Apparatus for controlling multi-mode radio access and method for the same

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling multi-mode radio access, more particularly, to a method and apparatus that supports multi-mode reconfigurable, quality of service (QoS) and seamless handoff in different radio systems so as to provide wire-line like QoS guarantee. The apparatus includes a network layer, a radio adaptation layer, a radio system layer and a physical layer. Therein, the radio adaptation layer is used to control the radio modules disposed in the radio system layer to support the QoS needed in the upper layer. The radio adaptation layer is also used to build up, correct and seamlessly change the radio link, and ensures that the packets from the upper layers can be orderly delivered to the lower layer with preset QoS.

1. An apparatus for controlling multi-mode radio access comprising:
 a physical layer; 
 a radio system layer connecting with the physical layer for performing medium access control; 
 a radio adaptation layer, which connects with the radio system layer, at least comprising:
 a configuration controller used to establish or control at least a radio link according to a signal packet so as to perform seamless handoff within different radio systems and set corresponding traffic control parameters; and 
 a traffic controller used to transmit a data packet according to the traffic control parameters and requirements of quality of service (QoS) of the data packet; and 
 
 a network layer for passing the data packet and signal packet to the radio adaptation layer, the network layer using an Internet protocol (IP) so as to make the apparatus able to roam within the different radio systems and support QoS mechanisms. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the IP is a mobile IP. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the QoS mechanisms comprise a IntServ or a DiffServ mechanism. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the physical layer comprises a first reconfigurable transceiver and a second reconfigurable transceiver for establishing radio links within the different radio systems. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the physical layer only has a first reconfigurable transceiver or a non-configurable transceiver. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the radio system layer comprises at least a media access controller corresponding to a radio module. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the media access controller is a wireless local area network (WLAN) media access controller, a 3G protocol stack, a 802.16 media access controller or a bluetooth media access controller. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the radio adaptation layer further comprises a network control interface to recognize a format of a packet sent from the network layer. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the configuration controller comprises:
 a call admission control for managing present wireless network resources of the apparatus; and 
 a radio system selector connecting with the call admission control for determining if it is necessary to perform the seamless handoff according to a status of a radio link. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the configuration controller comprises:
 a service manager connecting with the call admission control for setting the traffic control parameters, and establishing or correcting the status of the radio link; 
 a radio monitor connecting with the call admission control and the radio system selector for monitoring the status of the radio link; and 
 a radio module controller connecting with the radio system selector for loading a radio module program to a radio module. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the configuration controller comprises:
 a configuration control interface connecting with the service manager, the radio monitor and the radio module controller for providing an unified control interface between the configuration controller and the radio module. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the traffic controller comprises:
 a classifier for classify the data packet and deliver the classified data packet to a corresponding queue; 
 a conditioner connecting with the classifier for controlling the classified data packet in the queue; 
 a scheduler connecting with the conditioner for scheduling the queue according to the traffic control parameters; and 
 a traffic control interface connecting with the scheduler for providing an unified control interface between the traffic controller and a radio module. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the conditioner comprises:
 a meter for measuring and counting according to data attributes of the data packet; 
 a dropper for dropping the data packet according the requirements of QoS; and 
 a shaper for retarding a transmission of the data packet according the requirements of QoS. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the radio adaptation layer further comprises:
 a radio module connecting with the configuration controller and the traffic controller for converting the data packet to a specific radio system format before sending the data packet to the radio link, providing the radio link with QoS in an one-to-one or one-to-multiple manner and performing a monitoring of management and power saving to make the configuration controller able to modify the radio module. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the radio module comprises at least a radio module corresponding to the radio systems. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the radio module is a WLAN module, a 3G module, a 802.15 802.16 module or a bluetooth module. 
     
     
       17. A packet-transmitting method for controlling multi-mode radio access comprising:
 recognizing a format of a received packet; 
 determining if the received packet is a signaling packet; 
 passing the received packet to a configuration controller if the received packet is the signaling packet, 
 establishing a corresponding radio link according to parameters of the signaling packet and present network resources, and setting corresponding parameters of a traffic controller to fit predetermined requirements of QoS; and 
 passing the received packet to the traffic controller if the received packet isn't the signaling packet but a data packet, controlling a quality of a connection according to predetermined parameters of traffic control and then sending out the data packet orderly. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of passing the received packet to the configuration controller further comprises:
 abstracting a traffic parameter from the signal packet; 
 translating QoS attributes and checking available resource of radio link; 
 loading a usable radio module program to establish the corresponding radio link if a connection is admitted; 
 setting the corresponding parameters of the traffic controller after the radio link is established completely; and 
 converting the signaling packet to a specific radio system format and then sending the signaling packet out. 
 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the step of passing the received packet to the configuration controller further comprises:
 rejecting connection establishment and sending out a message of rejection if the connection is not admitted or the radio link isn't able to establish completely. 
 
     
     
       20. The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of passing the received packet to the traffic controller further comprises:
 classifying the data packet and delivering the classified data packet to a corresponding queue; 
 measuring, dropping or retarding the data packet; 
 scheduling a plurality of queues; and 
 converting the data packet to a specific radio system format for transmitting in a corresponding radio system; and sending the data packet out. 
 
     
     
       21. A seamless handoff method for controlling multi-mode radio access comprising:
 determining if handoff is necessary according to a status of a present radio link, further comprising:
 reporting the status of the present radio link; 
 determining if a quality of the present radio link degrades; 
 obtaining an information of a radios system and determining if the handoff is necessary; and 
 modifying a setting of a radio module to improve the quality of the present radio link if the handoff isn't necessary; 
 
 switching to a new radio link; 
 releasing an old radio link; 
 translating QoS attributes for mapping parameters; and 
 setting parameters of a traffic controller to fit the new radio link. 
 
     
     
       22. The method as claimed in  claim 21  comprising following steps before the step of switching:
 loading a radio module program and setting its parameters; 
 establishing the new radio link by employing the radio module program; and 
 determining if the new radio link is suitable. 
 
     
     
       23. The method as claimed in  claim 21  comprising a step as below after the step of setting:
 informing an upper layer of a variation of the new radio link. 
 
     
     
       24. A radio link releasing method for controlling multi-mode radio access comprising:
 issuing a message for releasing a radio link as an application program of an upper layer terminates a connection actively; 
 passing the message for releasing the radio link to an end of a network; 
 releasing the radio link by a radio module if a number of other connections existing in the radio link is zero and informing a call admission control that the radio link is released; and 
 informing the call admission control that the connection is terminated if the number of other connections existing in the radio link is not zero. 
 
     
     
       25. The method as claimed in  claim 24  comprising a step as following when the application program of the upper terminates the connection passively: informing the call admission control that the radio link is released if the radio module issues that the radio is released. 
     
     
       26. The method as claimed in  claim 25  comprising following steps if the radio module doesn't issue that the radio is released:
 discovering that the radio is released by the radio module after a period of time; 
 releasing the radio link by the radio module if a number of other connections existing in the radio link is zero and informing the call admission control that the radio link is released; and 
 informing the call admission control that the connection is terminated if the number of other connections existing in the radio link is not zero. 
 
     
     
       27. An apparatus for controlling multi-mode radio access, comprising:
 at least one transceiver;   a plurality of media access controllers coupled to the at least one transceiver, the plurality of media access controllers being configured to provide a plurality of radio access ports;   a first control unit coupled to one of the plurality of medium access controllers to establish at least one radio link so as to perform a substantially seamless handoff among different radio systems and to set control parameters; and   a second control unit configured to transmit, via one of the plurality of medium access controllers, a data packet according to the control parameters and requirements of quality of service (QoS) of the data packet; and   a network control interface coupled to the first and second control units to provide data to the first and second control units, the network control interface being configured to support an Internet protocol (IP) so as to enable handoff among the different radio systems and to support QoS mechanisms.    
     
     
       28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:
 at least one radio module coupled between the first and second control units and the plurality of media access controllers to enable access between the first and second control units and the plurality of media access controllers.    
     
     
       29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the network control interface provides a packet containing signaling data to the first control unit to set the control parameters.  
     
     
       30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first control unit comprises a call admission control unit for managing wireless network resources of the apparatus.  
     
     
       31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first control unit further comprises:
 a service manager coupled to the call admission control unit to set the control parameters, and to set status of the at least one radio link; and   a radio monitor to monitor the status of the at least one radio link.    
     
     
       32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the first control unit further comprises a configuration control interface coupled to the service manager and the radio monitor to provide a control interface between the first control unit and the at least one radio module.  
     
     
       33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the first control unit further comprises a radio system selector coupled to the call admission control to determine whether to perform the substantially seamless handoff according to status of one of the at least one radio link.  
     
     
       34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the network control interface provides the data packet to the second control unit to transmit the data packet.  
     
     
       35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein the second control unit comprises:
 a classifier for classifying the data packet and delivering the classified data packet to a queue;   a conditioner coupled to the classifier to control the classified data packet in the queue;   a scheduler coupled to the conditioner to schedule the queue according to the control parameters; and   a traffic control interface coupled to the scheduler to provide a unified control interface between the second control unit and the at least one radio module.    
     
     
       36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the conditioner comprises:
 a meter for measuring and counting according to data attributes of the data packet;   a dropper for dropping the data packet according to the requirements of QoS; and   a shaper for retarding a transmission of the data packet according the requirements of QoS.    
     
     
       37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the IP is mobile IP.  
     
     
       38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the QoS mechanisms include at least one of an IntServ mechanism and a DiffServ mechanism.  
     
     
       39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the plurality of media access controllers include at least one of a wireless local area network (WLAN) media access controller, a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) controller, a 802.16 media access controller, and a bluetooth media access controller.  
     
     
       40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, where the at least one radio module is coupled to the first and second control units to convert the data packet to a specific radio system format before sending the data packet to the at least one radio link, and to provide the at least one radio link with QoS in a one-to-one or one-to-multiple manner.  
     
     
       41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the at least one radio module includes at least one of a WLAN module, a 3G module, a 802.16 module, and a bluetooth module.  
     
     
       42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the network control interface is configured to recognize a packet sent from a network layer.  
     
     
       43. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first control unit comprises a radio module controller for establishing at least one radio link of at least one radio module.  
     
     
       44. A packet-transmitting method for controlling multi-mode radio access comprising:
 receiving a plurality of packets from a control interface;   setting control parameters of the multi-mode radio access in response to one of the plurality of packets for establishing at least one radio link so as to perform a substantially seamless handoff among different radio systems;   processing a data packet from the plurality of packets according to the control parameters and requirements of quality of service (QoS) of the data packet   controlling a quality of a connection according to the requirements of QoS;   transmitting the data packet; and   providing handoff among the different radio systems with QoS mechanisms based on an Internet protocol (IP).    
     
     
       45. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the establishing further comprises:
 translating QoS attributes and checking available resources of radio link; and   establishing the radio link via at least one radio module based on the translated QoS attributes.    
     
     
       46. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the controlling the quality further comprises:
 measuring, dropping or retarding the data packet; and   converting the data packet to a specific radio system format for transmitting in a radio system.    
     
     
       47. A packet-transmitting method for controlling multi-mode radio access comprising:
 providing a plurality of media access controllers coupled to at least one transceiver to provide a plurality of radio access ports;   selecting a radio module to connect to one of the plurality of medium access controllers to establish at least one radio link via the at least one transceiver;   transmitting, via one of the plurality of medium access controllers, a packet according to requirements of quality of service (QoS) of the packet;   monitoring status of the at least one radio link;   determining a condition for a substantially seamless handoff among different radio systems based on the status of the at least one radio link;   connecting a different one of the plurality of medium access controllers so as to enable handoff among the different radio systems and support QoS mechanisms based on an Internet protocol (IP).    
     
     
       48. The method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the radio module is configured to:
 convert packets to a specific radio system format before sending the packets to the at least one radio link; and   provide the at least one radio link with QoS in a one-to-one or one-to-multiple manner.    
     
     
       49. The method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the radio module include a WLAN module, a 3G module, a 802.16 module, or a bluetooth module.