for the UE 620 is buffered, in operation 838, the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 611 may recognize that the short beacon signal must be
transmitted immediately. Thereafter, in operation 840, the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 611 may transmit the short beacon signal, and may
transmit the buffered downlink data. Herein, the downlink data may
be transmitted together with the short beacon, or may be
transmitted immediately after the short beacon is transmitted.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8E, the short beacon may be configured by
including only some pieces of information required by the UE 620 to
receive the downlink data among a plurality of TIM information
included in the well-known beacon signal. A configuration for the
short beacon will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8F to
8H.
[0128] Meanwhile, before an SBR timer expires, the UE 620 may
receive the short beacon signal via the 2.sup.nd access module, and
may receive downlink data. According to the embodiment of the
present disclosure, the UE 620 of which the 2.sup.nd access module
is activated may acquire additional information required to receive
downlink data by receiving a short beacon, and thus may receive
downlink data from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 without having to
wait until a next beacon transmission time. The UE 620 receives the
short beacon from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611, and if the SBR timer
expires in operation 842, may transmit an activation response
signal to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 in operation 844. According
to a design rule, the UE 620 may transmit the activation response
signal to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 before the SBR timer expires.
According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
activation response signal may include information for indicating
whether an eNB change is necessary. For example, if the short
beacon is received via the 2.sup.nd access module before the SBR
timer expires, the UE 620 may transmit information "AP change=0"
for indicating that an AP change is not necessary since it is a
situation in which signal reception from an AP is possible. For
another example, although not shown, if the short beacon is not
received via the 2.sup.nd access module before the timer expires,
the UE 620 may transmit information "AP change=1" for indicating
that the AP change is necessary since it is a situation in which
signal reception from the AP is impossible. A case where the AP
change of the UE 620 is necessary will be described below with
reference to FIG. 9.
[0129] Referring to FIG. 8B described above, the UE 620 may
determine a 2.sup.nd access module activation time based on the
beacon option information included in the 2.sup.nd access module
activation instruction signal.
[0130] FIG. 8C illustrates a UE operation and uplink resource
allocation based on beacon option information included in a
2.sup.nd access module activation signal according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0131] Referring to FIG. 8C, if the beacon option information
included in the 2.sup.nd access module activation instruction
signal is "0", the UE 620 may activate the 2.sup.nd access module
by waiting until a pre-set beacon transmission time, and may
receive a beacon based on the method of the related art via the
activated 2.sup.nd access module. In this case, uplink resource
allocation information included in the 2.sup.nd access module
activation instruction signal may include information regarding a
resource after a beacon reception time based on the method of the
related art. Further, if the beacon option information included in
the 2.sup.nd access module activation instruction signal is "1",
the UE 620 may activate the 2.sup.nd access module immediately
after the 2.sup.nd access module activation instruction signal is
received, and may receive the short beacon via the activated
2.sup.nd access module. In this case, the uplink resource
allocation information included in the 2.sup.nd access module
activation instruction signal may include information regarding the
resource after the short beacon reception time.
[0132] FIG. 8F illustrates a frame structure of a short beacon
signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0133] FIG. 8G illustrates information included in a short beacon
signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0134] FIG. 8H illustrates information included in a short beacon
signal based on a frame structure of a short beacon signal
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0135] Referring to FIGS. 8F, 8G, and 8H, the frame structure of
the short beacon signal may include at least one of a short
training field, a field for channel estimation, a header, and data.
For example, it may be effective to configure the short beacon
signal with a size less than 88 bits, i.e., a size of a control
physical header. As illustrated, the short beacon signal may be
configured by using the following three methods.
[0136] According to a first method, the short beacon signal may
include only a short training field. In this case, as shown in FIG.
8H, the short beacon signal may be configured with a minimum length
of 3.636 us, and the short beacon signal does not include
additional information.
[0137] According to a second method, the short beacon signal may
include a short training field, a field for channel estimation, and
a header. In this case, the header of the short beacon signal may
include beamforming related information and a partial physical cell
identifier (PCID). For example, as shown in FIG. 8G, the header of
the short beacon signal may include direction information, beam
identifier information, antenna identifier information, and partial
PCID information. Herein, the direction information may include
uplink and downlink transmission recognition information and
information for recognizing a compressed beacon and a best beam
feedback, and the beam identifier information may include
transmission beam ID information of an AP. Further, the antenna
identifier information may include antenna ID information, and the
partial PCID may include a sequence of the short training field.
According to a design rule, the short beacon signal may include
only one header, or may include two headers. As illustrated, the
direction information, the beam identifier information, the antenna
identifier information, and the partial PCID information may
consist of 14 bits in total. A control physical layer header may
include 88-bit information, and in this case, the existing physical
layer header consists of 40 bits, and the remaining 48 bits are
reserved bits. Therefore, among the 48-bit reserved bits according
to the embodiment of the present disclosure, 14-bit information can
be additionally used. If the short beacon signal includes one
header, a length of the short beacon signal is 8.93 us, and may be
88 bits in total. On the other hand, if the short beacon signal
includes two headers, the length of the short beacon signal is
13.69 us, and may be 176 bits in total.
[0138] According to a third method, the short beacon signal may
include a short training field, a field for channel estimation, a
header, and data. In this case, the header of the short beacon
field may include information as shown in FIG. 8G. Further, in this
case, the data may include only a 14-byte MAC header, or may
include a 14-byte MAC header and 10-byte data, or may include a
14-byte MAC header and 86-byte data.
[0139] FIG. 8I illustrates beam training using a short beacon
signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0140] Referring to FIG. 8I, when the beam training is performed
using the short beacon signal, the short beacon signal may be
transmitted/received repetitively by the number of transmit antenna
beams of an AP and the number of receive antenna beams of a UE.
Since the short beacon signal may be configured to be significantly
shorter than a legacy beacon signal, not only a beam training time
can be decreased but also an overhead caused by the beam training
can be decreased.
[0141] FIG. 9 illustrates a signal flow for a case where an eNB for
a 2.sup.nd access module of a UE is changed according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0142] It is assumed in FIG. 9 that a UE 620 fails to receive a
short beacon signal from a 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 before an SBR
timer expires in the aforementioned situation of FIG. 8B. Further,
it is assumed in FIG. 9 that the UE 620 detects a situation in
which signal reception from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 is
impossible during downlink data is received from the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 611. For example, it is assumed that the situation in
which the signal reception from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 is
impossible is detected due to a movement of the UE 620 or a change
in a channel state with respect to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611.
Herein, a 1.sup.st access module for transmitting/receiving a
signal to/from a 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may be persistently kept
in an activation state.
[0143] Referring to FIG. 9, in operation 910, the UE 620 may
transmit an activation response signal to the 1.sup.st access eNB
600. The activation response signal may include information for
indicating whether an eNB change is necessary and short beacon
request information. For example, the UE 620 fails to receive a
short beacon via a 2.sup.nd access module before an SBR time
expires, and thus may determine that it is a situation in which an
AP change is necessary and may transmit the activation response
signal which includes information "AP change=1" for indicating that
the AP change is necessary and which includes information for
requesting for the short beacon signal. For another example, the UE
620 may determine that it is a situation in which additional signal
reception is impossible via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611, and may
transmit the activation response signal including the information
"AP change=1" for indicating that the AP change is necessary and
the information for requesting for the short beacon signal.
According to a design rule, the UE 620 may deactivate the 2.sup.nd
access module if the SBR timer expires in a state where the short
beacon signal is not received. Further, irrespective of the SBR
timer, the UE 620 may deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module by
using an additional timer for determining a time of deactivating
the 2.sup.nd access module at a time when the 2.sup.nd access
module is activated. For example, after running the additional
timer at the time when the 2.sup.nd access module is activated, the
UE 620 may deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module if the additional
timer expires in a state where downlink signal is not detected via
the 2.sup.nd access module.
[0144] In response to the activation response signal received from
the UE 620, in operation 912, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits
a short beacon request signal to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 and a
2.sup.nd access eNB 612. Herein, the short beacon request signal
may be transmitted to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 and/or at least
one 2.sup.nd access eNB neighboring to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611.
The 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may select at least one 2.sup.nd access
eNB for transmitting the short beacon request signal, based on a
pre-registered 2.sup.nd access eNB list. The 2.sup.nd access eNB
list may include location information of each 2.sup.nd access eNB
and/or information of a 2.sup.nd access eNB neighboring to each
2.sup.nd access eNB. Further, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may
select at least one 2.sup.nd access eNB for transmitting the short
beacon request signal, based on a location of the UE 620.
[0145] In operation 914, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 retransmits an
uplink resource allocation signal for transmitting an activation
response signal of the UE 620. Herein, upon receiving the uplink
resource allocation signal from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 via the
1.sup.st access module, the UE 620 may activate the 2.sup.nd access
module.
[0146] In operation 916, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 and the
2.sup.nd access eNB 612 transmit the short beacon signal. The
2.sup.nd access eNB 611 and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 612 may
transmit the short beacon signal immediately after the short beacon
request signal is received, or may transmit the short beacon signal
based on a short beacon signal transmission time included in the
short beacon request signal. If the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 or the
2.sup.nd access eNB 612 does not support short beacon signal
transmission, a corresponding 2.sup.nd access eNB may transmit a
legacy beacon signal at a pre-set beacon signal transmission
time.
[0147] In operation 918, the UE 620 receives a short beacon (and/or
a beacon signal) via the 2.sup.nd access module. Herein, to
describe a case where the UE 620 changes the AP, it is assumed a
case where the UE 620 fails to receive the short beacon signal from
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 and receives the beacon signal from the
2.sup.nd access eNB 612. Further, it is assumed a case where the UE
620 receives the short beacon signal from the 2.sup.nd access eNB
611 and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 612, but reception strength of the
short beacon signal from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 611 is less than a
threshold and reception strength of the short beacon signal from
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 612 is greater than or equal to the
threshold. In operation 920, the UE 620 determines a handover to
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 612, based on a result of receiving the
short beacon signal. In operation 921, the UE 620 transmits an
activation response signal to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. In this
case, the activation response signal may include information for
indicating that an AP change is necessary and identification
information for a target AP. For example, the activation response
signal may include "AP change=1" for indicating that the AP change
is necessary and "target AP=AP2" for indicating the identification
information for the target AP. Herein, after transmitting the
activation response signal, the UE 620 may deactivate the 2.sup.nd
access module.
[0148] The 1.sup.st access eNB 600 identifies the target 2.sup.nd
access eNB 611 to which the UE 620 intends to be handed over from
the activation response signal received from the UE 620, and in
operation 922, transmits an add request signal to the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 612. The add request signal may include information
regarding the UE 620. In operation 924, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 612
transmits an add request acknowledgment (ACK) signal to the
1.sup.st access eNB 600. Herein, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 612 may
transmit the add request ACK signal by considering a load depending
on the number of UEs currently having access thereto. Thereafter,
in operation 926, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 and the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 612 configure a data path for the UE 620.
[0149] In operation 928, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits a
radio resource control connection reconfiguration signal to the UE
620. In operation 930, the UE 620 transmits a radio resource
control connection reconfiguration complete signal to the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600. Herein, upon receiving downlink data from the
2.sup.nd access eNB 611 to which the UE 620 previously has access,
information (e.g., packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) sequence
number (SN)) for last received downlink data may be transmitted to
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600.
[0150] Upon receiving the radio resource control connection
reconfiguration complete signal, in operation 932, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 transmits downlink data for the UE 620 to the
2.sup.nd access eNB 612. Upon receiving the PDCP SN for the last
downlink data from the UE 620, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may
deliver downlink data subsequent to the PDCP SN to the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 612.
[0151] Meanwhile, after transmitting the radio resource control
connection reconfiguration complete signal to the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600, the UE 620 may activate the 2.sup.nd access module, and in
operation 934, may transmit to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 612 a
2.sup.nd access module activation response signal for indicating
that the 2.sup.nd access module is activated. According to a design
rule, after activating the 2.sup.nd access module, the UE 620 may
not transmit the 2.sup.nd access module activation response
signal.
[0152] Thereafter, in operation 936, the UE 620 may receive
downlink data from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 612.
[0153] FIG. 10A illustrates a signal flow for deactivating a
2.sup.nd access module of a UE based on control transmission of a
1.sup.st access eNB according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. It is assumed herein that the 2.sup.nd access module of
the UE is in an activation state.
[0154] Referring to FIG. 10A, in operation 1001, a 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 transmits downlink data for a UE 620 to a 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610. For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may recognize
that a 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in an activation
state, and may transmit the downlink data for the UE 620 to the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
[0155] In operation 1003, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 measures a
pre-set time by starting a 1.sup.st timer at a time when downlink
data is transmitted. If downlink data to be transmitted to the UE
620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 is additionally detected before
the 1.sup.st timer expires or before a pre-set time elapses,
returning to operation 1001, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits
downlink data for the UE 620 to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. In
this case, the 1.sup.st timer is reset at a time when the
additionally detected downlink data is transmitted, and thus the
pre-set time is measured again. According to the embodiment of the
present disclosure, a set time of the 1.sup.st timer may be
determined according to a type of a 2.sup.nd access module
activation signal. For example, the set time of the 1.sup.st timer
may be determined by considering which one is used to transmit a
2.sup.nd access module activation instruction among an RRC
reconfiguration message, an MAC CE, and a PDCCH.
[0156] In operation 1007, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits to
the UE 620 the downlink data received from the 1.sup.st access eNB
600.
[0157] Meanwhile, in operation 1005, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
may detect an expiry of the 1.sup.st timer. If the 1.sup.st timer
expires since additional downlink data is not detected within a
pre-set time from the time when the downlink data for the UE 620 is
transmitted to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 160, the 1.sup.st access eNB
600 may determine that last downlink data is transmitted.
[0158] In operation 1009, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits a
signal for instructing deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module
to the UE 620 via a 1.sup.st access link. According to the
embodiment of the present disclosure, the signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module may include a sequence
number for a last downlink packet transmitted by the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. Further, the signal
for instructing deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module may
include a PDCP SN of the last downlink packet for the UE 620. For
example, the signal for instructing deactivation of the 2.sup.nd
access module may include a PDCP SN of a last downlink packet to be
received by the UE 620.
[0159] Further, according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may instruct deactivation
of the 2.sup.nd access module by using a probe request signal.
[0160] The UE 620 may receive the signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module via the 1.sup.st access
link, and in operation 1011, may acquire a sequence number for a
last packet from the 2.sup.nd access module deactivation
instruction signal. The UE 620 may detect that the last packet is
received based on the sequence number for the last packet acquired
in operation 1011. For example, based on the sequence number
acquired from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, the UE 620 may determine
that all plackets are received including up to the last downlink
data packet. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure,
if the sequence number for the last packet is not included in the
2.sup.nd access module deactivation instruction signal, operation
1011 may be skipped. Further, the UE 620 may acquire a PDCP SN of
the last downlink packet from the signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module, and may determine that
all packets are received including up to the last downlink data
packet based on the acquired PDCP SN.
[0161] The UE 620 transmits to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 a signal
for indicating that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated in
operation 1013, and deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module in
operation 1015. According to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the UE 620 may indicate that the 2.sup.nd access module
is deactivated by using a probe request signal. According to
another embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE 620 may
indicate that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated by using a
PDCP feedback signal for indicating a sequence number of a received
last packet. According to another embodiment of the present
disclosure, the UE 620 may not transmit the signal for indicating
that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated.
[0162] Upon receiving the signal for indicating that the 2.sup.nd
access module is deactivated, in operation 1017, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 stores the state information for the 2.sup.nd access
module of the UE 620 by changing its state to a deactivation state.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the
signal for indicating that the 2.sup.nd access module is
deactivated may not be received from the UE 620. In this case, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 may determine whether the UE 620 receives a
last packet based on an automatic repeat request (ARQ) response
signal for a downlink data packet received from the UE 620, and may
store the state information for the 2.sup.nd access module of the
UE 620 by changing its state to the deactivation state. Herein, the
ARQ response signal may be received directly from the UE 620 via
the 1.sup.st access link or may be received via the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610.
[0163] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, when the
UE 620 deactivates the 2.sup.nd access module, it implies that the
2.sup.nd access module is changed to a sleep mode and is kept
persistently in the sleep mode. For example, when the 2.sup.nd
access module is in the deactivation state, the UE 620 does not
perform an operation of monitoring a presence of downlink traffic
for the 2.sup.nd access link until the 2.sup.nd access module
activation instruction signal is received.
[0164] The UE 620 according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure may perform any one of the following operations 1 to 3
to deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module.
[0165] Operation 1: If the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 is an eNB of a
licensed band LTE system, the UE 620 may prohibit to perform a
periodic on-duration operation of an RRC connected state performed
generally in a state where the 2.sup.nd access module is connected
to the 2.sup.nd access system, and may allow the 2.sup.nd access
module to immediately transition to an RRC idle state. For example,
according to an LTE standard, the UE 620 in the RRC connected state
must periodically monitor a PDCCH based on a long discontinuous
reception (DRX) or a short DRX via the 2.sup.nd access module.
However, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
UE 620 in the RRC connected state may prohibit the 2.sup.nd access
module to periodically monitor the PDCCH based on the long DRX or
the short DRX, and may control it to transition to the idle
state.
[0166] Operation 2: If the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 is an eNB in a
licensed band LTE system, the UE 620 sets a period for an
on-duration in the existing RRC connected state to be much longer,
and operates in an RRC mediate state for avoiding a loss of UE
context while decreasing an overhead caused by monitoring of a
random access channel (RACH), paging, and the like, for
synchronization. For example, if the UE 620 operates in the RRC
idle state for longer than a specific time, a warming-up time is
increased when transitioning from the sleep status to the
activation state due to the loss of the UE context. However, since
the context is maintained in the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the warming-up time can be prevented from being
increased.
[0167] Operation 3: If the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 is an AP of an
unlicensed band WLAN system, the UE 620 may prohibit the 2.sup.nd
access module to perform a periodic on-duration operation for
receiving a beacon according to a PSM mechanism.
[0168] Referring to FIG. 10A described above, it is described that,
if a PDCP SN of a last downlink packet for the UE 620 is included
in the 2.sup.nd access module deactivation instruction signal, the
UE 620 determines whether to receive the last downlink packet
reception based on the PDCP SN, and transmits the signal for
indicating that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated by
including the PDCP SN of the last downlink packet received by the
UE 620.
[0169] However, the UE 620 and the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may
operate based on any one scenario among four types of scenarios as
shown in FIG. 10B according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure. For example, it is described under the assumption that
the 2.sup.nd access module deactivation instruction signal is a
WLAN sleep request signal, and the signal for indicating that
2.sup.nd access module is deactivated is a WLAN sleep response
signal.
[0170] According to a first scenario as shown in FIG. 10B, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits to the UE 620 a WLAN sleep
request signal not including PDCP SN information of the last
downlink packet to be received by the UE 620. The UE 620 does not
know information regarding the last downlink packet, and thus may
deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module immediately after the WLAN
sleep request signal is received. Thereafter, the UE 620 transmits
a WLAN sleep response signal to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. In
this case, the WLAN sleep response signal does not include the PDCP
SN information of the last downlink packet. Therefore, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 and the UE 620 cannot recognize a difference between
the PDCP SN of the last downlink packet to be received by the UE
620 and a PDCP SN of a last downlink packet actually received by
the UE 620, which may result in a packet loss.
[0171] According to a second scenario, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
transmits to the UE 620 the WLAN sleep request signal not including
the PDCP SN information of the last downlink packet to be received
by the UE 620. The UE 620 does not know information regarding the
last downlink packet, and thus may deactivate the 2.sup.nd access
module immediately after the WLAN sleep request signal is received.
Thereafter, the UE 620 transmits a WLAN sleep response signal to
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. In this case, the WLAN sleep response
signal may include the PDCP SN information of the downlink packet
last received by the UE 620. Therefore, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
may recognize the difference between the PDCP SN of the last
downlink packet to be received by the UE 620 and a PDCP SN of a
last downlink packet actually received by the UE 620. If it is
determined that the UE 620 has failed to receive up to the last
downlink packet as a result of comparing the PDCP SN of the last
downlink packet to be received by the UE 620 and the PDCP SN of the
last downlink packet actually received by the UE 620, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 may transmit downlink packets, which are not
received by the UE 620, to the UE 620 via the 1.sup.st access link.
Therefore, the UE 620 may receive downlink data, which has a PDCP
SN greater than the PDCP SN transmitted to the 1.sup.st access eNB,
via the 1.sup.st access link.
[0172] According to a third scenario, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
transmits to the UE 620 the WLAN sleep request signal including the
PDCP SN information of the last downlink packet to be received by
the UE 620. Therefore, the UE 620 can know information regarding
the last downlink packet, and thus keeps an activation state of the
2.sup.nd access module until the last downlink packet is received,
and deactivates the 2.sup.nd access module when the last downlink
packet is received. Thereafter, the UE 620 may not transmit a
response signal to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. For example,
according to the third scenario, the UE 620 may recognize a
difference between a PDCP SN of a last downlink packet to be
received and a PDCP SN of a received downlink packet. Thereafter,
the UE 620 may receive up to the last downlink packet based on the
PDCP SN included in the WLAN sleep request signal, and may
deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module after detecting that up to
the last downlink packet is received.
[0173] According to a fourth scenario, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
transmits to the UE 620 the WLAN sleep request signal including the
PDCP SN information of the last downlink packet to be received by
the UE 620. Therefore, the UE 620 may know information regarding
the last downlink packet. In this case, the UE 620 may deactivate
the 2.sup.nd access module after receiving all packets including up
to the last downlink packet, and may transmit to the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 a WLAN sleep response signal including the PDCP SN
information of the downlink packet last received by the UE 620.
Further, the UE 620 may deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module
immediately when the WLAN sleep request signal is received, and may
transmit to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 the WLAN sleep response
signal including the PDCP SN information of the downlink packet
last received by the UE 620. Therefore, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
and the UE 620 may recognize the difference between the PDCP SN of
the last downlink packet to be received by the UE 620 and a PDCP SN
of a last downlink packet actually received by the UE 620. If it is
determined that the UE 620 has failed to receive up to the last
downlink packet as a result of comparing the PDCP SN of the last
downlink packet to be received by the UE 620 and the PDCP SN of the
last downlink packet actually received by the UE 620, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 may transmit downlink packets, which are not
received by the UE 620, to the UE 620 via the 1.sup.st access
link.
[0174] FIG. 11A illustrates a signal flow for deactivating a
2.sup.nd access module autonomously by a UE based on initial
deactivation timer information of the UE according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure. It is assumed herein that the 2.sup.nd
access module is in an activation state.
[0175] Referring to FIG. 11A, in operation 1101, a 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 may transmit an RRC configuration message including
deactivation timer information in an initial setup process for an
RRC connection with a UE 620. According to the embodiment of the
present disclosure, the deactivation timer information includes
time information used to determine whether the 2.sup.nd access
module is deactivated. The deactivation timer information may be
determined according to a type of a 2.sup.nd access module
activation signal transmitted by the 1.sup.st access eNB to the UE
620. For example, time information of a deactivation timer may be
determined by considering which one is used to transmit a 2.sup.nd
access module activation instruction among an RRC reconfiguration
message, an MAC CE, and a PDCCH.
[0176] In operation 1103, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits
downlink data for the UE 620 to a 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For
example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may recognize that the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in an activation state, and
may transmit the downlink data for the UE 620 to the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610.
[0177] In operation 1105, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 measures a
pre-set time by starting a 1.sup.st timer at a time when downlink
data is transmitted. If downlink data to be transmitted to the UE
620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 is additionally detected before
the 1.sup.st timer expires or before a pre-set time elapses,
returning to operation 1103, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits
downlink data for the UE 620 to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. In
this case, the 1.sup.st timer is reset at a time when the
additionally detected downlink data is transmitted, and thus the
pre-set time is measured again. According to the embodiment of the
present disclosure, the set time of the 1.sup.st time may be
determined based on deactivation timer information transmitted to
the UE 620 in operation 1101. According to the embodiment of the
present disclosure, the set time of the 1.sup.st timer may be equal
to or different from time information of the deactivation
timer.
[0178] In operation 1107, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may detect an
expiry of the 1.sup.st timer. If the 1.sup.st timer expires since
additional downlink data is not detected within a pre-set time from
the time when the downlink data for the UE 620 is transmitted to
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 160, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may
determine that last downlink data is transmitted. In operation
1109, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 stores the state information for
the 2.sup.nd access module by changing its state to a deactivation
state.
[0179] Meanwhile, in operation 1111, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610
transmits to the UE 620 the downlink data received from the
1.sup.st access eNB 600.
[0180] The UE 620 receives downlink data from the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610 in operation 1111, and starts a 2.sup.nd timer at a time
when downlink data is received in operation 1113, thereby measuring
a pre-set time. The 2.sup.nd timer may be set based on deactivation
timer information included in an RRC configuration message.
According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the set time
of the 2.sup.nd timer may be equal to or different from the time
information of the deactivation timer.
[0181] Further, according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the set time of the 2.sup.nd timer may be equal to or
different from the set time of the 1.sup.st timer operated by the
1.sup.st access eNB 600. The set time of the 2.sup.nd timer may be
set by considering a delivery delay between the 1.sup.st access eNB
600 and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and/or a delivery delay between
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and the UE 620. When downlink data is
additionally detected by the 2.sup.nd access module via a 2.sup.nd
access link before the 2.sup.nd timer expires, that is, before a
pre-set time elapses, the UE 620 receives the downlink data. In
this case, the 2.sup.nd timer is reset at a time when the
additionally detected downlink data is received, and thus the
pre-set time is measured again.
[0182] In operation 1115, the UE 620 may detect an expiry of the
2.sup.nd timer. The UE 620 may determine that last downlink data is
received if the 2.sup.nd timer expires since additional data
downlink is not detected within a pre-set time from a time of
receiving downlink data via the 2.sup.nd access link by using the
2.sup.nd access module. In operation 1117, the UE 620 stores the
state information for the 2.sup.nd access module by changing its
state to a deactivation state.
[0183] In the aforementioned embodiment of FIGS. 10A and 10B, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits deactivation timer information to
the UE 620 during an initial connection establishment of the UE 620
and the 1.sup.st access eNB 600, and thus a deactivation state
change time for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
determined by each of the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 and the UE 620
based on the deactivation timer information. However, in another
embodiment of the present disclosure, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
may not transmit the deactivation timer information to the UE 600,
but the UE 620 may transmit timer information which is pre-set in
the UE 620 to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. In this case, each of
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 and the UE 620 may determine the
deactivation state change time for the 2.sup.nd access module of
the UE 620. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 and the UE 620 may not exchange timer
information for deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module, but may
determine the deactivation state change time for the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620 based on timer information which is
pre-set in each of the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 and the UE 620.
[0184] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, when the
UE 620 deactivates the 2.sup.nd access module, it implies that the
2.sup.nd access module is changed to a sleep mode and is kept
persistently in the sleep mode. For example, when the 2.sup.nd
access module is in the deactivation state, the UE 620 does not
perform an operation of monitoring a presence of downlink traffic
for the 2.sup.nd access link until the 2.sup.nd access module
activation instruction signal is received. According to the
embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE 620 may perform any
one of the aforementioned operations 1 to 3 to deactivate the
2.sup.nd access module.
[0185] In various embodiments of the present disclosure, there may
be a situation in which state information of the 2.sup.nd access
module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is not matched to a
state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620. For example,
state information of the 2.sup.nd access module recognized by the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 may be not matched to an actual state of
the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 due to a clock draft in
each entity, a control signal transmission delay in each entity,
and the like.
[0186] FIG. 11B illustrates a situation in which a state for a
2.sup.nd access module of a UE is determined in the UE and a
1.sup.st access eNB according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0187] Referring to FIG. 11B, state information of a 2.sup.nd
access module managed by a 1.sup.st access eNB 600 and a state of a
2.sup.nd access module of a UE 620 are shown in FIG. 11B. In FIG.
11B, `ON` indicates an activation state of the 2.sup.nd access
module, and `OFF` indicates an inactivate state of the 2.sup.nd
access module.
[0188] If a state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
`ON` and state information of the 2.sup.nd access module managed by
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is `ON`, the UE 620 may
transmit/receive data without any problem.
[0189] If the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
`ON` and the state information of the 2.sup.nd access module
managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is `OFF`, the state
information of the 2.sup.nd access module is mismatched, but the UE
620 may receive downlink data without any problem. For example,
upon detecting downlink data in a state where the state information
of the 2.sup.nd access module is `OFF`, since the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 transmits a signal for changing the 2.sup.nd access module
to an activation state and transmits downlink data via the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610, the downlink data can be transmitted without any
problem. However, when the state information of the 2.sup.nd access
module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is `OFF`, it implies
a situation in which downlink data for the HE 620 is not generated.
Therefore, since the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 operates
in the activation state in the situation in which the downlink data
for the UE 620 is not generated, power of the UE 620 may be
wasted.
[0190] If the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
`OFF` and the state information of the 2.sup.nd access module
managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is `ON`, the UE 620 may be
unable to receive downlink data due to a mismatch of the state
information of the 2.sup.nd access module. For example, upon
detecting downlink data in a state where the state information of
the 2.sup.nd access module is `ON`, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
does not transmit a signal for changing the 2.sup.nd access module
of the UE 620 to the activation state but transmits downlink data
via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. However, in this case, since the
state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is `OFF`, the UE
620 is unable to receive downlink data transmitted from the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via the 2.sup.nd access link.
[0191] If the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
`OFF` and the state information of the 2.sup.nd access module
managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is `OFF`, it implies a state
where there is no downlink data for the UE 620. The UE 620 may
decrease unnecessary power consumption by deactivating the 2.sup.nd
access module in a situation in which the downlink data does not
exist.
[0192] As described above, if the state of the 2.sup.nd access
module of the UE 620 is `OFF` and the state information of the
2.sup.nd access module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is
`ON`, the UE 620 may be unable to receive downlink data due to a
mismatch of the state information of the 2.sup.nd access module.
Therefore, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may detect a situation in which the state
information of the 2.sup.nd access module is mismatched and then
may match the state information of the 2.sup.nd access module.
[0193] FIG. 12A illustrates a signal flow for controlling a state
of a 2.sup.nd access module by a 2.sup.nd access eNB based on a
timer mismatch of a UE and a 1.sup.st access eNB according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. It is assumed herein that the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE is in an activation state.
[0194] Referring to FIG. 12A, in operation 1201, a 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 transmits downlink data for a UE 620 to a 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610. For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may recognize
that a 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in an activation
state, and may transmit the downlink data for the UE 620 to the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
[0195] In operation 1203, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 measures a
pre-set time by starting a 1.sup.st timer at a time when downlink
data is transmitted. If downlink data to be transmitted to the UE
620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 is additionally detected before
the 1.sup.st timer expires or before a pre-set time elapses,
returning to operation 1201, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits
downlink data for the UE 620 to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. In
this case, the 1.sup.st timer is reset at a time when the
additionally detected downlink data is transmitted, and thus the
pre-set time is measured again.
[0196] Meanwhile, if downlink data for the UE 620 is received from
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 in operation 1201, the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610 starts a network timer in operation 1211 to measure a
pre-set time. According to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the network timer may be set based on deactivation
timer information received in advance from the 1.sup.st access eNB
600. The deactivation timer information may include information for
a set time of the 1.sup.st timer of the 1.sup.st access eNB. For
another example, the network timer may be set based on information
pre-stored in the 2.sup.nd access eNB. The set time of the network
timer may be equal to or different from the set time of the
1.sup.st timer. The set time of the network timer may be set by
considering a delivery delay between the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. If downlink data for the UE 620 is
additionally received from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 before the
network timer expires, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 measures again
the pre-set time by resetting the network timer.
[0197] In operation 1213, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits the
downlink data to the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access link. In
operation 1215, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 measures a pre-set time
by starting the 1.sup.st timer at a time when downlink data is
transmitted. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure,
a UE timer may be set based on deactivation timer information
previously received from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. The
deactivation timer information may include information regarding
the set time of the Pt timer of the 1.sup.st access eNB. For
another example, the UE timer may be set based on information
pre-stored in the 2.sup.nd access eNB. The set time of the UE timer
may be equal to or different from the set time of the 1.sup.st
timer and/or the set time of the network timer. The set time of the
UE timer may be set by considering a delivery delay between the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and/or a
delivery delay between the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and the UE 620.
If downlink data for the UE 620 is additionally received from the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 before the UE timer expires, and if the
additionally received downlink data is additionally transmitted to
the UE 602, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 measures again the pre-set
time by resetting the UE timer.
[0198] If downlink data is received through the 2.sup.nd access
link from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 in operation 1213, the UE 620
measures the pre-set time by starting a 2.sup.nd timer in operation
1214. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
2.sup.nd timer may be set based on the deactivation timer
information previously received from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600.
According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the set time
of the 2.sup.nd timer may be equal to or different from the time
information of the deactivation timer. Further, according to the
embodiment of the present disclosure, the set time of the 2.sup.nd
timer may be equal to or different from the set time of the
1.sup.st timer operated by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600.
Furthermore, the set time of the 2.sup.nd timer may be equal to or
different from the set time of the UE timer operated by the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610. The set time of the 2.sup.nd timer may be
set by considering a delivery delay between the 1.sup.st access eNB
600 and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and/or a delivery delay between
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and the UE 620. If downlink data is
additionally received from the 2.sup.nd access module via the
2.sup.nd access link before the 2.sup.nd timer expires, the UE 620
measures again the pre-set time by resetting the 2.sup.nd
timer.
[0199] Meanwhile, in operation 1217, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610
may monitor a state of the UE timer and the network timer to detect
a mismatch occurrence. For example, if the network timer is in a
running state (e.g., an ON state) and the UE timer is in an expiry
state (e.g., an OFF state), the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may detect
that the mismatch occurs due to the timer. In this case, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may recognize that a state of the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620 is a deactivation state and that state
information of the 2.sup.nd access module managed by the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 indicates an activation state. For another example,
if the network timer is in the expiry state (e.g., the OFF state)
and the UE timer is in the running state (e.g., the ON state), the
2.sup.nd access eNB may detect that the mismatch occurs due to the
timer. In this case, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may recognize that
the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is the
activation state, and the state information of the 2.sup.nd access
module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 indicates a
deactivation state.
[0200] In operation 1219, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits to
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 a signal for requesting to control a
state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620. For example, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit the signal for requesting to
control the state of the 2.sup.nd access module based on the state
information of the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. For example, if the
state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is the
deactivation state and the state information of the 2.sup.nd access
module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 indicates the
activation state, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit a signal
for requesting to change the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of
the UE 620 from the deactivation state to the activation state. For
another example, if the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the
UE 620 is the activation state and the state information of the
2.sup.nd access module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
indicates the deactivation state, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may
transmit the signal for requesting to change the state of the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 from the activation state to
the deactivation state. In another embodiment of the present
disclosure, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit only
information indicating that the state of the 2.sup.nd access module
of the UE 620 is the activation state. In another embodiment of the
present disclosure, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit only
information indicating that the state of the 2.sup.nd access module
of the UE 620 is different from the state information of the
2.sup.nd access module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600.
[0201] Based on the state control request signal for the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620, in operation 1221, the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 transmits a signal for instructing a state change of the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620. The signal for instructing
the state change of the 2.sup.nd access module may be a signal for
instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd access module or a signal
for instructing deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module. The
signal for instructing the state change of the 2.sup.nd access
module may be transmitted by using any one of an RRC
reconfiguration message, an MAC CE, and a PDCCH.
[0202] The UE 620 may receive the signal for instructing the state
change of the 2.sup.nd access module from the 1.sup.st access eNB
600, and may change the state of the 2.sup.nd access module based
on the received signal. Although not shown, the UE 620 may transmit
a signal for indicating that the state of the 2.sup.nd access
module is changed to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 via the 1.sup.st
access link, or may transmit it to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via
the 2.sup.nd access link.
[0203] Meanwhile, although not shown, after detecting that the
mismatch occurs due to the timer, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may
buffer downlink data from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 instead of
transmitting it to the UE 620. Upon receiving a signal for
indicating that the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
activated from the UE 620 or from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may start transmission of the buffered
downlink data. Further, when a specific time elapses from a time at
which the state control of the 2.sup.nd access module is requested
to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may
start transmission of the buffered downlink data.
[0204] In the embodiment of FIG. 12A described above, the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610 requests the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 to change the
state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620. However,
according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, if the
state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is the activation
state and the state information of the 2.sup.nd access module
managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 indicates the deactivation
state, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit a signal for
requesting to change the state of the 2.sup.nd access module from
the activation state to the deactivation state to the UE 620 via
the 2.sup.nd access link. An operation for matching the state of
the 2.sup.nd access module by the 2.sup.nd access eNB based on a
timer mismatch of the UE and the 1.sup.st access eNB is described
above with reference to FIG. 12A. However, even if the state
information of the 2.sup.nd access module is mismatched due to a
control signal delay, and the like, the 2.sup.nd access eNB may
transmit the signal for requesting to control the state of the
2.sup.nd access module to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 or the UE
620.
[0205] FIG. 12B illustrates a signal flow for controlling a state
of a 2.sup.nd access module of a UE according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0206] Various embodiments for controlling a state of a 2.sup.nd
access module are shown in FIG. 12B when a state mismatch occurs in
the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE. More particularly, as shown
in FIG. 11B, if a state of the 2.sup.nd access module of a UE 620
is `OFF` and state information of a 2.sup.nd access module managed
by a 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is `ON` among various states, a
situation may occur in which the UE 620 is unable to receive
downlink data due to a mismatch of the state information of the
2.sup.nd access module. Therefore, various embodiments for a method
for addressing this issue are described.
[0207] Referring to FIG. 12B, in operation 1230, a 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610 may detect whether a state mismatch occurs in the 2.sup.nd
access module for the UE 620. For example, the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610 may detect that the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in
a deactivation state or the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620
managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is in an activation state.
This may be detected by managing the timers described with
reference to FIG. 12A. When the state mismatch of the 2.sup.nd
access module for the UE 620 occurs, in operation 1232, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit a signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module to the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600. Accordingly, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may recognize
that the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in the
deactivation state, and may manage the state information of the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 as the deactivation state.
[0208] For another option, when the state mismatch occurs in the
2.sup.nd access module for the UE 620, in operation 1234, the UE
620 may transmit to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 a signal for
indicating that the state of the 2.sup.nd access module is the
deactivation state. Of course, in this case, the UE 620 cannot
recognize that the occurrence of the state mismatch of the 2.sup.nd
access module for the UE 620 is detected by the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610. Therefore, the UE 620 must periodically transmit to the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 the signal for indicating that the state of
the 2.sup.nd access module is the deactivation state, or must
transmit to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 the signal for indicating
that the state of the 2.sup.nd access module is the deactivation
state whenever the state of the 2.sup.nd access module is
deactivated. Accordingly, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may recognize
that the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in the
deactivation state, and may manage the state information of the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 as the deactivation state.
[0209] Upon recognizing that the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE
620 is in the deactivation state through operation 1232 or 1234,
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may detect a presence of downlink data
for the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. In this case, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 may transmit a signal for requesting to
activate the 2.sup.nd access module to the UE 620 in operation
1236. As described above, the signal for requesting to activate the
2.sup.nd access module may include beacon option information for
indicating whether a short beacon is transmitted and uplink
resource allocation information for transmission of an activation
response signal.
[0210] Accordingly, the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
activated in operation 1238, and 2.sup.nd access module state
information of the UE 620, which is stored in the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, may be matched as an
activation state in operations 1242 and 1240, respectively.
[0211] Referring to FIG. 12B described above, in case of using a
method in which the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 detects a state
mismatch as to the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 by using a
timer and transmits a signal for controlling the state mismatch to
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600, a latency may occur to some extents
due to an X2 interface between the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and the
1.sup.st access eNB. However, this method has an advantage in that
a system load is small since the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits
the signal for controlling the state mismatch to the 1.sup.st
access eNB only when the state mismatch occurs.
[0212] Meanwhile, in FIG. 12B described above, in case of using a
method in which the UE 620 transmits the signal for controlling the
state mismatch to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, there is an
advantage in that a latency is very short since the 1.sup.st access
link is used. However, in this method, a system load may be
increased since the UE 620 transmits the signal for controlling the
state mismatch to the 1.sup.st access eNB either periodically or
whenever the state of the 2.sup.nd access module changes.
[0213] Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B described above, an operation
for matching the state of the 2.sup.nd access module has been
described based on the state mismatch for the 2.sup.nd access
module of the UE. However, according to another embodiment of the
present disclosure, instead of transmitting the signal for
requesting to control the state of the 2.sup.nd access module, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may not transmit downlink data but buffer
it until the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
matched to the state information of the 2.sup.nd access module
managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. For example, if the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits a signal for instructing
activation of the 2.sup.nd access module to the UE 620 to activate
the 2.sup.nd access module, a transmission delay may occur in the
signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd access module.
Accordingly, although the state information of the 2.sup.nd access
module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 is an activation
state, the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 may be actually in
a deactivation state. In this case, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may
transmit downlink data to the UE 620 after buffering the downlink
data for a specific period of time based on an expected time at
which the 2.sup.nd access module is activated.
[0214] For another example, when it is expected that the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620 is changed to the deactivation state
within a specific period of time in a state where downlink data to
be transmitted to the UE 620 is buffered, the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610 may explicitly transmit a signal for prohibiting deactivation
of the 2.sup.nd access module to the UE 620.
[0215] FIG. 12C illustrates a signal flow for prohibiting
deactivation of a UE by a 2.sup.nd access eNB according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0216] Referring to FIG. 12C, in operation 1251, a 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 transmits downlink data for a UE 620 to a 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610. For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may recognize
that a 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in an activation
state, and may transmit the downlink data for the UE 620 to the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
[0217] In operation 1253, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 measures a
pre-set time by starting a 1.sup.st timer at a time when downlink
data is transmitted. If downlink data to be transmitted to the UE
620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 is additionally detected before
the 1.sup.st timer expires or before a pre-set time elapses,
returning to operation 1251, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits
downlink data for the UE 620 to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. In
this case, the 1.sup.st timer is reset at a time when the
additionally detected downlink data is transmitted, and thus the
pre-set time is measured again.
[0218] Meanwhile, if downlink data for the UE 620 is received from
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 in operation 1251, the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610 starts a network timer in operation 1255 to measure a
pre-set time. According to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the network timer may be set based on deactivation
timer information received in advance from the 1.sup.st access eNB
600. The deactivation timer information may include information for
a set time of the 1.sup.st timer of the 1.sup.st access eNB. For
another example, the network timer may be set based on information
pre-stored in the 2.sup.nd access eNB. The set time of the network
timer may be equal to or different from the set time of the
1.sup.st timer. The set time of the network timer may be set by
considering a delivery delay between the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. If downlink data for the UE 620 is
additionally received from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 before the
network timer expires, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 measures again
the pre-set time by resetting the network timer.
[0219] In operation 1257, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits the
downlink data to the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access link. In
operation 1259, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 measures a pre-set time
by starting the 1.sup.st timer at a time when downlink data is
transmitted. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure,
a UE timer may be set based on deactivation timer information
previously received from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. The
deactivation timer information may include information regarding
the set time of the 1.sup.st timer of the 1.sup.st access eNB. For
another example, the UE timer may be set based on information
pre-stored in the 2.sup.nd access eNB. The set time of the UE timer
may be equal to or different from the set time of the 1.sup.st
timer and/or the set time of the network timer. The set time of the
UE timer may be set by cindering a delivery delay between the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and/or a
delivery delay between the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and the UE 620.
If downlink data for the UE 620 is additionally received from the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 before the UE timer expires, and if the
additionally received downlink data is additionally transmitted to
the UE 602, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 measures again the pre-set
time by resetting the UE timer.
[0220] If downlink data is received through the 2.sup.nd access
link from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 in operation 1257, the UE 620
measures the pre-set time by starting a 2.sup.nd timer in operation
1261. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
2.sup.nd timer may be set based on the deactivation timer
information previously received from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600.
According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the set time
of the 2.sup.nd timer may be equal to or different from the time
information of the deactivation timer. Further, according to the
embodiment of the present disclosure, the set time of the 2.sup.nd
timer may be equal to or different from the set time of the
1.sup.st timer operated by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600.
Furthermore, the set time of the 2.sup.nd timer may be equal to or
different from the set time of the UE timer operated by the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610. The set time of the 2.sup.nd timer may be
set by considering a delivery delay between the 1.sup.st access eNB
600 and the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and/or a delivery delay between
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and the UE 620. If downlink data is
additionally received from the 2.sup.nd access module via the
2.sup.nd access link before the 2.sup.nd timer expires, the UE 620
measures again the pre-set time by resetting the 2.sup.nd
timer.
[0221] Meanwhile, in operation 1263, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610
detects whether the UE timer will expire within a specific time.
For example, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 detects whether the UE
timer will expire within the specific time in a state where the
downlink data for the UE 620 is not transmitted to the UE 620 but
is buffered. If it is determined that the UE timer will expire
within the specific time, in operation 1265, the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610 may transmit the signal for prohibiting deactivation of the
2.sup.nd access module to the UE 620. In this case, the signal for
prohibiting deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module may include
information regarding a time of prohibiting deactivation of the
2.sup.nd access module. Therefore, during the time of prohibiting
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module, the UE 620 may not
deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module but may receive downlink data
from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via the 2.sup.nd access module.
The signal for prohibiting deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access
module may be a signal for requesting to keep the activation state
of the 2.sup.nd access module.
[0222] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure,
instead of transmitting the signal for prohibiting deactivation of
the 2.sup.nd access module, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may
increase a priority for downlink data transmission of the UE 620.
For example, if there is downlink data for a plurality of UEs, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit downlink data for the UE 620
expected to be deactivated within a specific time by preferentially
scheduling it.
[0223] FIG. 12D illustrates a cause of a state mismatch occurrence
on a 2.sup.nd access module of a UE and a method of correcting the
state mismatch according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0224] Referring to FIG. 12D, a state mismatch for the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620 may occur due to a channel access delay
of an unlicensed band. For example, since a channel occupation for
transmitting downlink data to the UE 620 is delayed in the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610 which uses the unlicensed band, the state mismatch
may occur for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE. In this case,
the state for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE may be matched
by the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 by using the method described above
with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B.
[0225] Further, the state mismatch for the 2.sup.nd access module
of the UE 620 may occur when control signal transmission is delayed
due to an interface between the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 and the
1.sup.st access eNB 600. In this case, the state for the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE may be matched by the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610 by using a method of buffering downlink data.
[0226] Further, the state mismatch for the 2.sup.nd access module
of the UE 620 may occur when downlink data using the 2.sup.nd
access module is generated in the UE 620 and thus the 2.sup.nd
access module is activated. In this case, the state for the
2.sup.nd access module may be matched by the UE 620 by using a
method of transmitting a signal for indicating activation of the
2.sup.nd access module to the 1.sup.st access eNB.
[0227] Further, the state mismatch for the 2.sup.nd access module
of the UE 620 may occur due to a clock draft of the UE 620 and the
1.sup.st access eNB 600. In this case, the state for the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE may be matched by using a method of
applying an activation margin to a time of a timer managed in the
UE 620, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600, and/or the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610.
[0228] In addition, in the embodiment of the present disclosure,
upon detecting that the 2.sup.nd access module needs to be changed
from the activation state to the deactivation state, the UE 620 may
use a WLAN 802.11 MAC header to indicate that the 2.sup.nd access
module will operate by being changed to the deactivation state.
[0229] FIG. 13 illustrates a media access control (MAC) header for
indicating a state of a 2.sup.nd access module by a UE according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0230] Referring to FIG. 13, the UE 620 may set values of a Power
Mgmt 1300 and More Data 1301 in a frame control field of the WLAN
802.11 MAC header respectively to 1 and 1, and may transmit the
values to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. According to a WLAN 802.11
standard, `Power Mgmt=0` indicates an activation mode, `Power
Mgmt=1` indicates a PSM mode, and the More Data 1301 is in a state
of not being defined for a specific usage. Therefore, in the
present disclosure, it may be set to `Power Mgmt=1, More Data=1` to
indicate that the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 will operate
by being changing to the inactive module. The 2.sup.nd access eNB
610 may analyze the Power Mgmt 1300 and More Data 1301 included in
the WLAN 802.11 MAC header received from accessed UEs, and thus may
determine whether all of the accessed UEs indicate the change to
the deactivation state of the 2.sup.nd access module. If all of the
accessed UEs indicate the change to the deactivation state of the
2.sup.nd access module, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may not perform
an operation of periodically transmitting a beacon signal. In this
case, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may perform the operation of
transmitting the beacon signal under the control of the 1.sup.st
access eNB. For example, upon receiving downlink data to be
transmitted to the UE 620 from the 1.sup.st access eNB, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may detect that it is required to resume
the operation of periodically transmitting the beacon signal, and
may periodically transmit the beacon signal.
[0231] The aforementioned embodiments of the present disclosure
have been described under the assumption that the 1.sup.st access
eNB receives downlink data for a 2.sup.nd access system of the UE
620 from a higher network node, and transmits the received downlink
data to the 2.sup.nd access system. However, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, the 2.sup.nd access eNB may
receive the downlink data for the 2.sup.nd access system of the UE
620 from the higher network node and may transmit it to the UE 620.
In this case, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit a signal for
indicating a presence/absence of downlink data to be transmitted to
the UE 620 or a signal for requesting to control the activation
state for the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620, so that the
1.sup.st access eNB can control the activation state of the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620.
[0232] Further, the aforementioned embodiments of the present
disclosure may also be equally applied to a case where downlink
data is delivered to a 2.sup.nd access eNB to distribute a load
caused by downlink data to be transmitted to a UE by a 1.sup.st
access eNB via a link of a 1.sup.st access system.
[0233] FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate a procedure of operating a
1.sup.st access eNB according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0234] Referring to FIGS. 14A and 14B, in operation 1401, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 detects traffic to be transmitted to the UE
620 via a 2.sup.nd access eNB. According to the embodiment of the
present disclosure, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may detect traffic
to be transmitted to the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB from a
higher network node. According to another embodiment of the present
disclosure, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may receive a downlink
traffic generation report signal from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610,
and thus may detect a presence of the traffic to be transmitted to
the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB. According to another
embodiment of the present disclosure, to distribute a load for a
1.sup.st access link, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may determine to
transmit to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 downlink data to be
transmitted to the UE 620, and may detect the generation of the
traffic to be transmitted to the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access
eNB.
[0235] In operation 1403, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 identifies
state information of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620. If
the state information of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620,
which is stored in the 1.sup.st access eNB 600, indicates an
activation state, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 directly proceeds to
operation 1411.
[0236] On the other hand, if the state information of the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620, which is stored in the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600, indicates a deactivation state, in operation 1405, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits a signal for instructing
activation of the 2.sup.nd access module to the UE via the 1.sup.st
access link. The signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd
access module may be transmitted by using any one of an RRC
reconfiguration message, a MAC CE, and a PDCCH based on how quickly
the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 must be activated.
Further, the signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd
access module may include information for indicating whether the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits a short beacon.
[0237] In operation 1407, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 stores the
state information of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 by
changing from the deactivation state to the activation state.
[0238] Thereafter, in operation 1409, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
instructs the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 to transmit a short beacon.
According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, operation
1409 may be skipped.
[0239] In operation 1410, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 examines
whether a signal for changing the 2.sup.nd access eNB is received.
For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may receive from the UE
620 a signal including information for indicating whether there is
a need to change the 2.sup.nd access eNB. If the signal for
changing the 2.sup.nd access eNB is not received, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 proceeds to operation 1411. For example, if the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 receives a signal for indicating that there
is no need to change the 2.sup.nd access eNB, the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 may proceed to operation 1411.
[0240] Meanwhile, if the signal for changing the 2.sup.nd access
eNB is received, in operation 1423, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
instructs a neighboring 2.sup.nd access eNB to transmit a short
beacon signal. Herein, the signal for instructing transmission of
the short beacon signal may be transmitted to the 2.sup.nd access
eNB to which the UE 620 has access and/or at least one different
2.sup.nd access eNB neighboring to the 2.sup.nd access eNB. The
1.sup.st access eNB 600 may select at least one 2.sup.nd access eNB
based on a pre-registered 2.sup.nd access eNB list, and may
transmit the signal for instructing transmission of the short
beacon signal to the selected as least one 2.sup.nd access eNB. The
2.sup.nd access eNB list may include location information of each
of 2.sup.nd access eNBs and/or information of a 2.sup.nd access eNB
neighboring to each of the 2.sup.nd access eNBs. Further, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 may select at least one 2.sup.nd access eNB
based on a location of the UE 620.
[0241] Thereafter, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 receives information
regarding a 2.sup.nd access eNB to which the UE 620 will be handed
over in operation 1425, and performs a handover process on the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 of the UE 620 in operation 1427.
Thereafter, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may proceed to operation
1411. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure,
operations 1410, 1426, 1425, and 1427 may be skipped. Further,
operations 1410, 1426, 1425, and 1427 are not necessarily performed
after operation 1409, but may be performed during the UE 620
receives downlink data from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
[0242] The 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits downlink traffic to
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 in operation 1411, and starts an
operation of a 1.sup.st timer in operation 1413. If downlink data
of the UE 620 is additionally detected via the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610 during the 1.sup.st timer is running, the 1.sup.st access eNB
600 may transmit the additionally detected downlink traffic to the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610, and may reset the 1.sup.st timer.
[0243] Thereafter, proceeding to operation 1415, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 examines whether the timer expires. For example,
when the downlink data of the UE 620 is not additionally detected
via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 during the 1.sup.st timer is
running, it is examined whether the 1.sup.st timer expires by
measuring a pre-set time.
[0244] If the 1.sup.st timer does not expire, in operation 1417,
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 examines whether a signal for
requesting to control a state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the
UE 620 is received from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. If the signal
for requesting to control the state of the 2.sup.nd access module
is not received, in operation 1421, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
examines whether downlink traffic to be transmitted to the UE 620
is additionally detected via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. If the
downlink traffic to be transmitted to the UE 620 is additionally
detected via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, returning to operation
1411, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits the additionally
detected downlink data to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, and starts
the operation of the 1.sup.st timer in operation 1413. For example,
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 resets the 1.sup.st timer. On the other
hand, if the downlink traffic to be transmitted to the UE 620 is
not additionally detected via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610,
returning to 1413, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 re-examines whether
the 1.sup.st timer expires.
[0245] Meanwhile, if an examination result of operation 1417 shows
that the signal for requesting to control the 2.sup.nd access
module state of the UE 620 is received, in operation 1419, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits the signal for instructing
activation of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 to the UE
620 via the 1.sup.st access link. For example, if the state
information stored in the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 and regarding the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is not matched to the actual
state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 may receive the signal for requesting to control the
state of the 2.sup.nd access module from the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd access module may
include information for indicating whether a short beacon of the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 is transmitted.
[0246] If the 1.sup.st timer expires, in operation 1423, the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 may transmit a signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module to the UE 620 via the
1.sup.st access link. The signal for instructing deactivation of
the 2.sup.nd access module may be a probe request signal. The
signal for instructing deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module
may include a sequence number of a last downlink packet transmitted
by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, if the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits timer information for
deactivation to the UE 620 during an initial setup process with
respect to the UE 620 or if the UE 620 has timer information
pre-stored therein for deactivation, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
may not perform operations 1423 and/or 1425 but may directly
proceed to operation 1427.
[0247] In operation 1425, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may receive a
signal for indicating that the 2.sup.nd access module is
deactivated from the UE 620 via the 1.sup.st access link. The
signal for indicating that the 2.sup.nd access module is
deactivated may be a probe response signal. According to the
embodiment of the present disclosure, a process in which the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 receives the signal for indicating that the
2.sup.nd access link is deactivated may be skipped. In this case,
the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may determine whether the UE 620 has
received a last packet based on an ARQ response signal received
from the UE 620.
[0248] The 1.sup.st access eNB 600 stores state information of the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 by changing to a deactivation
state in operation 1427, and then ends the procedure according to
the embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0249] FIG. 15 illustrates a procedure of operating a 2.sup.nd
access eNB according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0250] Referring to FIG. 15, in operation 1501, the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610 examines whether a short beacon delivery instruction is
received. If the short beacon delivery instruction is not received,
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 directly proceeds to operation
1505.
[0251] In operation 1503, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits a
short beacon to the UE 620. The short beacon may be configured by
including only some pieces of information among a plurality of
pieces of information included in a well-known beacon signal.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, a short beacon 852 is not transmitted
at a time of transmitting the periodically repeated beacon 850 but
is transmitted at a time point between beacon transmission periods.
This is for allowing the UE 620 to activate the 2.sup.nd access
module, thereafter to receive the short beacon 852 instead of
waiting until a next beacon reception duration, and thereafter to
immediately receive downlink data. According to the embodiment of
the present disclosure, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may skip
operations 1501 and 1503.
[0252] In operation 1505, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits
downlink data received from the 1.sup.st access eNB, to the UE 620
via the 2.sup.nd access link. Thereafter, in operation 1507, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 determines whether a state mismatch of the
2.sup.nd access module is detected according to a 1.sup.st timer
and a 2.sup.nd timer. Herein, the 1.sup.st timer starts an
operation at a time when the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 receives
downlink data from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. Further, the
2.sup.nd timer starts an operation at a time when the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610 transmits downlink data to the UE 620. For example,
the 1.sup.st timer and the 2.sup.nd timer may be respectively the
aforementioned network timer or UE timer of FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C,
and 12D. If the 1.sup.st timer is in a running state (e.g., an ON
state) and the 2.sup.nd timer is in an expiry state (e.g., an OFF
state), the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may determine that a state
mismatch of the 2.sup.nd access module is detected. In this case,
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may recognize that a state of the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is a deactivation state and
that state information of the 2.sup.nd access module managed by the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 indicates an activation state.
[0253] Upon detecting the state mismatch of the 2.sup.nd access
module according to the 1.sup.st timer and the 2.sup.nd timer, in
operation 1509, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits to the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 a signal for requesting to control the
state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620. For example, if
the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is the
deactivation state and the state information of the 2.sup.nd access
module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 indicates the
activation state, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit a signal
for requesting to change the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of
the UE 620 from the deactivation state to the activation state.
Thereafter, returning to operation 1505, the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610 repeats the subsequent operations. If the state of the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620 is the deactivation state and the state
information of the 2.sup.nd access module managed by the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 indicates the activation state, the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610 may not transmit downlink data to the UE 620 and may buffer
the downlink data, until the state of the 2.sup.nd access module is
changed to the activation state.
[0254] On the other hand, if the state mismatch of the 2.sup.nd
access module is not detected according to the 1.sup.st timer and
the 2.sup.nd timer, in operation 1511, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610
determines whether a last downlink packet is transmitted. For
example, if additional downlink data is not received until the
1.sup.st timer expires, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 determines that
the last downlink data is received, and examines whether the
downlink data is transmitted to the UE 620. For another example, if
the additional downlink data is detected before the 1.sup.st timer
expires, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may determine that the last
downlink traffic is not transmitted.
[0255] If it is determined that the last downlink traffic is not
transmitted, in operation 1513, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610
determines whether the 2.sup.nd timer for determining a time at
which the 2.sup.nd access module for the UE 620 is deactivated is
close to an expiry time. For example, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610
may determine whether the 2.sup.nd timer expires within a threshold
time. If it is determined that the 2.sup.nd timer expires within
the threshold time, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 determines that the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is deactivated within the
threshold time, and proceeding to operation 1515, transmits a
signal for prohibiting deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module
to the UE 620.
[0256] For example, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit the
signal for prohibiting deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module
to the UE 620 so that the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
kept in an activation state. In this case, the signal for
prohibiting deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module may include
information regarding a time of prohibiting deactivation. According
to the embodiment of the present disclosure, instead of
transmitting the signal for prohibiting deactivation of the
2.sup.nd access module in operation 1515, the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610 may increase a priority for downlink data transmission of the
UE 620. For example, if there is downlink data for a plurality of
UEs, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may transmit downlink data for the
UE 620 expected to be deactivated within a specific time by
preferentially scheduling it.
[0257] If it is determined that the 2.sup.nd timer does not expire
within the threshold time, returning to operation 1505, the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610 repeats the subsequent operations, and
otherwise if it is determined that last downlink traffic is
transmitted, ends the procedure according to the embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0258] FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a procedure of operating a UE
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0259] Referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B, in operation 1601, the UE
620 receives a signal for instructing activation of a 2.sup.nd
access module via a 1.sup.st access module. For example, the UE 620
may receive the 2.sup.nd access module activation instruction
signal transmitted via a 1.sup.st access link from the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 by using the 1.sup.st access module. In this case,
the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 may be in a deactivation
state.
[0260] In operation 1603, the UE 620 may activate the 2.sup.nd
access module. For example, the UE 620 may control the 2.sup.nd
access module 1920 operating in the deactivation state to operate
in the activation state.
[0261] In operation 1605, the UE 620 examines whether a short
beacon signal is received from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. If the
short beacon signal is received, the UE 620 may acquire information
required to receive downlink data from the short beacon signal in
operation 1607, and may proceed to operation 1613. According to
various embodiments of the present disclosure, operations 1605 and
1607 may be skipped.
[0262] On the other hand, if the short beacon signal is not
received, in operation 1621, the UE 620 may transmit to the
1.sup.st access eNB a signal for changing the 2.sup.nd access eNB.
For example, if the short beacon signal is not received within a
short beacon reception time from a time of activating the 2.sup.nd
access module, the UE 620 may determine that it is difficult to
receive a signal of the 2.sup.nd access eNB, and thus may transmit
to the 1.sup.st access eNB a signal for indicating that there is a
need to change the 2.sup.nd eNB.
[0263] Thereafter, in operation 1623, the UE 620 examines whether
the short beacon signal is received from at least one 2.sup.nd
access eNB. If the short beacon signal is not received from the at
least one 2.sup.nd access eNB, the UE 620 proceeds to operation
1609.
[0264] Otherwise, upon receiving the short beacon signal from the
at least one 2.sup.nd access eNB, proceeding to operation 1625, the
UE 620 determines a 2.sup.nd access eNB as a handover target based
on the received short beacon signal, and in operation 1627,
transmits information regarding the 2.sup.nd access eNB as the
handover target to the Pt access eNB 600. Thereafter, in operation
1629, the UE 620 performs a handover process on the 2.sup.nd access
eNB, and proceeds to operation 1613.
[0265] Meanwhile, in operation 1609, the UE 620 detects whether a
periodically transmitted beacon is received from the 2.sup.nd
access eNB. If the beacon is not received from the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610, the UE 620 returns to operation 1605.
[0266] Otherwise, if the beacon is received from the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610, in operation 1611, the UE 620 acquires information
required to receive downlink data included in the received
beacon.
[0267] In operation 1613, the UE 620 receives downlink data from
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via the 2.sup.nd access module.
[0268] In operation 1615, the UE 620 detects that the 2.sup.nd
access module needs to be changed to a deactivation state by using
the 2.sup.nd timer or the 2.sup.nd access module deactivation
instruction signal received via the 1.sup.st access link. For
example, the UE 620 may receive the signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module via the Pt access link
from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. The signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module may be a probe request
signal. Further, the signal for instructing deactivation of the
2.sup.nd access module may include a sequence number of a last
downlink packet. For example, the UE 620 may deactivate the
2.sup.nd access module immediately after the 2.sup.nd access module
deactivation instruction signal is received. For another example,
the UE 620 may acquire the sequence number of the last downlink
packet from the 2.sup.nd access module deactivation instruction
signal, and may deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module after
detecting that up to the last packet is received based on the
acquired sequence number for the last packet. For another example,
the UE 620 may detect that the 2.sup.nd access module needs to be
changed to the deactivation state based on the 2.sup.nd timer which
measures a pre-set time at a time when downlink data is received
via the 2.sup.nd access link from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For
example, the UE 620 may determine that the 2.sup.nd access module
needs to be changed to the deactivation state if the downlink data
is not additionally received until the pre-set time measured by the
2.sup.nd timer expires. Herein, the 2.sup.nd timer may be set to
the same manner as the 2.sup.nd timer of FIGS. 10A and 10B.
[0269] Upon detecting that the 2.sup.nd access module needs to be
changed to the deactivation state, in operation 1617, the UE 620
may deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module. For example, the UE 620
may perform at least one of the aforementioned operations 1 to 3.
According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, before
changing the 2.sup.nd access module to the deactivation state, as
shown in FIG. 13, the UE 620 may set values of the Power Mgmt 1300
and More Data 1301 in the frame control field in the WLAN 802.11
MAC header to 1 and 1 respectively, and may transmit the values to
the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
[0270] In operation 1619, the UE 620 may transmit a signal for
indicating that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated to the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 via the 1.sup.st access link. According to
the embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE 620 may indicate
that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated to the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 by using a probe response signal. According to
another embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE 620 may
indicate that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated by using a
PDCP feedback signal for indicating a sequence number of a received
last packet. According to another embodiment of the present
disclosure, the UE 620 may not transmit the signal for indicating
that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated.
[0271] Thereafter, the UE 620 ends the procedure according to the
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0272] FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of a 1.sup.st access eNB
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0273] Referring to FIG. 17, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may
include a controller 1700, a communication module 1710, and a
storage unit 1720.
[0274] The controller 1700 may control and process an overall
operation of the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. For example, the
controller 1700 controls and processes a function for providing a
communication service for a 1.sup.st access system to the UE 620,
and controls and processes a function for effectively managing
communication for a 2.sup.nd access system of the UE 620. For
example, the controller 1700 may include a UE state controller 1730
for controlling a state of a 2.sup.nd access module.
[0275] The controller 1700 detects traffic to be transmitted to the
UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB. According to the embodiment of
the present disclosure, the controller 1700 may detect traffic to
be transmitted to the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB from a
higher network node. According to another embodiment of the present
disclosure, the controller 1700 may receive a downlink traffic
generation report signal from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, and thus
may detect a presence of the traffic to be transmitted to the UE
620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB. According to another embodiment of
the present disclosure, to distribute a load for a 1.sup.st access
link, the controller 1700 may determine to transmit to the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610 downlink data to be transmitted to the UE 620, and
may detect the generation of the traffic to be transmitted to the
UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access eNB.
[0276] Further, the controller 1700 stores and manages state
information of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620. If the
state information of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620,
which is stored in the storage unit 1720, indicates an activation
state, the controller 1700 may identify that it is a state in which
the UE 620 can receive downlink data via the 2.sup.nd access
module, and may perform a function for transmitting the downlink
data to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
[0277] If the state information of the 2.sup.nd access module of
the UE 620, which is stored in the storage unit 1720, indicates the
deactivation state, the controller 1700 may perform a function for
transmitting a signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd
access module to the UE 620 via the 1.sup.st access link. The
signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd access module may
be transmitted by using any one of an RRC reconfiguration message,
a MAC CE, and a PDCCH based on how quickly the 2.sup.nd access
module of the UE 620 must be activated. The signal for instructing
activation of the 2.sup.nd access module may include information
for indicating whether the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits a
short beacon.
[0278] After transmitting the signal for instructing activation of
the 2.sup.nd access module to the UE 620 via the 1.sup.st access
link, the controller 1700 may store the state information of the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 by changing from the
deactivation state to the activation state.
[0279] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
controller 1700 may instruct to transmit the short beacon to the
2.sup.nd access eNB 610. The short beacon may be configured by
including only some pieces of information among a plurality of
pieces of information included in a well-known beacon signal.
[0280] Further, according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the controller 1700 may receive from the UE 620 a
signal for indicating that there is a need to change the 2.sup.nd
access eNB. In this case, the controller 1700 may select at least
one 2.sup.nd access eNB, and may instruct to transmit the short
beacon to the selected 2.sup.nd access eNB. The selected 2.sup.nd
access eNB may include a 2.sup.nd access eNB to which the UE 620
previously has access, and may include a 2.sup.nd access eNB
neighboring to the 2.sup.nd access eNB to which the UE 620
previously has access. The controller 1700 may instruct to transmit
the short beacon by selecting at least one 2.sup.nd access eNB,
based on a pre-stored 2.sup.nd access eNB list. Further, the
controller 1700 may receive information regarding the 2.sup.nd
access eNB as a handover target from the UE 620, and may perform a
handover process for the 2.sup.nd access eNB of the UE 620 based on
the received information. For example, the controller 1700 may
transmit an additional request signal including information of the
UE 620 to the target 2.sup.nd access eNB, may receive an additional
request response signal from the target 2.sup.nd access eNB, and
may configure a data path for the target 2.sup.nd access eNB and
the UE 620. Further, the controller 1700 may transmit a radio
resource control connection reconfiguration signal to the UE 620,
and may control and process a function for receiving a radio
resource control connection reconfiguration complete signal from
the UE 620. Herein, the radio resource controller connection
reconfiguration complete signal may include information (e.g., PDCP
SN) for last downlink data received from the 2.sup.nd access eNB to
which the UE previously has access. Upon receiving the radio
resource control connection reconfiguration complete signal, the
controller 1700 transmits downlink data for the UE 620 to the
2.sup.nd access eNB to which the UE 620 is handed over. In this
case, upon receiving the PDCP SN for the last downlink data from
the UE 620, the controller 1700 may deliver downlink data
subsequent to the PDCP SN to the 2.sup.nd access eNB to which the
UE 620 is handed over.
[0281] The controller 1700 transmits downlink data to the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610, and starts an operation of the 1.sup.st timer at a
time of transmitting the downlink data. If downlink data of the UE
620 is additionally detected via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 during
the 1.sup.st timer is running, the controller 1700 may transmit the
additionally detected downlink traffic to the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610, and may reset the 1.sup.st timer. The controller 1700 examines
whether the 1.sup.st timer expires. For example, when the downlink
data of the UE 620 is not additionally detected via the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610 during the 1.sup.st timer is running, it is examined
whether the 1.sup.st timer expires by measuring a pre-set time. If
the 1.sup.st timer does not expire, the controller 1700 examines
whether a signal for requesting to control a state of the 2.sup.nd
access module of the UE 620 is received from the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610.
[0282] If the signal for requesting to control the state of the
2.sup.nd access module is not received, the controller 1700
examines whether downlink traffic to be transmitted to the UE 620
is additionally detected via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. If the
downlink traffic to be transmitted to the UE 620 is additionally
detected via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, the controller 1700
transmits the additionally detected downlink data to the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610, and resets the 1.sup.st timer. On the other hand,
if the downlink traffic to be transmitted to the UE 620 is not
additionally detected via the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, the
controller 1700 re-examines whether the 1.sup.st timer expires.
[0283] If the signal for requesting to control the 2.sup.nd access
module state of the UE 620 is received from the 2.sup.nd access eNB
610, the controller 1700 transmits the signal for instructing
activation of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 to the UE
620 via the 1.sup.st access link. For example, if the state
information stored in the controller 1700 and regarding the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is not matched to the actual
state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620, the controller
1700 may receive the signal for requesting to control the state of
the 2.sup.nd access module from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
[0284] If the 1.sup.st timer expires, the controller 1700 may
transmit a signal for instructing deactivation of the 2.sup.nd
access module to the UE 620 via the 1.sup.st access link. The
signal for instructing deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module
may be a probe request signal. The signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module may include a sequence
number of a last downlink packet transmitted by the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 to the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
[0285] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
if the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 transmits timer information for
deactivation to the UE 620 during an initial setup process with
respect to the UE 620 or if the UE 620 has timer information
pre-stored therein for deactivation, the controller 1700 may skip
the operation of transmitting the signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module.
[0286] The controller 1700 may receive a signal for indicating that
the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated from the UE 620 via the
1.sup.st access link. The signal for indicating that the 2.sup.nd
access module is deactivated may be a probe response signal.
According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a process in
which the controller 1700 receives the signal for indicating that
the 2.sup.nd access link is deactivated may be skipped. In this
case, the controller 1700 may determine whether the UE 620 has
received a last packet based on an ARQ response signal received
from the UE 620.
[0287] The controller 1700 may store 2.sup.nd access module state
information of the UE 620 by changing to a deactivation state. For
example, after a signal for indicating deactivation is transmitted,
or after the 1.sup.st timer expires, or after the signal for
indicating the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated is received
from the UE 620, the controller 1700 may store the 2.sup.nd access
module state information by changing to the deactivation state.
[0288] The communication module 1710 may transmit/receive a signal
to/from the UE 620 via a link of the 1.sup.st access system under
the control of the controller 1700. Further, the communication
module 1710 may transmit/receive a signal to/from the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610 via a backhaul under the control of the controller
1700.
[0289] The storage unit 1720 stores a variety of data and programs
required for an operation of the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 under the
control of the controller 1700. The storage unit 1720 stores state
information of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE currently
having access to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 under the control of
the controller 1700. The storage unit 1720 may store a rule (e.g.,
deactivation timer information, 2.sup.nd timer information) for
deactivating the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 under the
control of the controller 1700.
[0290] FIG. 18 illustrates a block diagram of a 2.sup.nd access eNB
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0291] Referring to FIG. 18, the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 may
include a controller 1800, a communication module 1810, and a
storage unit 1820.
[0292] The controller 1800 may control and process an overall
operation of the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For example, the
controller 1800 controls and processes a function for providing a
communication service for a 2.sup.nd access system to the UE 620,
and controls and processes a function for effectively managing
communication for the 2.sup.nd access system of the UE 620. For
example, the controller 1800 may include a state mismatch sensor
1802 for providing control such that a state of the 2.sup.nd access
module of the UE 620 is matched to state information of the
2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620, which is managed by the
1.sup.st access eNB 600.
[0293] Upon receiving a short beacon delivery instruction from the
1.sup.st access eNB 600, the controller 1800 may transmit a short
beacon to the UE 620. The short beacon may be configured by
including only some pieces of information among a plurality of
pieces of information included in a well-known beacon signal. As
shown in FIG. 8B, a short beacon 852 is not transmitted at a time
of transmitting a periodically repeated beacon 850 but is
transmitted at a time point between beacon transmission periods.
This is for allowing the UE 620 to activate the 2.sup.nd access
module, thereafter to receive the short beacon 852 instead of
waiting until a next beacon reception duration, and thereafter to
immediately receive downlink data. According to the embodiment of
the present disclosure, the controller 1800 may not transmit the
short beacon.
[0294] The controller 1800 transmits downlink data, received from
the 1.sup.st access eNB, to the UE 620 via the 2.sup.nd access
link, and determines whether a state mismatch of the 2.sup.nd
access module is detected based on a 1.sup.st timer and a 2.sup.nd
timer. Herein, the 1.sup.st timer starts an operation at a time
when the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 receives downlink data from the
1.sup.st access eNB 600. Further, the 2.sup.nd timer starts an
operation at a time when the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 transmits
downlink data to the UE 620. For example, the Pt timer and the
2.sup.nd timer may be respectively the aforementioned network timer
or UE timer of FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D. If the 1.sup.st timer
is in a running state (e.g., an ON state) and the 2.sup.nd timer is
in an expiry state (e.g., an OFF state), the controller 1800 may
determine that a state mismatch of the 2.sup.nd access module is
detected. In this case, the controller 1800 is in a state in which
the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is in a deactivation state
and state information of the 2.sup.nd access module managed by the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 indicates an activation state.
[0295] Upon detecting the state mismatch of the 2.sup.nd access
module based on the 1.sup.st timer and the 2.sup.nd timer, the
controller 1800 transmits to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 a signal
for requesting to control the state of the 2.sup.nd access module.
For example, if the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE
620 is the deactivation state and the state information of the
2.sup.nd access module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600
indicates the activation state, the controller 1800 may transmit a
signal for requesting to change the state of the 2.sup.nd access
module of the UE 620 from the deactivation state to the activation
state. If the state of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620 is
the deactivation state and the state information of the 2.sup.nd
access module managed by the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 indicates the
activation state, the controller 1800 may not transmit downlink
data to the UE 620 and may buffer the downlink data, until the
state of the 2.sup.nd access module is changed to the activation
state.
[0296] The controller 1800 may detect whether a last downlink
packet is transmitted in a state where the state mismatch of the
2.sup.nd access module is not detected based on the 1.sup.st timer
and the 2.sup.nd timer. For example, if additional downlink data is
not received until the 1.sup.st timer expires, the controller 1800
determines that the last downlink data is received, and examines
whether the downlink data is transmitted to the UE 620. For another
example, if the additional downlink data is detected before the
1.sup.st timer expires, the controller 1800 may determine that the
last downlink traffic is not transmitted.
[0297] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, if it
is determined that the last downlink traffic is not transmitted,
the controller 1800 determines whether the 2.sup.nd timer for
determining a time at which the 2.sup.nd access module for the UE
620 is deactivated is close to an expiry time. For example, the
controller 1800 may determine whether the 2.sup.nd timer (or a UE
timer) expires within a threshold time. If it is determined that
the 2.sup.nd timer expires within the threshold time, the
controller 1800 may determine that the 2.sup.nd access module of
the UE 620 is deactivated within the threshold time, and may
transmit a signal for prohibiting deactivation of the 2.sup.nd
access module to the UE 620. For example, the controller 1800 may
transmit the signal for prohibiting deactivation of the 2.sup.nd
access module to the UE 620 so that the 2.sup.nd access module of
the UE 620 is kept in an activation state. In this case, the signal
for prohibiting deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module may
include information regarding a time of prohibiting deactivation.
According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, instead of
transmitting the signal for prohibiting deactivation of the
2.sup.nd access module, the controller 1800 may increase a priority
for downlink data transmission of the UE 620. For example, if there
is downlink data for a plurality of UEs, the controller 1800 may
transmit downlink data for the UE 620 expected to be deactivated
within a specific time by preferentially scheduling it.
[0298] If it is determined that the last downlink data is not
transmitted, the controller 1800 may continuously determine whether
the state of the 2.sup.nd access module is mismatched, while
transmitting downlink data to the UE 620 until transmission of the
last downlink data is detected.
[0299] In addition, the controller 1800 may analyze the Power Mgmt
1300 and More Data 1301 included in the WLAN 802.11 MAC header
received from accessed UEs, and thus may determine whether all of
the accessed UEs indicate the change to the deactivation state of
the 2.sup.nd access module. If all of the accessed UEs indicate the
change to the deactivation state of the 2.sup.nd access module, the
controller 1800 may not perform an operation of periodically
transmitting a beacon signal. In this case, the controller 1800 may
perform the operation of transmitting the beacon signal under the
control of the 1.sup.st access eNB 600. For example, upon receiving
downlink data to be transmitted to the UE 620 from the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600, the controller 1800 may detect that it is required
to resume the operation of periodically transmitting the beacon
signal, and may periodically transmit the beacon signal.
[0300] The communication module 1810 may transmit/receive a signal
to/from the UE 620 via a link of the 2.sup.nd access system under
the control of the controller 1800. Further, the communication
module 1810 may transmit/receive a signal to/from the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 via a backhaul under the control of the controller
1800.
[0301] The storage unit 1820 stores a variety of data and programs
required for an operation of the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 under the
control of the controller 1800. The storage unit 1820 may store
state information of the 2.sup.nd access module of the UE 620,
which is received from the 1.sup.st access eNB. The storage unit
1820 may store state information of the 2.sup.nd access module of
the UE 620, which is received from the UE 620. Further, the storage
unit 1820 may store a rule (e.g., deactivation timer information,
2.sup.nd timer information) for deactivating the 2.sup.nd access
module of the UE 620 under the control of the controller 1800.
[0302] FIG. 19 illustrates a block diagram of a UE according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0303] Referring to FIG. 19, the UE 620 may include a controller
1900, a 1.sup.st access module 1910, a 2.sup.nd access module 1920,
and a storage unit 1930.
[0304] The controller 1900 controls and processes an overall
operation of the UE 620. According to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the controller 1900 controls and processes a function
for controlling and changing an activation state of the 2.sup.nd
access module 1920 in a state where the 1.sup.st access module 1910
is kept in an activation state.
[0305] The controller 1900 receives the signal for instructing
activation of the 2.sup.nd access module via the 1.sup.st access
module 1910. For example, the controller 1900 may process a
function for receiving the 2.sup.nd access module activation
instruction signal transmitted via a 1.sup.st access link from the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 by using the 1.sup.st access module 1910.
In this case, the 2.sup.nd access module 1920 of the UE 620 may be
in an inactive state.
[0306] The controller 1900 may activate the 2.sup.nd access module
1920 based on the signal for instructing activation of the 2.sup.nd
access module. For example, the controller 1900 may control the
2.sup.nd access module 1920 operating in the deactivation state to
operate in the activation state.
[0307] The controller 1900 examines whether a short beacon signal
is received from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via the 2.sup.nd
access module 1920. If the short beacon signal is received, the
controller 1900 may acquire information required to receive
downlink data from the short beacon signal. Otherwise, if the short
beacon signal is not received, the controller 1900 examines whether
a beacon transmitted periodically from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610
is received via the 2.sup.nd access module 1920. If the beacon is
received from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610, the controller 1900 may
acquire information required to receive downlink data from a TIM
included in the received beacon. Further, if the short beacon
signal is not received, the controller 1900 may transmit to the
1.sup.st access eNB a signal for indicating that there is a need to
change the 2.sup.nd access eNB. For example, if the short beacon
signal is not received within a short beacon reception time from a
time of activating the 2.sup.nd access module, the controller 1900
may determine that it is difficult to receive a signal of the
2.sup.nd access eNB, and thus may transmit to the 1.sup.st access
eNB a signal for indicating that there is a need to change the
2.sup.nd eNB is. If the short beacon signal is received from at
least one 2.sup.nd access eNB, the controller 1900 may determine a
handover target 2.sup.nd access eNB based on the received short
beacon signal. The controller 1900 may transmit information
regarding the target 2.sup.nd access eNB to the 1.sup.st access eNB
600, and may perform a handover to the target 2.sup.nd access eNB.
Further, the controller 1900 may receive downlink data via the
2.sup.nd access module 1920 from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610.
[0308] The controller 1900 detects that the 2.sup.nd access module
1920 needs to be changed to a deactivation state by using the
2.sup.nd timer or the 2.sup.nd access module deactivation
instruction signal received by the 1.sup.st access module 1910 via
the 1.sup.st access link. For example, the controller 1900 may
receive the signal for instructing deactivation of the 2.sup.nd
access module via the 1.sup.st access link from the 1.sup.st access
eNB 600 by using the 1.sup.st access module 1910. The signal for
instructing deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module may be a
probe request signal. Further, the signal for instructing
deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module may include a sequence
number of a last downlink packet. According to the embodiment of
the present disclosure, the controller 1900 may deactivate the
2.sup.nd access module 1920 immediately after the 2.sup.nd access
module deactivation instruction signal is received. In another
embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 1900 may
acquire the sequence number of the last downlink packet from the
2.sup.nd access module deactivation instruction signal, and may
deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module 1920 after detecting that up
to the last packet is received based on the acquired sequence
number for the last packet. According to another embodiment of the
present disclosure, the controller 1900 may detect that the
2.sup.nd access module 1920 needs to be changed to the deactivation
state based on the 2.sup.nd timer which measures a pre-set time at
a time when downlink data is received via the 2.sup.nd access
module 1920 from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610. For example, the
controller 1900 may determine that the 2.sup.nd access module 1920
needs to be changed to the deactivation state if the downlink data
is not additionally received until the pre-set time measured by the
2.sup.nd timer expires. Herein, the 2.sup.nd timer may be set to
the same manner as the 2.sup.nd timer of FIGS. 10A and 10B.
[0309] Upon detecting that the 2.sup.nd access module 1920 needs to
be changed to the deactivation state, the controller 1900 may
deactivate the 2.sup.nd access module 1920. For example, the
controller 1900 may perform at least one of the aforementioned
operations 1 to 3. According to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, before changing the 2.sup.nd access module 1920 to the
deactivation state, as shown in FIG. 13, the controller 1900 may
set values of the Power Mgmt 1300 and More Data 1301 in the frame
control field in the WLAN 802.11 MAC header to 1 and 1
respectively, and may transmit the values to the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610.
[0310] The controller 1900 may transmit a signal for indicating
that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated to the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 via the 1.sup.st access module 1910. According to
the embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 1900 may
indicate that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated to the
1.sup.st access eNB 600 by using a probe response signal. According
to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller
1900 may indicate that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated by
using a PDCP feedback signal for indicating a sequence number of a
received last packet. According to another embodiment of the
present disclosure, the controller 1900 may not transmit the signal
for indicating that the 2.sup.nd access module is deactivated.
[0311] The 1.sup.st access module 1910 may transmit/receive a
signal to/from the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 via the 1.sup.st access
link under the control of the controller 1900. According to the
embodiment of the present disclosure, the 1.sup.st access module
1910 is kept in the activation state.
[0312] The 2.sup.nd access module 1920 may transmit/receive a
signal to/from the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 via the 2.sup.nd access
link under the control of the controller 1900. According to the
embodiment of the present disclosure, the 2.sup.nd access module
1920 may operate in an active statue or a deactivation state under
the control of the controller 1900.
[0313] The storage unit 1930 stores a variety of data and programs
required for an operation of the UE 620 under the control of the
controller 1900. The storage unit 1930 may store a rule (e.g.,
deactivation timer information, 2.sup.nd timer information) for
deactivating the 2.sup.nd access module 1920 under the control of
the controller 1900.
[0314] In the aforementioned embodiment of the present disclosure,
if the 2.sup.nd access system is a WLAN, an operator AP may be
managed together with the 2.sup.nd access eNB 610 described in the
aforementioned embodiment. However, it may be difficult to manage a
private AP together with the aforementioned 2.sup.nd access eNB
610. Therefore, hereinafter, it is described a case where the
embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to a situation in
which the operator AP and the private AP coexist. Hereinafter, for
convenience of explanation, according to the aforementioned
embodiments of the present disclosure, an operation of changing and
controlling an activation state of the 2.sup.nd access module
(e.g., a WLAN module) while keeping activation of the 1.sup.st
access module (e.g., an LTE module) of the UE 620 is called an
`LTE-WLAN Interworking/Integration (I/I) operation`.
[0315] FIG. 20 illustrates an operation of a UE and each AP in an
environment in which an operator AP and a private AP coexist
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0316] FIG. 21 illustrates an operation state of an AP according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0317] Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, in general, a beacon 2000 of a
private AP (PA) has a longer period than a beacon of an operator AP
210. Therefore, in a situation in which the operator AP 210 and the
private AP coexist, a UE 220 or 620 may perform an LTE-WLAN I/I
operation in a duration 2010 between periods in which the beacon
2000 is transmitted from the private AP. For example, the UE 620
may deactivate a WLAN module while keeping activation of an LTE
module during the duration 2010 in which the beacon 2000 is not
transmitted from the private AP. For another example, while keeping
activation of the LTE module for the duration 2010 in which the
beacon 2000 is not transmitted from the private AP, the UE 620 may
operate the WLAN module in an activation state in a part of a
duration in which downlink data via the operator AP 210 is present
and may operate the WLAN module in a deactivation state in a part
of the duration in which the downlink data via the operator AP 210
is not present.
[0318] In the environment in which the operator AP 210 and the
private AP coexist, the LTE-WLAN I/I operation of the UE 620 may
vary depending on an operation state for the private AP as shown in
FIG. 21. It is assumed herein that the UE 620 has access to the
operator AP 210.
[0319] For example, the UE 620 may perform scanning to have access
to the private AP in a state of accessing the operator AP 210. If
the UE 620 is in a state (S1) 2100 for periodically performing
scanning to discover the private AP, the UE 620 may perform
scanning on the private AP according to a pre-set period, and may
perform the LTE-WLAN I/I operation in a duration in which the
scanning is not performed. For example, the UE 620 may deactivate
the WLAN module while keeping activation of the LTE module during
scanning is not performed on the private AP. For another example,
while keeping activation of the LTE module during scanning is not
performed on the private AP, the UE 620 may operate the WLAN module
in an activation state in a part of a duration in which downlink
data via the operator AP 210 is present, and may operate the WLAN
module in a deactivation state in a part of a duration in which the
downlink data via the operator AP 210 is not present.
[0320] For another example, the UE 620 may have access to the
private AP in a state of having access to the operator AP 210 by
using a time division multiple access (TDMA) scheme. In this case,
if the UE 620 is in a state (D1) 2110 of transmitting/receiving
data to/from the private AP, the UE 620 activates the WLAN module
to transmit/receive data to/from the private AP, and stops the
LTE-WLAN I/I operation for the operator AP 210 for a duration in
which data is transmitted/received to/from the private AP.
[0321] For another example, the UE 620 may operate with a PSM mode
for the private AP in a state of having access simultaneously to
the operator AP 210 and the private AP by using the TDMA scheme. In
case of a state (P1) 2120 of operating with the PSM mode for the
private AP, the UE 620 may activate the WLAN module to receive a
beacon of the private AP in a beacon transmission period of the
private AP, and may perform the LTE-WLAN I/I operation for the
operator AP 210 for a duration (e.g., 2010) in which the beacon of
the private AP is not transmitted. For example, the UE 620 may
deactivate the WLAN module while keeping activation of the LTE
module for a duration in which the beacon of the private AP is not
transmitted. For another example, while keeping activation of the
LTE module for the duration in which the beacon is not transmitted
from the private AP, the UE 620 may operate the WLAN module in an
activation state in a part of a duration in which downlink data via
the operator AP 210 is present and may operate the WLAN module in a
deactivation state in a part of the duration in which the downlink
data via the operator AP 210 is not present.
[0322] In the environment in which the operator AP 210 and the
private AP coexist, the UE 620 may provide a user interface as
shown in FIGS. 22A to 22D.
[0323] FIGS. 22A to 22D illustrate a user interface for an
operation of a UE in an environment in which an operator AP and a
private AP coexist according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0324] Referring to FIG. 22A, the UE 620 may display a message for
requesting to determine a preferred Wi-Fi type when a Wi-Fi
function is on to have access to an AP. For example, a message may
be displayed to inquire whether it is preferred to use the operator
AP, or whether it is preferred to use the private AP, or whether it
is preferred to simultaneously use the operator AP and the private
AP. In this case, based on the preferred Wi-Fi type determined by a
user, the UE 620 may discover the operator AP to have access
thereto, may discover the private AP to have access thereto, and
may simultaneously have access to the operator AP and the private
AP.
[0325] Referring to FIG. 22B, the UE 620 may display a list of
discovered APs, and may indicate whether each AP is the private AP
or the operator AP. Further, the UE 620 may provide a user
interface to allow the user to select one or two APs. For example,
if the operator AP is selected from the AP list, it may be provided
a user interface capable of additionally selecting one of the
private APs. For another example, if the private AP is selected
from the AP list, it may be provided a user interface capable of
additionally selecting one of the operator APs.
[0326] Referring to FIG. 22C, the UE 620 may display a message for
inquiring whether to perform ultra power saving by using an
LTE-WLAN I/I function for the operator AP in a state of having
access to the operator AP or in a state of attempting the access to
the operator AP. If it is determined to use the LTE-WLAN I/I
function by a user input, an operation described above with
reference to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 may be performed.
[0327] Referring to FIG. 22D, the UE 620 may display an icon for
indicating a currently accessed AP in a portion of a screen. For
example, the UE 620 may display any one icon among an icon 2201 for
indicating that it has currently access to the private AP, an icon
2202 for indicating that it has currently access to the operator
AP, and an icon 2203 for indicating that it has access
simultaneously to the private AP and the operator AP, so that the
user can recognize a type of the currently accessed AP.
[0328] Further, as shown in FIG. 22D, the UE 620 may display icons
2211 and 2212 in a portion of a screen according to the current
usage of the LTE-WLAN I/I function. For example, if the WLAN module
is in a deactivation state during the LTE-WLAN I/I function is
used, the UE 620 may display the icon 2211 for indicating that it
is operating with an ultra power saving mode of the UE. For another
example, if the LTE module and the WLAN module are simultaneously
activated during the LTE-WLAN I/I function is used, the UE 620 may
display the icon 2212 for indicating that it is operating in a
`Data Rate Boosting mode`.
[0329] In the aforementioned embodiment of the present disclosure,
it is described a case where a UE supporting a multi-radio access
technology keeps an activation state of some access modules among a
plurality of access modules included in the UE, and controls an
activation state of the other access modules. For example, it has
been described in the embodiment of the present disclosure that the
UE keeps an activation state of only one access module and
deactivates the remaining other access modules, and thereafter
monitors downlink traffic for other different radio access
technologies by using the activated one access module so that the
access module operates in the activation state only during the
downlink traffic is present. In the following description, an
access technology includes the meaning of the radio access
technology.
[0330] However, according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure, one UE may perform downlink monitoring on at least one
different UE, and may control an activation state of at least one
access module for the at least one different UE based on a result
of the downlink monitoring. For example, a plurality of UEs may
form a group, a representative UE in the group may perform downlink
monitoring on different UEs in the group, and an activation state
of an access module for the different UEs in the group may be
controlled according to a result of the downlink monitoring.
[0331] FIG. 23 illustrates a system structure in which a UE
controls an activation state of an access module for at least one
different UE according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0332] Referring to FIG. 23, each of a plurality of UEs 2300 to
2304 may support a multi-radio access technology. The plurality of
UEs 2300 to 2304 may form a group by a user request. Each of the
plurality of UEs 2300 to 2304 may form the group through mutual
detection based on information pre-registered to each UE by a user,
association history information with respect to a different UE,
signal transmission/reception information with respect to
neighboring UEs, and the like.
[0333] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, each
of the plurality of UEs 2300 to 2304 which have formed one group
may determine a master UE (or a representative UE) based on
information pre-registered by a user and information acquired
through signal transmission/reception to/from a different UE in the
group. For example, each of the plurality of UEs 2300 to 2304 may
determine the master UE based on at least one of a multi-radio
access technology supported by each UE, capacity of an access
module of each UE, a remaining power level of each UE, reception
signal quality for a 1.sup.st access eNB and/or a 2.sup.nd access
eNB, and a topology. Herein, the topology may indicate a connection
relation between the plurality of UEs, and may indicate a UE
to/from which signals can be transmitted/received directly by each
UE and a UE to/from which signals cannot be transmitted directly.
For example, the topology may indicate the number of UEs to/from
which signals can be transmitted/received by each UE via one-hop
among UEs in the group. An operation of determining the master UE
(or the representative UE) may be performed by only one UE among
the plurality of UEs in the group or may be performed by each of
the plurality of UEs. When the master UE is determined by each of
the plurality of UEs, each of the plurality of UEs may determine
the master UE in the same manner, and may not transmit/receive
information regarding the master UE to/from different UEs in the
group. On the other hand, if the master UE is determined only by
one UE among the plurality of UEs in the group, the UE needs to
transmit information regarding the determined master UE to
different UEs in the group. Further, if the master UE is determined
only by one UE among the plurality of UEs in the group, the UE may
be determined by a user input or may be determined through signal
transmission/reception to/from UEs in the group. Hereinafter, for
convenience of explanation, a UE which performs downlink monitoring
of different UEs in a group is called a master UE, and a UE of
which at least one access module is controlled under the control of
the master UE is called a slave UE.
[0334] Further, according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, a master UE 2300 in a group may determine a management
access module for monitoring whether downlink traffic is generated
for slave UEs 2301 to 2304 among access modules included in the
master UE 2300. Herein, the management access module may be
determined based on information pre-registered by a user or
information acquired through signal transmission/reception to/from
a different UE in the group. For example, the master UE 2300 may
determine the management access module based on at least one of a
multi-radio access technology supported by the master UE 2300,
capacity of each access module supporting a different multi-access
technology, reception signal quality with respect to each access
module for a 1.sup.st access eNB and/or a 2.sup.nd access eNB, a
channel occupation probability for the 1.sup.st access eNB and/or
the 2.sup.nd access eNB, a type of currently accessed eNB (e.g., an
operator AP or a private AP), whether downlink traffic monitoring
of different devices in a group for each access module is possible,
a power consumption amount of each access module, and a topology.
Herein, the topology may indicate a connection relation between the
plurality of UEs, and may indicate a UE to/from which signals can
be transmitted/received directly by each UE and a UE to/from which
signals cannot be transmitted directly. For example, the topology
may indicate the number of UEs to/from which signals can be
transmitted/received via one-hop among UEs in the group when each
UE transmits/receives the signals by using a specific access
module.
[0335] The master UE 2300 may select a control access module for
controlling an activation state of an access module of the slave
UEs 2301 to 2304. For example, the control access module may be
used to transmit/receive a control signal for activating or
deactivating a 1.sup.st access module of the slave UE 2301 by the
master UE 2300. The control access module may be identical to or
different from the management access module. For example, the
management access module may be a 1.sup.st access module which
transmits/receives a signal to/from a 1.sup.st access eNB, and the
control access module may be an access module (e.g., a Bluetooth
low energy (BLE) module) capable of transmitting/receiving a signal
with low power to/from a neighboring UE.
[0336] The master UE 2300 may transmit radio access technology
information corresponding to the determined management access
module and/or radio access technology information corresponding to
the control access module to the slave UEs 2301 to 2304.
[0337] As described above, after the plurality of UEs 2300 to 2304
form one group, the master UE 2300 is determined, and if the
management access module and the control access module are
determined, the master UE 2300 may activate only the management
access module and may deactivate the other access modules. If the
management access module and the control access module are
different in the master UE 2300, the master UE 2300 may
persistently keep the control access module in an ON state, or only
when there is a need to transmit/receive a signal for controlling
an access module of a slave UE, may keep the control access module
in the ON state. Further, the slave UEs 2301 to 2304 may keep only
the control access module in an activation state, and may
deactivate the other access modules. Herein, if the management
access module of the master UE 2300 is a WLAN module supporting an
unlicensed band, the management access module may be repetitively
in an awake status and a sleep status according to a pre-set PSM
mode, instead of continuously operating in the activation state. On
the other hand, if the management access module of the master UE
2300 is an LTE module supporting a licensed band, the management
access module may be continuously kept in the activation state.
[0338] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
master UE 2300 may transmit identification information of the
master UE 2300 and identification information of the slave UEs 2301
to 2304 to the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 and/or the 2.sup.nd access
eNB 610. In this case, based on the identification information of
the master UE 2300 and the identification information of the slave
UEs 2301 to 2304, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 and/or the 2.sup.nd
access eNB 610 may detect whether downlink traffic is generated for
UEs in a corresponding group, and if the downlink traffic is
generated for the UEs in the group, may report this to the master
UE 2300. For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may detect that
downlink traffic is generated for a 1.sup.st access module for the
slave UE 2301 based on the identification information of the slave
UE 2301, and may transmit to the master UE 2300 a signal for
indicating that the downlink traffic of the 1.sup.st access module
for the slave UE 2301 is generated. For another example, based on
the identification information of the slave UE 2301, the 1.sup.st
access eNB 600 may detect that downlink traffic is generated for
the 2.sup.nd access module for the slave UE 2301, and may transmit
to the master UE 2300 a signal for indicating that the downlink
traffic of the 2.sup.nd access module for the slave UE 2301 is
generated. For example, the 1.sup.st access eNB 600 may detect
generation of downlink traffic which uses not only a 1.sup.st
access technology for UEs in the group but also other access
technologies.
[0339] FIG. 24 illustrates an operation of forming a group of a UE
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0340] FIG. 27 illustrates a situation in which one group is formed
of a plurality of UEs owned by a user according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0341] Referring to FIGS. 24 and 27, in operation 2401, the UE
forms a group with a plurality of UEs. For example, referring to
FIG. 27, a UE 2300 may form a group with different UEs 2301 to 2304
by a user request, and may exchange information. For example, the
UE 2300 and the different UEs 2301 to 2304 may be UEs owned by a
1.sup.st user. For example, the UE 2300 and the different UEs 2301
to 2304 may be in-door UEs of the 1.sup.st user. The UE 2300 may
recognize the different UEs 2301 to 2304 owned by the user based on
association information for indicating recent association history,
information of a device registered for payment, and the like. The
UE 2300 may scan neighboring UEs through a 1.sup.st radio access
technology which is decided as being supported commonly by a
plurality of UEs, and may attempt the association with the scanned
UEs. If there is a specific UE not supporting the 1.sup.st radio
access technology among the plurality of UEs, the UE 2300 may
attempt the association with the specific UE not supporting the
1.sup.st radio access technology through a different radio access
technology. In this case, the UE 2300 may transmit information
regarding the specific UE to different UEs through the 1.sup.st
radio access technology. The UE 2300 may detect the different UEs
2301 to 2304 through at least one radio access technology, and may
form a group with the detected different UEs 2301 to 2304. Further,
the UE 2300 may exchange information based on flooding with the
plurality of UEs 2301 to 2304. For example, the UE 2300 may
broadcast a signal including capacity and remaining power
information for each radio access technology supported by the UE
2300. Further, the UE 2300 may acquire capacity and remaining power
information for an access module for each multi-access technology
supported by a corresponding UE by receiving a signal which is
broadcast from the different UEs 2301 to 2304 in the group, and may
acquire information, such as channel state information and
information, such as a topology, and the like, from the broadcast
signal.
[0342] In operation 2403, the UE determines a master UE among UEs
in a group. For example, the UE 2403 may determine a master UE (or
a representative UE) based on information pre-registered by a user
and information acquired through signal transmission/reception
to/from a different UE in the group. For example, the UE 2300 may
determine the master UE based on at least one of a multi-radio
access technology supported by each UE, capacity of an access
module of each UE, a remaining power level of each UE, reception
signal quality for a 1.sup.st access eNB and/or a 2.sup.nd access
eNB, and a topology. Herein, the topology may indicate a connection
relation between the plurality of UEs, and may indicate a UE
to/from which signals can be transmitted/received directly by each
UE and a UE to/from which signals cannot be transmitted directly.
For example, the topology may indicate the number of UEs to/from
which signals can be transmitted/received by each UE via one-hop
among UEs in the group. More specifically, the UE 2300 may identify
a radio access technology supported by the maximum number of UEs
among a plurality of radio access technologies supported by the UEs
2300 to 2304 in the group, and may determine one UE among UEs
having the identified radio access technology as a master UE. For
another example, the UE 2300 may identify capacity of an access
module of each of the UEs 2300 to 2304 of the group, and may
determine a UE having an access module of which capacity is
greatest as the master UE. For another example, the UE 2300 may
determine a UE of which a remaining power level is highest or a UE
to which power is supplied in a wired manner as the master UE among
the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group. For another example, the UE 2300
may determine a UE of which reception signal quality for the
1.sup.st access eNB and/or the 2.sup.nd access eNB is highest among
the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group as the master UE. Herein, the
reception signal quality may include reception power of the
received signal or reception quality of the received signal. For
another example, the UE 2300 may determine a UE which can transmit
a control signal to the maximum number of UEs via one hop among the
UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group as the master UE.
[0343] In operation 2405, the UE examines whether a UE determined
as the master UE is the UE itself. If the UE determined as the
master UE is not the UE itself, in operation 2413, the UE receives
information regarding a control access technology from the master
UE. It is assumed herein that an operation of determining the
master UE is performed in each of the UEs in the group, and thus
the UE does not transmit to a different UE a signal for reporting
that it is determined as the master UE. However, according to a
design rule, the UE may transmit to the different UE the signal for
reporting that it is determined as the master UE.
[0344] On the other hand, if the UE determined as the master UE is
the UE itself, in operation 2407, the UE determines a management
access technology for monitoring downlink traffic for the UEs in
the group among access technologies supported by the master UE. For
example, the master UE 2300 may determine an access technology to
be used for monitoring whether downlink traffic is generated for
the slave UEs 2301 to 2304 in the group among access technologies
supported by the master UE 2300. The master UE 2300 may determine a
management access technology based on information pre-registered by
a user and information acquired through signal
transmission/reception to/from a different UE in the group. For
example, the master UE 2300 may determine the master UE based on at
least one of access technologies supported by the master UE 2300,
capacity of each access module supporting a different multi-access
technology, reception signal quality with respect to each access
module for a 1.sup.st access eNB and/or a 2.sup.nd access eNB, a
channel occupation probability for the 1.sup.st access eNB and/or
the 2.sup.nd access eNB, a type of currently accessed eNB (e.g., an
operator AP or a private AP), whether downlink traffic monitoring
of different devices in a group for each access module is possible,
a power consumption amount of each access module, and a topology.
For example, the master UE 2300 may determine an access technology
supported by the maximum number of UEs among a plurality of access
technologies supported by the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group as the
management access technology. For another example, the master UE
2300 may determine an access technology corresponding to an eNB for
which downlink traffic monitoring of the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the
group is possible as the management access technology. For example,
as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in case of a system structure in which
the eNB 200 receives a report on traffic generation from the AP 210
or the eNB 200 controls traffic offloading of the AP 210, an access
technology corresponding to the eNB 200 may be determined as the
management access technology. For another example, the master UE
2300 may determine an access technology corresponding to an access
module of which power consumption is lowest as the management
access technology. For another example, the master UE 2300 may
determine the management access technology by considering a channel
occupation probability with respect to an eNB which can perform
downlink traffic monitoring and/or an eNB which transmits downlink
data. The master UE 2300 may determine the management access
technology by considering an instantaneous traffic load, an average
traffic load, and the like, of the eNB which can perform the
downlink traffic monitoring and/or the eNB which transmits the
downlink data. For another example, the master UE 2300 may
determine an access technology of a UE which can transmit a control
signal to the maximum number of slave UEs via one hop as the
management access technology. For another example, the master UE
2300 may determine the management access technology based on a type
of an eNB to which the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group have access.
For example, if the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group have access to
the operator AP, the master UE 2300 may determine an access
technology corresponding to an eNB which controls downlink
offloading for the operator AP as the management access technology.
Further, if the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group have access to the
private AP, the master UE 2300 may determine an access technology
corresponding to the private AP as the management access
technology.
[0345] Thereafter, in operation 2409, the UE determines a control
access technology for controlling a state of an access module of
the UEs in the group among the access technologies supported by the
master UE. For example, the master UE 2300 may select a control
access technology for controlling an activation state of an access
module of the slave UEs 2301 to 2304 based on a downlink monitoring
result via the management access module corresponding to the
management access technology. For example, the master UE 2300 may
determine a master UE based on at least one of access technologies
supported by the master UE 2300, capacity of each access module
supporting a different multi-access technology, reception signal
quality with respect to each access module for a 1.sup.st access
eNB and/or a 2.sup.nd access eNB, a channel occupation probability
for the 1.sup.st access eNB and/or the 2.sup.nd access eNB, a type
of currently accessed eNB (e.g., an operator AP or a private AP), a
power consumption amount of each access module, and a topology. For
example, the master UE 2300 may determine an access technology
supported by the maximum number of UEs as the control access
technology among a plurality of access technologies supported by
the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group. For another example, the master
UE 2300 may determine an access technology corresponding to an
access module of which power consumption is lowest as the
management access technology. For another example, the master UE
2300 may determine an access technology of a UE which can transmit
a control signal to the maximum number of slave UEs via one hop as
the management access technology. The control access technology may
be identical to or different from the management access technology.
For example, the management access module may be a 1.sup.st access
module which can transmit/receive a signal to/from a 1.sup.st
access eNB, and the control access module may be an access module
(e.g., a BLE module) capable of transmitting/receiving a signal
with low power to/from a neighboring UE. Further, according to a
design rule, the control access technology may be determined to be
the same as the management access technology, and in this case,
operation 2409 for determining the control access technology may be
skipped.
[0346] In operation 2411, the UE may transmit information regarding
the determined control access technology to the slave UEs 2301 to
2304. In this case, the UE may transmit a signal including the
information regarding the control access technology to the slave
UEs by using a control access module corresponding to the control
access technology. Further, the UE may transmit the signal
including the information regarding the control access technology
to the slave UEs by using a management access module corresponding
to a management access technology. Further, the UE may transmit the
signal including the information regarding the control access
technology to the slave UEs by using an access module corresponding
to a different access technology other than the control access
technology and the management access technology.
[0347] Thereafter, the UE ends the operation of forming the group
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0348] FIG. 25 illustrates an operation of a master UE according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0349] Herein, the master UE keeps a management access module
corresponding to a management access technology in an activation
state. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, if
the management access module operates based on a PSM, such as WLAN,
the master UE may allow the management access module to operate
based on the PSM. For example, in a case where the management
access module is a module supporting the WLAN, if the management
access module is kept in the activation state, it may mean to
include a state in which an active status and a sleep status are
periodically switched based on the PSM.
[0350] Referring to FIG. 25, in operation 2501, the master UE 2300
monitors a downlink signal related to the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the
group by using the activated management access module. In this
case, the master UE 2300 may deactivate a different access module
other than the management access module. In addition, in order to
detect whether downlink traffic is generated for the UEs 2300 to
2304 in the group, the master UE 2300 may transmit identification
information for the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group to an access eNB
corresponding to the management access module before performing
downlink signal monitoring. The master UE 2300 may receive a
downlink signal for reporting the generation of the downlink
traffic for a specific UE in the group from the access eNB via the
management access module. Further, the master UE 2300 may detect a
downlink traffic generation signal to be transmitted to the
specific UE in the group from the access eNB via the management
access module.
[0351] In operation 2503, the master UE 2300 detects whether a
specific access module activation instruction signal for the
specific UE in the group is received from a corresponding eNB. For
example, the master UE 2300 detects whether a signal for indicating
the generation of the downlink traffic for the master UE 2300
and/or the slave UEs 2301 to 2304 is received as a result of
monitoring a signal transmitted from the access eNB corresponding
to the management access technology via the management access
module. In this case, the signal for indicating the generation of
downlink traffic may include information regarding an access
technology used in the generation of the downlink traffic,
information regarding an access module to be activated, or
information of a UE corresponding to downlink traffic. For example,
the master UE 2300 may receive a signal for indicating generation
of downlink traffic corresponding to a 2.sup.nd access technology
for the slave UE1 2301 or a signal for instructing activation of
the 2.sup.nd access module of the slave UE1 2301 from the 1.sup.st
access eNB via the management access module. For another example,
the master UE 2300 may receive a signal for indicating generation
of downlink traffic corresponding to a 1.sup.st access technology
for the slave UE3 2303 or a signal for instructing activation of
the 1.sup.st access module of the slave UE3 2303 from the 1.sup.st
access eNB via the management access module. If the specific access
module activation instruction signal for the specific UE in the
group is not received, returning to operation 2501, the UE 2300
repeats the subsequent operations.
[0352] Otherwise, if the specific access module activation
instruction signal for the specific UE in the group is received, in
operation 2505, the master UE 2300 examines whether the specific UE
is the master UE. If the specific UE is the master UE, the master
UE 2300 activates the specific access module in operation 2515, and
thereafter receives downlink data via the activated specific access
module in operation 2517. In this case, the master UE 2300 may
receive the downlink data via the specific access module according
to various embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 22D described above.
Thereafter, the master UE 2300 proceeds to operation 2509.
[0353] If the specific UE is not the master UE, in operation 2507,
the master UE 2300 transmits a signal for requesting activation of
the specific access module to the specific UE via the control
access module. If the control access module is different from the
management access module, in operation 2509, the master UE 2300 may
switch the control access module from a deactivation state to an
activation state. For example, the master UE 2300 may transmit a
signal for requesting activation of the 2.sup.nd access module to
the slave UE1 2301 via the control access module. The master UE
2300 may transmit the signal for requesting activation of the
specific access module to the specific UE via the activated control
access module, and thereafter may deactivate the control access
module.
[0354] In operation 2509, the master UE 2300 detects whether a
specific access module deactivation instruction signal for the
specific UE in the group is received from a corresponding eNB. For
example, the master UE 2300 detects whether a signal for indicating
an absence of the downlink traffic for the master UE 2300 and/or
the slave UEs 2301 to 2304 is received as a result of monitoring a
signal transmitted from the access eNB corresponding to the
management access technology via the management access module. In
this case, the signal for indicating the absence of the downlink
traffic may include information regarding a related access
technology, information regarding an access module to be
deactivated, or information of a related UE. For example, the
master UE 2300 may receive a signal for indicating an absence of
downlink traffic corresponding to a 2.sup.nd access technology for
the slave UE1 2301 or a signal for instructing deactivation of the
2.sup.nd access module of the slave UE1 2301 from the 1.sup.st
access eNB via the management access module. For another example,
the master UE 2300 may receive a signal for indicating an absence
of downlink traffic corresponding to a 1.sup.st access technology
for the slave UE3 2303 or a signal for instructing deactivation of
the 1.sup.st access module of the slave UE3 2303 from the 1.sup.st
access eNB via the management access module. If the specific access
module deactivation instruction signal for the specific UE in the
group is not received, returning to operation 2501, the UE 2300
repeats the subsequent operations.
[0355] If the specific access module deactivation instruction
signal for the specific UE in the group is received, in operation
2511, the master UE 2300 examines whether the specific UE is the
master UE. If the specific UE is the master UE, the master UE 2300
deactivates the specific access module in operation 2519. According
to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the master UE 2300 may
deactivate the specific access module without having to receive the
specific access module deactivation instruction signal. For
example, the master UE 2300 may use a timer for measuring a pre-set
time to detect that downlink data is not received during the
pre-set time via the specific access module, and may deactivate the
specific access module.
[0356] If the specific UE is not the master UE, in operation 2513,
the master UE 2300 transmits a signal for requesting deactivation
of the specific access module to the specific UE via the control
access module. For example, the master UE 2300 may transmit a
signal for requesting deactivation of the 2.sup.nd access module to
the slave UE1 2301 via the control access module. The master UE
2300 may transmit the signal for requesting deactivation of the
specific access module to the specific UE via the activated control
access module, and thereafter may deactivate the control access
module.
[0357] Thereafter, the master UE 2300 ends the procedure according
to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0358] FIG. 26 illustrates an operation of a slave UE according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure. Herein, the slave UE may
be any one UE among the slave UE1 2301 to the slave UE4 2304 shown
in FIG. 23.
[0359] Referring to FIG. 26, in operation 2601, the slave UE
activates a control access module. For example, when forming a
group with different UEs, the slave UE identifies that the slave UE
is not the master UE but the slave UE, and activates the control
access module. The slave UE may deactivate the remaining access
modules other than the control access module while the control
access module is kept in an activation state.
[0360] In operation 2603, the slave UE examines whether an
activation instruction signal for a specific access module is
received from the master UE. For example, the slave UE examines
whether a signal for instructing activation of a 1.sup.st access
module or a 2.sup.nd access module is received from the master UE
2300 via the control access module. If the activation instruction
signal for the specific access module is not received from the
master UE, returning to operation 2601, the slave UE repeats the
subsequent operations.
[0361] Otherwise, if the activation instruction signal for the
specific access module is received from the master UE, in operation
2605, the slave UE may activate a corresponding access module for
which activation is instructed. For example, if the activation
instruction signal for the 1.sup.st access module is received from
the master UE 2300, the slave UE may switch the 1.sup.st access
module from the deactivation state to the activation state.
[0362] In operation 2607, the slave UE receives a downlink data
signal via the activated access module. For example, the slave UE
may receive downlink data via the 1.sup.st access module activated
by the activation instruction signal received from the maser UE
2300.
[0363] In operation 2609, the slave UE examines whether a
deactivation instruction signal for the specific access module is
received from the master UE via the control access module. For
example, the slave UE examines whether the deactivation instruction
signal of the 1.sup.st access module is received via the control
access module in a state where the 1.sup.st access module is
activated. If the deactivation instruction signal for the specific
access module is not received from the master UE, returning to
operation 2607, the slave UE repeats the subsequent operations. If
the deactivation instruction signal for the specific access module
is received from the master UE, in operation 2611, the slave UE
deactivates a corresponding access module. For example, if the
deactivation instruction signal for the 1.sup.st access module is
received from the master UE 2300, the slave UE may switch the
1.sup.st access module from the activation state to the
deactivation state. According to another embodiment of the present
disclosure, the slave UE may deactivate the specific access module
without having to receive a specific access module deactivation
instruction signal from the master UE 2300. For example, the slave
UE may use a timer for measuring a pre-set time to detect that
downlink data is not received during the pre-set time via the
specific access module, and may deactivate the specific access
module.
[0364] Thereafter, the slave UE ends the procedure according to the
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0365] FIG. 28 illustrates a radio access technology supported by
UEs in a group according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0366] Referring to FIG. 28, a master UE 2300 may support a
cellular 2800, a WLAN 2820, a BLE 2810, and a near field
communication (NFC) 2830. A slave UE1 2301 may support the cellular
2800 and the BLE 2810. A slave UE2 2302 may support the cellular
2800, the WLAN 2820, and the BLE 2810. A slave UE3 2303 may support
the cellular 2800, the WLAN 2820, the BLE 2810, and the NFC 2830. A
slave UE4 2304 may support the cellular 2800 and the NFC 2830. In
this situation, a management access module may be determined as a
cellular module supported simultaneously by all of the UEs 2300 to
2304 in the group. Further, a control access module may be
determined as the cellular module supported simultaneously by all
of the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group, or may be determined as a BLE
module having low power consumption.
[0367] If the management access module is determined as the
cellular module and the control access module is determined as the
BLE module, the UEs 2300 to 2304 in the group may operate as
follows.
[0368] First, while the cellular module which is the management
access module is always kept in the activation state, the master UE
2300 may deactivate the remaining access modules, i.e., the WLAN
module, the BLE module, and the NFC module. The master UE 2300 may
detect whether cellular downlink traffic for the slave UEs 2301 to
2304 is generated by using the cellular module in the activation
state, and also may detect whether WLAN downlink traffic for the
slave UEs 2302 and 2303 is generated. The master UE 2300 may
activate the BLE module which is the control access module upon
detecting generation of cellular or WLAN downlink traffic for at
least one of the slave UEs 2301 to 2304. The master UE 2300 may
transmit a signal for controlling an activation state of the
cellular or WLAN module for at least one of the slave UEs 2301 to
2304 via the BLE module.
[0369] However, since the slave UE4 2304 does not support the BLE,
the master UE 2300 cannot transmit the signal for controlling the
activation state of the cellular module to the slave UE4 2304 via
the BLE. Therefore, the master UE 2300 may provide control such
that the signal for controlling the activation state of the
cellular module of the slave UE4 2304 is transmitted to the slave
UE4 2304 via the slave UE3 2303. For example, since the NFC
supported by the slave UE4 2304 is supported by the slave UE3 2303,
upon detection of downlink traffic for the cellular module of the
slave UE4 2304, the master UE 2300 may transmit a cellular module
activation instruction signal of the slave UE4 to the slave UE3
2303 via the BLE module. The slave UE3 2303 may receive the
cellular module activation instruction signal of the slave UE4 2304
from the master UE 2300 via the BLE module, and may transmit the
cellular module activation instruction signal of the slave UE4 2304
to the slave UE4 2304 by activating the NFC module. The slave UE3
2303 may transmit the cellular module activation instruction signal
to the slave UE4 2304 via the NFC module, and thereafter may
deactivate the NFC module. Herein, the slave UE4 2304 does not
include the BLE module which is the control access module.
Therefore, the NFC module may be kept in the activation state
instead of the BLE module, and the cellular module activation
instruction signal may be received via the activated NFC
module.
[0370] Although a case where the management access module is
determined as the cellular module is described above, if the WLAN
module of the slave UE2 2302 and the slave UE3 2303 uses a private
AP, the management access module must be determined as the WLAN
module. For example, a cellular eNB can control downlink traffic
for an operator AP, but cannot control downlink traffic for the
private AP. Therefore, if the WLAN module of the slave UE2 2302 and
the slave UE3 2303 uses the operator AP, the master UE 2300 may
determine any one of the cellular module and the AP module as the
management access module. On the other hand, if the WLAN module of
the slave UE2 2302 and the slave UE3 2303 uses the private AP, the
master UE 2300 may determine the AP module as the management access
module in order to monitor downlink traffic of the WLAN for the
slave UE2 2302 and the slave UE3 2303. In addition, the master UE
2300 may determine both of the cellular module and the WLAN module
as the management access module. In this case, the master UE 2300
may detect generation of cellular downlink traffic for the UEs 2300
to 2304 in the group via the cellular module, and may detect
generation of WLAN downlink traffic for the UEs 2300, 2302, and
2303 supporting the WLAN in the group.
[0371] FIG. 29 illustrates an activation state of a WLAN module for
a case where UEs in a group has access to an operator AP according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is assumed in FIG.
29 that a management access module of a master UE is a cellular
module, and a control access module is a BLE module having low
power consumption. Further, although not shown, the cellular module
of the master UE is always kept in the activation state.
[0372] Referring to FIG. 29, each of a master UE (i.e., a device 1)
and a slave UE (i.e., a device 2) may include an AP, a WLAN module,
and a BLE module. The master UE may monitor whether downlink
traffic for the slave UE is generated in the AP via the cellular
module. If the downlink traffic generation for the slave UE is not
detected in the AP as a result of monitoring, the master UE may
transmit a signal for instructing deactivation of the WLAN module
to the slave UE via the BLE module. In this case, the slave UE may
switch the WLAN module from the activation state to a deactivation
state, or may be kept in the deactivation state.
[0373] Otherwise, if the downlink traffic generation for the slave
UE is detected in the AP as the result of monitoring, the master UE
may transmit a signal for instructing activation of the WLAN module
to the slave UE via the BLE module. In this case, the slave UE may
switch the WLAN module from the deactivation state to the
activation state. The slave UE may receive a beacon signal (or a
short beacon signal) from the AP via the activated WLAN module, and
thereafter may receive downlink data.
[0374] Thereafter, the master UE may detect that downlink traffic
for the slave UE is no longer present in the AP via the cellular
module, and may transmit a signal for instructing deactivation of
the cellular module to the slave UE via the BLE module. In this
case, the slave UE may switch the WLAN module from the activation
state to the deactivation state.
[0375] FIG. 30 illustrates an activate state of a WLAN module for a
case where UEs in a group have access to a private AP according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is assumed in FIG. 30
that a management access module of a master UE is a WLAN module,
and a control access module is a BLE module having low power
consumption.
[0376] Referring to FIG. 30, each of a master UE (a device 1) and a
slave UE (a device 2) may include an AP, a WLAN module, and a BLE
module. The master UE may monitor whether downlink traffic for the
slave UE is generated by the AP via the WLAN module. In this case,
instead of being kept persistently in an active status, the WLAN
module operates in the active (or awake) status at a beacon
transmission time based on a PSM, and if downlink traffic for the
master UE and the slave UE is not detected through the beacon
signal, may operate in a sleep status until a next beacon
transmission time. The master UE may determine whether
identification information of the master UE and/or the slave UE is
present in the beacon signal transmitted from the AP, and may
determine whether downlink traffic is generated for the UEs in the
group.
[0377] If the downlink traffic generation for the slave UE is not
detected in the AP as a result of monitoring, the master UE may
transmit a signal for instructing deactivation of the WLAN module
to the slave UE via the BLE module. In this case, the slave UE may
switch the WLAN module from the activation state to a deactivation
state, or may be kept in the deactivation state. Further, the
master UE may allow the WLAN module to operate in the sleep status
until a next beacon transmission time, and when the next beacon
transmission time arrives, may switch the WLAN module to the awake
status and thereafter may detect whether downlink traffic for the
slave UE is generated in the AP.
[0378] If the downlink traffic generation for the slave UE is
detected in the AP as the result of monitoring, the master UE may
transmit a signal for instructing activation of the WLAN module to
the slave UE via the BLE module. In this case, the slave UE may
switch the WLAN module from the deactivation state to the
activation state. The slave UE may receive a beacon signal (or a
short beacon signal) from the AP via the activated WLAN module, and
thereafter may receive downlink data.
[0379] Thereafter, the master UE may detect that downlink traffic
for the slave UE is no longer present in the AP via the cellular
module, and may transmit a signal for instructing deactivation of
the WLAN module to the slave UE via the BLE module. In this case,
the slave UE may switch the WLAN module from the activation state
to the deactivation state.
[0380] FIG. 31 is a block diagram of a UE for controlling an access
module by forming a group with different UEs according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0381] Referring to FIG. 31, the UE may include a controller 3100,
a 1.sup.st access module 3110, a 2.sup.nd access module 3120, and a
storage unit 3130. The controller 3100, 1.sup.st access module
3110, 2.sup.nd access module 3120, and storage unit 3130 included
in the UE may respectively perform functions of the controller
1900, 1.sup.st access module 1910, 2.sup.nd access module 1920, and
storage unit 1930 of FIG. 19, and may be configured to additionally
perform functions described below.
[0382] The controller 3100 controls and processes an overall
operation of the UE. According to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, the controller 3100 controls and processes a function
for forming a group with a plurality of different UEs and for
determining a master UE in the formed group. Further, the
controller 3100 may control and process a function for determining
a management access technology for monitoring downlink traffic of
the UEs in the group among RATs supported by a master UE.
Furthermore, the controller 3100 may control and process a function
for determining a control access module for transmitting/receiving
a state control signal for an access module of the UEs in the group
among the RATs supported by the master UE.
[0383] For example, based on information input by a user,
association history information for different UEs and stored in the
UE, information acquired by transmitting/receiving a signal to/from
the different UEs, and the like, the controller 3100 may determine
at least one different UE for forming a group, and may form a group
with the determined at least one UE. The controller 3100 may
determine the master UE based on at least one of a multi-radio
access technology supported by each UE, capacity of an access
module of each UE, a remaining power level of each UE, reception
signal quality for a 1.sup.st access eNB and/or a 2.sup.nd access
eNB, and a topology. Further, the controller 3100 may determine the
management access module based on information pre-registered by a
user or information acquired through signal transmission/reception
to/from a different UE in the group. For example, the controller
3100 may determine the management access module based on at least
one of a multi-radio access technology supported by the master UE
2300, capacity of each access module supporting a different
multi-access technology, reception signal quality with respect to
each access module for a 1.sup.st access eNB and/or a 2.sup.nd
access eNB, a channel occupation probability for the 1.sup.st
access eNB and/or the 2.sup.nd access eNB, a type of currently
accessed eNB (e.g., an operator AP or a private AP), whether
downlink traffic monitoring of different devices in a group for
each access module is possible, a power consumption amount of each
access module, and a topology. Further, the controller 3100 may
select the control access module for controlling the activation
state of the access module in the UEs in the group. The control
access module may be identical to or different from the management
access module. For example, the management access module may be a
1.sup.st access module which transmits/receives a signal to/from a
1.sup.st access eNB, and the control access module may be an access
module (e.g., a BLE module) capable of transmitting/receiving a
signal with low power to/from a neighboring UE. Further, the
controller 3100 may receive related information from different UEs
in the group, instead of directly determining the management access
module and the control access module. For example, if a
corresponding UE is not the master UE, the controller 3100 may
receive information regarding the control access module from the
master UE in the group.
[0384] If the corresponding UE is the master UE, the controller
3100 may control and process a function for transmitting radio
access technology information corresponding to the determined
management access module and/or radio access technology information
corresponding to the control access module to the different UEs in
the group.
[0385] Further, if the corresponding UE is the master UE, the
controller 3100 may keep the management access module in the
activation state, and may detect whether downlink traffic for the
UEs in the group is generated via the management access module.
Upon detection of downlink traffic generation of a specific access
technology for a specific UE in the group, the controller 3100 may
control and process a function for transmitting a signal for
instructing activation of an access module corresponding to the
specific access technology to the specific UE. In this case, the
controller 3100 may transmit the signal for instructing activation
of the access module corresponding to the specific access
technology to the specific UE via the control access module. In
addition, if the management access module is different from the
control access module, the controller 3100 may keep the control
access module in the activation state only during a time when a
signal for controlling the activation state of the access module is
transmitted to the different UEs in the group.
[0386] If the corresponding UE is not the master UE, the controller
3100 may activate only the determined control access module, and
may deactivate the remaining access modules. The controller 3100
may activate or deactivate a specific access module according to a
signal received from the master UE.
[0387] The 1.sup.st access module 3110 may transmit/receive a
signal to/from the Pt access eNB via the 1.sup.st access link under
the control of the controller 3100. According to the embodiment of
the present disclosure, if the 1.sup.st access module 3110 is the
management access module, the 1.sup.st access module 3110 is always
kept in the activation state under the control of the controller
3100. If the 1.sup.st access module 3110 is the control access
module and a corresponding UE is the master UE, the 1.sup.st access
module 3110 may be kept in the activation state only when an access
module state control signal is transmitted to a different UE under
the control of the controller 3100. If the 1.sup.st access module
3110 is the control access module and the corresponding UE is the
slave UE, the 1.sup.st access module 3110 may always be kept in the
activation state under the control of the controller 3100. Further,
if the 1.sup.st access module 3110 is not the management access
module or the control access module, the 1.sup.st access module
3110 may operate in the activation state only when there is
downlink data to be received from the 1.sup.st access eNB under the
control of the controller 3110.
[0388] The 2.sup.nd access module 3120 may transmit/receive a
signal to/from the 2.sup.nd access eNB via the 2.sup.nd access link
under the control of the controller 3100, or may transmit/receive a
signal to/from different UEs. According to the embodiment of the
present disclosure, if the 2.sup.nd access module 3120 is the
management access module, the 2.sup.nd access module 1320 may
always be kept in the activation state under the control of the
controller 3100. If the 2.sup.nd access module 1320 is the control
access module and the corresponding UE is the master UE, the
1.sup.st access module 3110 may be kept in the activation state
only when an access module state control signal is transmitted to
the different UE under the control of the controller 3100. Further,
if the 2.sup.nd access module 1320 is the control access module and
the corresponding UE is the slave UE, the 1.sup.st access module
3110 may always be kept in the activation state under the control
of the controller 3100. If the 2.sup.nd access module 3120 is not
the management module or the control access module, the 2.sup.nd
access module 3120 may operate in the activation state only when
there is downlink data to be received from the 2.sup.nd access eNB
under the control of the controller 3100.
[0389] The storage unit 3130 stores a variety of data and programs
required for an operation of the UE under the control of the
controller 3100. The storage unit 3130 may store identification
information of different UEs in a group under the control of the
controller 3100. The storage unit 3130 may store information
required to determine the master UE, the management access module,
and the control access module. For example, the storage unit 3130
may store information which is input by a user, association history
information stored in the UE with respect to a different UE,
information acquired by transmitting/receiving a signal to/from the
different UE. The storage unit 3130 may store at least one of a
multi-radio access technology supported by each UE in the group,
capacity of an access module of each UE, a remaining power level of
each UE, reception signal quality for a 1.sup.st access eNB and/or
a 2.sup.nd access eNB, a channel occupation probability for the
1.sup.st access eNB and/or the 2.sup.nd access eNB, a type of
currently accessed eNB (e.g., an operator AP or a private AP, a
power consumption amount of each access module, and topology
information.
[0390] While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and
described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications
and changes in form and details may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the disclosure.
[0391] Certain aspects of the present disclosure can also be
embodied as computer readable code on a non-transitory computer
readable recording medium. A non-transitory computer readable
recording medium is any data storage device that can store data
which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the
non-transitory computer readable recording medium include a
Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random-Access Memory (RAM), Compact
Disc-ROMs (CD-ROMs), magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data
storage devices. The non-transitory computer readable recording
medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer
systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed
in a distributed fashion. In addition, functional programs, code,
and code segments for accomplishing the present disclosure can be
easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the
present disclosure pertains.
[0392] At this point it should be noted that the various
embodiments of the present disclosure as described above typically
involve the processing of input data and the generation of output
data to some extent. This input data processing and output data
generation may be implemented in hardware or software in
combination with hardware. For example, specific electronic
components may be employed in a mobile device or similar or related
circuitry for implementing the functions associated with the
various embodiments of the present disclosure as described above.
Alternatively, one or more processors operating in accordance with
stored instructions may implement the functions associated with the
various embodiments of the present disclosure as described above.
If such is the case, it is within the scope of the present
disclosure that such instructions may be stored on one or more
non-transitory processor readable mediums. Examples of the
processor readable mediums include a ROM, a RAM, CD-ROMs, magnetic
tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The
processor readable mediums can also be distributed over network
coupled computer systems so that the instructions are stored and
executed in a distributed fashion. In addition, functional computer
programs, instructions, and instruction segments for accomplishing
the present disclosure can be easily construed by programmers
skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.
[0393] While the present disclosure has been shown and described
with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *