Cellular communication system utilizing upgraded moving relays and methods useful in conjunction therewith

摘要

A moving cellular communication system comprising at least one upgraded moving relay including at least two base station functionalities and at least one mobile station functionality and a relay resource manager, all co-located, wherein each base station functionality of the upgraded moving relay is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link therebetween, and wherein each base station functionality has a connection to its relay resource manager, wherein each mobile station functionality of the upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least one second radio link, respectively, wherein the relay resource manager in each individual moving relay comprises a radio resource manager; and functionality for exchanging information with relay resource managers is included in moving relays other than the individual moving relay.

主权项

1. A method for providing moving cellular communication, the method comprising:
providing at least one upgraded moving relay including at least two base station functionalities and at least one mobile station functionality and a relay resource manager, all co-located, wherein each base station functionality from among said at least two base station functionalities of said upgraded moving relay is operative to communicate via antennae with at least one mobile station thereby to define a first radio link therebetween, and wherein each base station functionality has a connection to its co-located relay resource manager, wherein each mobile station functionality of said upgraded moving relay communicates via antennae with a unit which has base station functionality thereby to define at least one second radio link, respectively, wherein providing the relay resource manager in each individual moving relay comprises: providing a radio resource manager; and providing functionality for exchanging information with relay resource managers included in moving relays other than said individual moving relay, the method also comprising effecting dynamic cell setup without interrupting service to mobile stations served by said base station functionalities, wherein said dynamic cell setup is effected by initiating a first hand-over between a first of the two base station functionalities to a second thereof; effecting the dynamic cell setup on the first base station functionality, then initiating a second hand-over between the second of the two base station functionalities to the first thereof and effecting the dynamic cell setup on the second base station functionality, and wherein said first and second base station functionalities operate at first and second output powers respectively and wherein initiating the first hand-over comprises increasing a current level of the second output power of the second base station functionality and substantially simultaneously reducing the first output power of the first base station functionality to a reduced first output power level far enough below the second output power of the second base station functionality, to trigger hand-over from the first base station functionality to the second base station functionality.