Title of Invention	SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISIONING SERVICE FLOWS IN BROADBAND WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION
Abstract	A method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access communication system, the method comprising receiving (311) a registration request message from a mobile station (300,400); and transmitting (313) a registration response message including information about service flows to be provisioned by a base station (350,450), to the mobile station after the registration request message is received, wherein the information represents a total number of Dynamic Service Addition (DSA) transactions for the service flows.

Title of Invention

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISIONING SERVICE FLOWS IN BROADBAND WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION

Abstract

A method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access communication system, the method comprising receiving (311) a registration request message from a mobile station (300,400); and transmitting (313) a registration response message including information about service flows to be provisioned by a base station (350,450), to the mobile station after the registration request message is received, wherein the information represents a total number of Dynamic Service Addition (DSA) transactions for the service flows.

Full Text	FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a broadband wireless access(BWA) communication system, and more particularly to a system and a method for provisioning service flows which can be provided by a base station (BS). BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the 4th generation (4G) communication system, which is the next generation communication system, research has been actively pursued to provide users with services having various Qualities of Services (QoSs) at high speed. Especially, in the current 4G communication system, research has been actively pursued to develop a new type of communication system ensuring mobility and QoS and supporting high speed services in a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) communication system such as a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) system and a wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) system capable of supporting relatively high transmission speeds. As a representative of such new type communication systems, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16e communication system has been developed. The IEEE 802.16e communication system is a system using an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)/orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) scheme for a physical channel of the WMAN system in order to support a broadband transmission network. Hereinafter, a schematic structure of the conventional IEEE 802.16e communication system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG 1. The IEEE 802.16e communication system has a multi-cell structure and includes a cell 100, a cell 150, a base station (BS) 110 controlling the cell 100, a base station 140 controlling the cell 150, and a plurality of mobile stations (MSs) 111, 113, 130, 151, and 153. In addition, the BSs 110 and 140 transmit and receive signals to and from the MSs 111, 113, 130, 151, and 153 using the OFDM/OFDMA scheme. The structure of the conventional IEEE 802.16e communication system is described with reference to FIG. 1, and, hereinafter, an MS initialization operation in the IEEE 802.16e communication system will be described with reference to the flow diagrams of FIGs. 2A and 2B. When the power of the MS 200 is turned on, the MS performs a cell selection operation (step 211). In other words, the MS 200 monitors all frequency bands preset by the MS 200 so as to detect a reference signal (e.g., a pilot signal) having the strongest intensity, for example, the largest Carrier to Interference and Noise Ratio (CINR). Then, the MS 200 determines a base station (BS) having transmitted the pilot signal having the maximum CINR as a BS 250 currently covering the MS 200, and acquires system synchronization with the BS 250 by receiving a preamble of a downlink frame transmitted from the BS 250. Herein, if system synchronization between the MS 200 and the BS 250 is acquired, the MS 200 receives a DL-MAP message, a UL-MAP message, and an uplink channel descript (UCD) message transmitted from the BS 250. Thus, the MS 200 having received the DL-MAP message, the UL-MAP message, and the UCD message from the BS 250 can recognize time slots used for an initial ranging operation. The MS 200 randomly selects one predetermined time slot from among the time slots used for the initial raging operation and transmits a ranging-request (RNG-REQ) message for the initial ranging operation to the BS 250. Herein, the RNG-REQ message includes an initial ranging connection identifier (CID) and a media access control (MAC) address of the MS 200. Upon receiving the RNG-REQ message from the MS 200, the BS 250 transmits a ranging-response (RNG-RSP) message, which is a response message for the RNG-REQ message, to the MS 200. If the MS 200 receives the RNG-RSP message from the BS 250, the MS 200 selects the BS 250 as a serving base station of the MS 200 and completes the cell selection operation. If the cell selection operation is completed, the MS 200 performs entry into a network together with the BS 250. Hereinafter, a detailed description about the entry into the network will be given. According to the completion of the cell selection operation, the MS 200 receives information about the BS 250 from the BS 250 through the DL-MAP message, the UL- MAP message, a downlink channel descript (DCD) message, a UCD message, and a neighbor advertisement (NBR-ADV) message (step 213). The MS 200 obtains a downlink synchronization with the BS 250 using the BS information received through the DL-MAP message, the UL-MAP message, the DCD message, the UCD message, and the NBR-ADV message (step 215). Thus, the MS 200 having obtained the downlink synchronization with the BS 250 transmits the RNG-REQ message to the BS 250 (step 217). The BS 250 receives the RNG-REQ message from the MS 200 and allocates a basic connection identifier (basic CID) and a primary management connection identifier (CID) for the MS 200 by mapping with a medium access control (MAC) address included in the received RNG-REQ message (step 219). The BS 250 allocates the basic CID and the primary management CID for the MS 200 and then transmits a ranging-response (RNG-RSP) message, which is a response message for the RNG-REQ message, to the MS 200 (step 221). Herein, the RNG-RSP message includes the allocated basic CID, the allocated primary management CID, and uplink synchronization information. The MS 200 acquires uplink synchronization with the BS and adjusts frequency of power by receiving the RNG-RSP message (step 223). The MS 200 transmits a subscriber stations's basic capability negotiation request (SBC- REQ) message to the BS 250 (step 225). Herein, the SBC-REQ message is a medium access control (MAC) message transmitted by the MS 200 in order to negotiate for basic capability with the BS, and the SBC-REQ message includes information about a modulation and coding scheme which can be supported by the MS 200. The BS 250 receives the SBC-REQ message from the MS 200, checks the modulation and coding scheme, which can be supported by the MS 200, included in the SBC-REQ message, and then transmits a subscriber station's basic capability negotiation response (SBC-RSP) message as a response message for the SBC-REQ message (step 227). The MS 200 completes the negotiation for its basic capability (step 229) by receiving the SBC-RSP message. Then, the MS 200 transmits a privacy key management request (PKM-REQ) message to the BS 250 (step 231). Herein, the PKM-REQ message is a MAC message used for authentication of the MS and includes certificate information of the MS 200. The BS 250 having received the PKM-REQ message performs authentication with an authentication server (AS) using the certificate information of the MS 200 included in the PKM-REQ message. If it is determined that the MS 200 corresponds to an authenticated MS using the authentication information, the BS 250 transmits a privacy key management response (PKM-RSP) message to the MS 200 as a response message for the PKM-REQ message (step 233). Herein, the PKM-RSP message includes an authentication key (AK) and a traffic encryption key (TEK) allocated to the MS 200. The MS 200 achieves the authentication of the MS 200 and obtains the traffic encryption key by receiving the PKM-RSP message (step 235). Then, the MS 200 transmits a registration request (REG-REQ) message to the BS 250 (step 237). The REG-REQ message includes MS registration information of the MS 200. The BS 250 having received the REG-REQ message detects the MS registration information included in the REG-REQ message so as to register the MS 200 in the BS 250 and allocate a secondary management CID for the MS 200. The BS 250 having allocated the secondary management CID transmits a registration response (REG-RSP) message, which is a response message for the REG-REQ message, to the MS 200 (step 239). Herein, the REG-RSP message includes the allocated secondary management CID and the MS registration information. The MS 200 completes its registration and obtains the secondary management CID by receiving the REG-RSP message (step 241). Thus, if the MS registration is completed, the MS 200 is allocated with three CIDs (i.e., the initial basic CID, the primary management CID, and the secondary management CID). Thus, if the MS 200 is completely registered, the BS 250 performs provisioning for service flows provided by the BS (step 260). A detailed description about the provisioning for the service flows is later given. If the provisioning for the service flows is completed, that is, if an initialization operation of the MS 200 is completed, the MS 200 transits into a normal operation mode, an Internet protocol (IP) connection between the MS 200 and the BS 250 is achieved, and administration information is downloaded through the IP connection (step 271). Thereafter, the service flow is made between the MS 200 and the BS 250 (step 273). Herein, the service flow denotes a flow in which a MAC-service data unit (SDU) is transmitted and received through a connection having a predetermined QoS type. Since a transport CID must be allocated to the MS 200 when the MAC-SDU (i.e. traffic) is transmitted and received as described above, the MS is allocated with the transport CID in the connection of the service flow. Thus, if the connection of the service flow is achieved, a service is actually performed between the MS 200 and the BS 250 (step 275). Hereinafter, detailed description about the provisioning for the service flow will be given. If the registration of the MS 200 is completed, the BS 250 transmits a dynamic service addition request (DSA-REQ) message to the MS 200 (step 261). As the MS 200 receives the DSA-REQ message from the BS 250, the MS 200 transmits a dynamic service addition response (DSA-RSP) message, which is a response message for the DSA-REQ message (step 263). Herein, an operation of transmitting and receiving the DSA-REQ message or the DSA-RSP message is called a "DSA message transaction operation". One DSA message transaction operation allows the setting of only one QoS type for a service flow. Accordingly, if there exists a plurality of QoS types supported by the BS 250, DSA message transaction operations corresponding to the number of the QoS types supported by the BS 250 must be performed with respect to the downlink or the uplink. For example, the IEEE 802.16e communication system supports all four QoS types including an unsolicited granted service (UGS) type, a real time polling service type (rtPS) type, a non real time polling service (nrtPS) type, and a best effort (BE) type. Therefore, if the BS 250 can support all four QoS types, the BS 250 performs service flow provisioning for the four QoS types through the DSA message transaction operations in the uplink or the downlink. In other words, the BS 250 performs four DSA message transaction operations in order to perform service flow provisioning for the four QcS types in the downlink. In addition, the BS 250 performs four DSA message transaction operations in order to perform service flow provisioning for the four QoS types in the uplink. As a result, the BS 250 performs the DSA message transaction operation eight times. However, it is impossible for the IEEE 802.16e communication system to provide information about the number of service flows to be provisioned by the BS or information about a time point for the final provisioning of the BS. Accordingly, it is impossible for the MS to recognize the time point at which the final service flow provisioning of the BS is terminated, so that it is impossible for the MS to exactly detect the time point at which the MS transits into the normal operation mode. Thus, since the MS cannot accurately recognize the time point at which the MS enters into the normal operation mode, service quality provided by the MS is degraded. The document US 2004/127237 A1 discloses a method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless system, where the response to a registration request includes a list of the service flows to be established, together with their parameters. The document "Part 16: Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems", 1 June 2004, IEEE STD 802.16-2004, IEEE, NEW YORK, NY, US, PAGE(S) 9-10, 33, 69, 138-139, 190, 218-243, 247-249, 257-265, 283-285, discloses a method of handling traffic flows in a mobile communications network wherein each traffic flow is associated with at least one flow treatment attribute determining the flow treatment requirement for that traffic flow. The method includes the step of issuing a request for establishing a communication pathway over the network and identifying multiple traffic flows with associated attributes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for provisioning a service flow in a broadband wireless access communication system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for reporting the number of service flows to be provisioned by a base station in a broadband wireless access communication system. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for reporting information about a time point for the last service flow provisioning of a base station in a broadband wireless access communication system. The invention provides a method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access communication system according to the independent claims 1 and 3. The invention further provides a system for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access communication system according to independent claim 5. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic structure of a typical IEEE 802.16e communication system; FIGs. 2A and 2B are signal flowcharts illustrating the procedure for an initialization operation of an MS in the conventional IEEE 802.16e communication system; FIG. 3 is a signal flowchart schematically illustrating the procedure for a service flow provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a signal flowchart schematically illustrating the procedure for a service flow provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same or similar components in drawings are designated by the same reference numerals as far as possible although they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear. The present invention proposes a system and a method for provisioning a service flow in an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16e communication system, which is a broadband wireless access(BWA) communication system. In particular, the present invention proposes a system and a method allowing a mobile station (MS) to exactly detect the time point for the transition into a normal operation mode in an initialization operation by reporting the number of service flows to be provisioned by a base station (BS) to the MS in advance or the reporting information about a time point for the last service flow provisioning of the BS to the MS in advance in the IEEE 802.16e communication system. Prior to describing the present invention, it should be noted that the conventional MS initialization operation shown in FIG. 2 (steps 211 to 235) is identically applied to an MS initialization operation according to the present invention. Accordingly, the MS initial operation of the present invention corresponding to the conventional MS initial operation will be omitted in order to avoid redundancy. In addition, although the IEEE 802.16e communication system is described as one example according to the present invention, it is understood that the present invention is applicable to other communication systems supporting the service flow provisioning operation, in addition to the IEEE 802.16e communication system. FIG. 3 is a signal flowchart schematically illustrating a service flow provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Prior to the description of FIG. 3, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the number of service flows to be provisioned by a BS is reported to an MS through a registration response (REG-RSP) message, thereby allowing the MS to exactly recognize a time point for the senive flow provisioning termination so as to exactly recognize a time point for transition into a normal operation mode. In other words, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the number of service flows to be provisioned by the BS is expressed as the number of dynamic service addition (DSA) message transaction operations, so that the number of service flows can be reported through the REG- RSP message. The DSA message transaction operation denotes an operation of transmitting and receiving a dynamic service addition request (DSA-REQ) message or a dynamic service addition response (DSA-RSP) message, which is a response message for the DSA-REQ message. In addition, one DSA message transaction operation can set only one Quality of Service (QoS) type for a service flow. Accordingly, when there exist a plurality of QoS types supported by the BS, DSA message transaction operations corresponding to the number of the QoS types supported by the BS must be performed with respect to a downlink or an uplink. Referring to FIG. 3, while performing the initialization operation, an MS 300 receives a privacy key management response (PKM-RSP) message so as to achieve its authentication. If the MS 300 obtains the privacy key, the MS 300 transmits a registration request (REG-REQ) message to a BS 350 (step 311). The REG-REQ message includes a provisioning service flow field and MS registration information, and the provisioning service flow field represents that the MS 300 requests information about the number of service flows to be provisioned by the BS 350 to the BS 350. The BS 350 having received the REG-REQ message from the MS 300 transmits the REG-RSP message, which is a response message for the REG-RSP message, to the MS 300 by inserting the number of DSA message transaction operations according to the number of service flows to be provisioned by the BS 350 into the provisioning service flow field of the REG-RSP message (step 313). Although the number of DSA message transaction operations according to the number of service flows to be provisioned is recorded in the provisioning service flow field of the REG-RSP message so that the number of the service flows to be provisioned by the BS 350 can be recognized according to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of the service flows may also be recorded instead of the number of DSA message transaction operations. The IEEE 802.16e communication system supports all four QoS types including an unsolicited granted service (UGS) type, a real time polling service type (rtPS) type, a non real time polling service (nrtPS) type, and a best effort (BE) type. For example, if the BS 350 can support only three of four QoS types, information representing that six DSA message transaction operations in the uplink and the downlink are performed is recorded in the provisioning service flow field of the REG-REQ message. If the MS 300 receives the REG-RSP message from the BS 350, the MS 300 detects the number of the DSA message transaction operations recorded in the provisioning service flow field of the REG-REQ message so that the MS 300 can exactly recognize a time point of the service flow provisioning termination. Although the number of the service flows to be provisioned by the BS 350 is reported through the operation of transmitting and receiving the REG-REQ message and the REG-RSP message in FIG. 3, the number of the service flows to be provisioned by the BS 350 may also be reported to the MS 300 through an operation of transmitting and receiving other messages when the initialization operation is performed. For example, the number of the service flows to be provisioned by the BS 350 may be reported to the MS 300 through an operation of transmitting and receiving a subscriber station's basic capability negotiation request (SBC-REQ) message and a subscriber station's basic capability negotiation response (SBC-RSP) message. The service flow provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIG. 3. Hereinafter, description about the service flow provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be given with reference to the signal flowchart of FIG. 4. Prior to the description of FIG. 4, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a BS reports to an MS a service flow provisioning state instead of the number of service flows to be provisioned by the BS through the DSA-REQ message, so that the MS can exactly recognize a time point for the service flow provisioning termination so as to exactly recognize a time point for transition into a normal operation mode. In other words, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the service flow provisioning state is classified into a "continue state" and a "done state" and reported to the MS through the DSA-REQ message. Herein, the "continue state" represents that the BS is provisioning a service flow (that is, a DSA message transaction operation is additionally performed thereafter), and the "done state" represents that the BS terminates service flow provisioning (that is, the DSA message transaction operation is not performed thereafter). Referring to FIG. 4, if the registration of an MS 400 is completed in an initialization operation of the MS 400, a BS 450 transmits the DSA-REQ message to the MS 400 (step 411). The DSA-REQ message includes a provisioning service flow state field, and the provisioning service flow state field may be realized by one bit. In this case, provisioning service flow state field values of '0' and ' 1' represent the "continue state" and the "done state", respectively. The MS 400 having received the DSA-REQ message from the BS 450 detects the provisioning service flow state field value included in the DSA-REQ message so as to detect the state of the service flow provisioning of the BS 450. In other words, if the provisioning service flow state field value included in the DSA-REQ is '0', the MS 400 recognizes that the MS 400 must continuously perform the DSA message transaction operation thereafter. If the provisioning service flow state field value included in the DSA-REQ is ' 1', the MS 400 transits into the normal operation mode because it is unnecessary to perform the DSA message transaction operation. Then, the MS 400 transmits the DSA-RSP message, which is a response message for the DSA-REQ message, to the BS 450 (step 413). As the BS 450 receives the DSA-RSP message from the MS 450, the BS 450 transmits a dynamic service addition acknowledge (DSA-ACK) message representing that the DSA-RSP message is normally received (step 415). Although the BS newly inserts the provisioning service flow field into the DSA-REQ message in order to report the service flow provisioning state thereof according to the present invention, the BS may report the service flow 5 provisioning state thereof by modifying one of fields having been already included in the DSA-REQ message. For example, the BS may report the service flow provisioning state of the BS by modifying the third bit among reserved bits in a QoS parameter set type field of the DSA-REQ message such that the third bit represents the service flow provisioning state. In addition, it is natural that the 10 BS use the QoS parameter set type field by modifying a certain bit among the reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field of the DSA-REQ message instead of the third bit to the service flow provisioning state field. Hereinafter, the QoS parameter set type field format in a case in which the QoS parameter set type field of the DSA-REQ message is modified to the 15 service flow provisioning state field will be described with reference to Tables 1 and 2. If the third bit among the reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field 20 is recorded as "Last Provisioning Set" representing that the service flow provisioning state of the BS is the last service flow provisioning state as shown in Table 1, the third bit represents that a DSA message transaction operation is not performed thereafter. In other words, if the third bit among the reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field is recorded as "Last Provisioning Set", a current 25 DSA message transaction operation is the last DSA message transaction operation. If the third bit among the reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field is recorded as "Continued Provisioning Set" representing that the service flow provisioning of the BS is additionally performed as shown in Table 2, the third bit 5 represents that a DSA message transaction operation is performed thereafter. In other words, if the third bit among the reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field is recorded as "Continued Provisioning Set", a DSA message transaction operation is additionally performed after a current DSA message transaction operation. As described above, according to the present invention, a BS reports the number of service flows to be provisioned to a MS, thereby enabling the MS to exactly recognize a service flow provisioning completion time point of the BS so as to transit into a normal operation mode in a broadband wireless access communication system. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize a delay due to 15 the service flow provisioning in the initialization operation of the MS, thereby improving a service quality. While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without 20 departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Consequently, the scope of the invention should not be limited to the embodiments, but should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. WE CLAIM: 1. A method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access communication system, the method comprising the steps of: receiving (311) a registration request message from a mobile station (300, 400); and inserting information about service flows to be provisioned by a base station (350, 450) into a registration response message and transmitting (313) the registration response message to the mobile station (300, 400) after the registration request message is received; characterized in that the information represents a total number of dynamic service addition message transaction operations according to a number of the service flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450), or the information represents a total number of the service flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450). 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dynamic service addition message transaction operation comprises an operation of transmitting (411) a dynamic service addition request message by the base station (450) and an operation of transmitting (413) a dynamic service addition response message by the mobile station (400). 3. A method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access communication system, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting (311) a registration request message to a base station (350, 450); and receiving (313) a registration response message including information about service flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450) from the base station (350, 450) after the registration request message is transmitted; characterized in that the information represents a total number of dynamic service addition message transaction operations according to a number of the service flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450), or the information represents a total number of the service flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450). 4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the dynamic service addition message transaction operation comprises an operation of transmitting (411) a dynamic service addition request message by the base station (350, 450) and an operation of transmitting (413) a dynamic service addition response message by a mobile station (400). 5. A system for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access communication system, the system comprising: a mobile station (300, 400) for transmitting (311) a registration request message to a base station (350, 450); and the base station (350, 450) for including information about service flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450) into a registration response message and transmitting (313) the registration response message to the mobile station (300, 400) if the registration request message is received; characterized in that the information represents a total number of dynamic service addition message transaction operations according to a number of the service flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450), or the information represents a total number of the service flows to be provisioned by the base station (300, 400). 6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the dynamic service addition message transaction operation comprises an operation of transmitting (411) a dynamic service addition request message by the base station (450) and an operation of transmitting (413) a dynamic service addition response message by the mobile station (400). ABSTRACT TITLE: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISIONING SERVICE FLOWS IN BROADBAND WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION A method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access communication system, the method comprising receiving (311) a registration request message from a mobile station (300,400); and transmitting (313) a registration response message including information about service flows to be provisioned by a base station (350,450), to the mobile station after the registration request message is received, wherein the information represents a total number of Dynamic Service Addition (DSA) transactions for the service flows.

Full Text

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a broadband wireless access(BWA) communication
system, and more particularly to a system and a method for provisioning service flows
which can be provided by a base station (BS).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the 4th generation (4G) communication system, which is the next generation
communication system, research has been actively pursued to provide users with
services having various Qualities of Services (QoSs) at high speed. Especially, in the
current 4G communication system, research has been actively pursued to develop a new
type of communication system ensuring mobility and QoS and supporting high speed
services in a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) communication system such as a
wireless Local Area Network (LAN) system and a wireless Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN) system capable of supporting relatively high transmission speeds. As a
representative of such new type communication systems, an Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16e communication system has been developed.
The IEEE 802.16e communication system is a system using an orthogonal frequency
division multiplexing (OFDM)/orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)
scheme for a physical channel of the WMAN system in order to support a broadband
transmission network.
Hereinafter, a schematic structure of the conventional IEEE 802.16e communication
system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG 1.
The IEEE 802.16e communication system has a multi-cell structure and includes a cell
100, a cell 150, a base station (BS) 110 controlling the cell 100, a base station 140
controlling the cell 150, and a plurality of mobile stations (MSs) 111, 113, 130, 151, and
153. In addition, the BSs 110 and 140 transmit and receive signals to and from the MSs
111, 113, 130, 151, and 153 using the OFDM/OFDMA scheme.
The structure of the conventional IEEE 802.16e communication system is described with
reference to FIG. 1, and, hereinafter, an MS initialization operation in the IEEE 802.16e
communication system will be described with reference to the flow diagrams of FIGs. 2A
and 2B.

When the power of the MS 200 is turned on, the MS performs a cell selection operation
(step 211). In other words, the MS 200 monitors all frequency bands preset by the MS
200 so as to detect a reference signal (e.g., a pilot signal) having the strongest
intensity, for example, the largest Carrier to Interference and Noise Ratio (CINR). Then,
the MS 200 determines a base station (BS) having transmitted the pilot signal having the
maximum CINR as a BS 250 currently covering the MS 200, and acquires system
synchronization with the BS 250 by receiving a preamble of a downlink frame
transmitted from the BS 250. Herein, if system synchronization between the MS 200 and
the BS 250 is acquired, the MS 200 receives a DL-MAP message, a UL-MAP message,
and an uplink channel descript (UCD) message transmitted from the BS 250. Thus, the
MS 200 having received the DL-MAP message, the UL-MAP message, and the UCD
message from the BS 250 can recognize time slots used for an initial ranging operation.
The MS 200 randomly selects one predetermined time slot from among the time slots
used for the initial raging operation and transmits a ranging-request (RNG-REQ)
message for the initial ranging operation to the BS 250. Herein, the RNG-REQ message
includes an initial ranging connection identifier (CID) and a media access control (MAC)
address of the MS 200.
Upon receiving the RNG-REQ message from the MS 200, the BS 250 transmits a
ranging-response (RNG-RSP) message, which is a response message for the RNG-REQ
message, to the MS 200. If the MS 200 receives the RNG-RSP message from the BS
250, the MS 200 selects the BS 250 as a serving base station of the MS 200 and
completes the cell selection operation.
If the cell selection operation is completed, the MS 200 performs entry into a network
together with the BS 250. Hereinafter, a detailed description about the entry into the
network will be given.
According to the completion of the cell selection operation, the MS 200 receives
information about the BS 250 from the BS 250 through the DL-MAP message, the UL-
MAP message, a downlink channel descript (DCD) message, a UCD message, and a
neighbor advertisement (NBR-ADV) message (step 213). The MS 200 obtains a downlink
synchronization with the BS 250 using the BS information received through the DL-MAP
message, the UL-MAP message, the DCD message, the UCD message, and the NBR-ADV

message (step 215). Thus, the MS 200 having obtained the downlink synchronization
with the BS 250 transmits the RNG-REQ message to the BS 250 (step 217).
The BS 250 receives the RNG-REQ message from the MS 200 and allocates a basic
connection identifier (basic CID) and a primary management connection identifier (CID)
for the MS 200 by mapping with a medium access control (MAC) address included in the
received RNG-REQ message (step 219).
The BS 250 allocates the basic CID and the primary management CID for the MS 200
and then transmits a ranging-response (RNG-RSP) message, which is a response
message for the RNG-REQ message, to the MS 200 (step 221). Herein, the RNG-RSP
message includes the allocated basic CID, the allocated primary management CID, and
uplink synchronization information. The MS 200 acquires uplink synchronization with the
BS and adjusts frequency of power by receiving the RNG-RSP message (step 223).
The MS 200 transmits a subscriber stations's basic capability negotiation request (SBC-
REQ) message to the BS 250 (step 225). Herein, the SBC-REQ message is a medium
access control (MAC) message transmitted by the MS 200 in order to negotiate for basic
capability with the BS, and the SBC-REQ message includes information about a
modulation and coding scheme which can be supported by the MS 200. The BS 250
receives the SBC-REQ message from the MS 200, checks the modulation and coding
scheme, which can be supported by the MS 200, included in the SBC-REQ message, and
then transmits a subscriber station's basic capability negotiation response (SBC-RSP)
message as a response message for the SBC-REQ message (step 227).
The MS 200 completes the negotiation for its basic capability (step 229) by receiving the
SBC-RSP message. Then, the MS 200 transmits a privacy key management request
(PKM-REQ) message to the BS 250 (step 231). Herein, the PKM-REQ message is a MAC
message used for authentication of the MS and includes certificate information of the MS
200. The BS 250 having received the PKM-REQ message performs authentication with
an authentication server (AS) using the certificate information of the MS 200 included in
the PKM-REQ message. If it is determined that the MS 200 corresponds to an
authenticated MS using the authentication information, the BS 250 transmits a privacy
key management response (PKM-RSP) message to the MS 200 as a response message

for the PKM-REQ message (step 233). Herein, the PKM-RSP message includes an
authentication key (AK) and a traffic encryption key (TEK) allocated to the MS 200.
The MS 200 achieves the authentication of the MS 200 and obtains the traffic encryption
key by receiving the PKM-RSP message (step 235). Then, the MS 200 transmits a
registration request (REG-REQ) message to the BS 250 (step 237). The REG-REQ
message includes MS registration information of the MS 200.
The BS 250 having received the REG-REQ message detects the MS registration
information included in the REG-REQ message so as to register the MS 200 in the BS
250 and allocate a secondary management CID for the MS 200. The BS 250 having
allocated the secondary management CID transmits a registration response (REG-RSP)
message, which is a response message for the REG-REQ message, to the MS 200 (step
239). Herein, the REG-RSP message includes the allocated secondary management CID
and the MS registration information.
The MS 200 completes its registration and obtains the secondary management CID by
receiving the REG-RSP message (step 241). Thus, if the MS registration is completed,
the MS 200 is allocated with three CIDs (i.e., the initial basic CID, the primary
management CID, and the secondary management CID). Thus, if the MS 200 is
completely registered, the BS 250 performs provisioning for service flows provided by
the BS (step 260). A detailed description about the provisioning for the service flows is
later given.
If the provisioning for the service flows is completed, that is, if an initialization operation
of the MS 200 is completed, the MS 200 transits into a normal operation mode, an
Internet protocol (IP) connection between the MS 200 and the BS 250 is achieved, and
administration information is downloaded through the IP connection (step 271).
Thereafter, the service flow is made between the MS 200 and the BS 250 (step 273).
Herein, the service flow denotes a flow in which a MAC-service data unit (SDU) is
transmitted and received through a connection having a predetermined QoS type. Since
a transport CID must be allocated to the MS 200 when the MAC-SDU (i.e. traffic) is
transmitted and received as described above, the MS is allocated with the transport CID
in the connection of the service flow. Thus, if the connection of the service flow is
achieved, a service is actually performed between the MS 200 and the BS 250 (step
275).

Hereinafter, detailed description about the provisioning for the service flow will be given.
If the registration of the MS 200 is completed, the BS 250 transmits a dynamic service
addition request (DSA-REQ) message to the MS 200 (step 261). As the MS 200 receives
the DSA-REQ message from the BS 250, the MS 200 transmits a dynamic service
addition response (DSA-RSP) message, which is a response message for the DSA-REQ
message (step 263). Herein, an operation of transmitting and receiving the DSA-REQ
message or the DSA-RSP message is called a "DSA message transaction operation". One
DSA message transaction operation allows the setting of only one QoS type for a service
flow. Accordingly, if there exists a plurality of QoS types supported by the BS 250, DSA
message transaction operations corresponding to the number of the QoS types
supported by the BS 250 must be performed with respect to the downlink or the uplink.
For example, the IEEE 802.16e communication system supports all four QoS types
including an unsolicited granted service (UGS) type, a real time polling service type
(rtPS) type, a non real time polling service (nrtPS) type, and a best effort (BE) type.
Therefore, if the BS 250 can support all four QoS types, the BS 250 performs service
flow provisioning for the four QoS types through the DSA message transaction
operations in the uplink or the downlink. In other words, the BS 250 performs four DSA
message transaction operations in order to perform service flow provisioning for the four
QcS types in the downlink. In addition, the BS 250 performs four DSA message
transaction operations in order to perform service flow provisioning for the four QoS
types in the uplink. As a result, the BS 250 performs the DSA message transaction
operation eight times.
However, it is impossible for the IEEE 802.16e communication system to provide
information about the number of service flows to be provisioned by the BS or
information about a time point for the final provisioning of the BS. Accordingly, it is
impossible for the MS to recognize the time point at which the final service flow
provisioning of the BS is terminated, so that it is impossible for the MS to exactly detect
the time point at which the MS transits into the normal operation mode. Thus, since the
MS cannot accurately recognize the time point at which the MS enters into the normal
operation mode, service quality provided by the MS is degraded.

The document US 2004/127237 A1 discloses a method for provisioning service flows in a
broadband wireless system, where the response to a registration request includes a list
of the service flows to be established, together with their parameters.
The document "Part 16: Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems", 1
June 2004, IEEE STD 802.16-2004, IEEE, NEW YORK, NY, US, PAGE(S) 9-10, 33, 69,
138-139, 190, 218-243, 247-249, 257-265, 283-285, discloses a method of handling
traffic flows in a mobile communications network wherein each traffic flow is associated
with at least one flow treatment attribute determining the flow treatment requirement
for that traffic flow. The method includes the step of issuing a request for establishing a
communication pathway over the network and identifying multiple traffic flows with
associated attributes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned
problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide
a system and a method for provisioning a service flow in a broadband wireless access
communication system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for reporting
the number of service flows to be provisioned by a base station in a broadband wireless
access communication system.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for
reporting information about a time point for the last service flow provisioning of a base
station in a broadband wireless access communication system.
The invention provides a method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless
access communication system according to the independent claims 1 and 3. The
invention further provides a system for provisioning service flows in a broadband
wireless access communication system according to independent claim 5. Preferred
embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be

more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic structure of a typical IEEE 802.16e
communication system;
FIGs. 2A and 2B are signal flowcharts illustrating the procedure for an initialization
operation of an MS in the conventional IEEE 802.16e communication system;
FIG. 3 is a signal flowchart schematically illustrating the procedure for a service flow
provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e communication system according to a first
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a signal flowchart schematically illustrating the procedure for a service flow
provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e communication system according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same or similar
components in drawings are designated by the same reference numerals as far as
possible although they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of
the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations
incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present
invention unclear.
The present invention proposes a system and a method for provisioning a service flow in
an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16e communication
system, which is a broadband wireless access(BWA) communication system. In
particular, the present invention proposes a system and a method allowing a mobile
station (MS) to exactly detect the time point for the transition into a normal operation
mode in an initialization operation by

reporting the number of service flows to be provisioned by a base station (BS) to
the MS in advance or the reporting information about a time point for the last
service flow provisioning of the BS to the MS in advance in the IEEE 802.16e
communication system.
Prior to describing the present invention, it should be noted that the
conventional MS initialization operation shown in FIG. 2 (steps 211 to 235) is
identically applied to an MS initialization operation according to the present
invention. Accordingly, the MS initial operation of the present invention
corresponding to the conventional MS initial operation will be omitted in order to
avoid redundancy. In addition, although the IEEE 802.16e communication
system is described as one example according to the present invention, it is
understood that the present invention is applicable to other communication
systems supporting the service flow provisioning operation, in addition to the
IEEE 802.16e communication system.
FIG. 3 is a signal flowchart schematically illustrating a service flow
provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e communication system according to a
first embodiment of the present invention.
Prior to the description of FIG. 3, according to the first embodiment of the
present invention, the number of service flows to be provisioned by a BS is
reported to an MS through a registration response (REG-RSP) message, thereby
allowing the MS to exactly recognize a time point for the senive flow
provisioning termination so as to exactly recognize a time point for transition into
a normal operation mode. In other words, according to the first embodiment of
the present invention, the number of service flows to be provisioned by the BS is
expressed as the number of dynamic service addition (DSA) message transaction
operations, so that the number of service flows can be reported through the REG-
RSP message.
The DSA message transaction operation denotes an operation of
transmitting and receiving a dynamic service addition request (DSA-REQ)
message or a dynamic service addition response (DSA-RSP) message, which is a
response message for the DSA-REQ message. In addition, one DSA message
transaction operation can set only one Quality of Service (QoS) type for a service
flow. Accordingly, when there exist a plurality of QoS types supported by the
BS, DSA message transaction operations corresponding to the number of the QoS
types supported by the BS must be performed with respect to a downlink or an
uplink.
Referring to FIG. 3, while performing the initialization operation, an MS
300 receives a privacy key management response (PKM-RSP) message so as to

achieve its authentication. If the MS 300 obtains the privacy key, the MS 300
transmits a registration request (REG-REQ) message to a BS 350 (step 311).
The REG-REQ message includes a provisioning service flow field and MS
registration information, and the provisioning service flow field represents that
the MS 300 requests information about the number of service flows to be
provisioned by the BS 350 to the BS 350.
The BS 350 having received the REG-REQ message from the MS 300
transmits the REG-RSP message, which is a response message for the REG-RSP
message, to the MS 300 by inserting the number of DSA message transaction
operations according to the number of service flows to be provisioned by the BS
350 into the provisioning service flow field of the REG-RSP message (step 313).
Although the number of DSA message transaction operations according to the
number of service flows to be provisioned is recorded in the provisioning service
flow field of the REG-RSP message so that the number of the service flows to be
provisioned by the BS 350 can be recognized according to an embodiment of the
present invention, the number of the service flows may also be recorded instead
of the number of DSA message transaction operations.
The IEEE 802.16e communication system supports all four QoS types
including an unsolicited granted service (UGS) type, a real time polling service
type (rtPS) type, a non real time polling service (nrtPS) type, and a best effort
(BE) type. For example, if the BS 350 can support only three of four QoS types,
information representing that six DSA message transaction operations in the
uplink and the downlink are performed is recorded in the provisioning service
flow field of the REG-REQ message.
If the MS 300 receives the REG-RSP message from the BS 350, the MS
300 detects the number of the DSA message transaction operations recorded in
the provisioning service flow field of the REG-REQ message so that the MS 300
can exactly recognize a time point of the service flow provisioning termination.
Although the number of the service flows to be provisioned by the BS 350 is
reported through the operation of transmitting and receiving the REG-REQ
message and the REG-RSP message in FIG. 3, the number of the service flows to
be provisioned by the BS 350 may also be reported to the MS 300 through an
operation of transmitting and receiving other messages when the initialization
operation is performed. For example, the number of the service flows to be
provisioned by the BS 350 may be reported to the MS 300 through an operation
of transmitting and receiving a subscriber station's basic capability negotiation
request (SBC-REQ) message and a subscriber station's basic capability
negotiation response (SBC-RSP) message.

The service flow provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e
communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention
has been described with reference to FIG. 3. Hereinafter, description about the
service flow provisioning operation of the IEEE 802.16e communication system
according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be given with
reference to the signal flowchart of FIG. 4.
Prior to the description of FIG. 4, according to the second embodiment of
the present invention, a BS reports to an MS a service flow provisioning state
instead of the number of service flows to be provisioned by the BS through the
DSA-REQ message, so that the MS can exactly recognize a time point for the
service flow provisioning termination so as to exactly recognize a time point for
transition into a normal operation mode. In other words, according to the second
embodiment of the present invention, the service flow provisioning state is
classified into a "continue state" and a "done state" and reported to the MS
through the DSA-REQ message. Herein, the "continue state" represents that the
BS is provisioning a service flow (that is, a DSA message transaction operation is
additionally performed thereafter), and the "done state" represents that the BS
terminates service flow provisioning (that is, the DSA message transaction
operation is not performed thereafter).
Referring to FIG. 4, if the registration of an MS 400 is completed in an
initialization operation of the MS 400, a BS 450 transmits the DSA-REQ message
to the MS 400 (step 411). The DSA-REQ message includes a provisioning
service flow state field, and the provisioning service flow state field may be
realized by one bit. In this case, provisioning service flow state field values of
'0' and ' 1' represent the "continue state" and the "done state", respectively.
The MS 400 having received the DSA-REQ message from the BS 450
detects the provisioning service flow state field value included in the DSA-REQ
message so as to detect the state of the service flow provisioning of the BS 450.
In other words, if the provisioning service flow state field value included in the
DSA-REQ is '0', the MS 400 recognizes that the MS 400 must continuously
perform the DSA message transaction operation thereafter. If the provisioning
service flow state field value included in the DSA-REQ is ' 1', the MS 400 transits
into the normal operation mode because it is unnecessary to perform the DSA
message transaction operation.
Then, the MS 400 transmits the DSA-RSP message, which is a response
message for the DSA-REQ message, to the BS 450 (step 413). As the BS 450
receives the DSA-RSP message from the MS 450, the BS 450 transmits a
dynamic service addition acknowledge (DSA-ACK) message representing that

the DSA-RSP message is normally received (step 415).
Although the BS newly inserts the provisioning service flow field into the DSA-REQ
message in order to report the service flow provisioning state thereof according to the
present invention, the BS may report the service flow 5 provisioning state thereof by
modifying one of fields having been already included in the DSA-REQ message. For
example, the BS may report the service flow provisioning state of the BS by modifying
the third bit among reserved bits in a QoS parameter set type field of the DSA-REQ
message such that the third bit represents the service flow provisioning state. In
addition, it is natural that the 10 BS use the QoS parameter set type field by modifying a
certain bit among the reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field of the DSA-REQ
message instead of the third bit to the service flow provisioning state field.
Hereinafter, the QoS parameter set type field format in a case in which the QoS
parameter set type field of the DSA-REQ message is modified to the 15 service flow
provisioning state field will be described with reference to Tables 1 and 2.

If the third bit among the reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field 20 is
recorded as "Last Provisioning Set" representing that the service flow provisioning state
of the BS is the last service flow provisioning state as shown in Table 1, the third bit
represents that a DSA message transaction operation is not performed thereafter. In
other words, if the third bit among the reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field
is recorded as "Last Provisioning Set", a current 25 DSA message transaction operation
is the last DSA message transaction operation.

If the third bit among the reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field is recorded as
"Continued Provisioning Set" representing that the service flow provisioning of the BS is
additionally performed as shown in Table 2, the third bit 5 represents that a DSA message
transaction operation is performed thereafter. In other words, if the third bit among the
reserved bits in the QoS parameter set type field is recorded as "Continued Provisioning
Set", a DSA message transaction operation is additionally performed after a current DSA
message transaction operation.
As described above, according to the present invention, a BS reports the
number of service flows to be provisioned to a MS, thereby enabling the MS to exactly
recognize a service flow provisioning completion time point of the BS so as to transit into a
normal operation mode in a broadband wireless access communication system.
Accordingly, it is possible to minimize a delay due to 15 the service flow provisioning in the
initialization operation of the MS, thereby improving a service quality.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred
embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes
in form and details may be made therein without 20 departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention. Consequently, the scope of the invention should not be limited to the
embodiments, but should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

WE CLAIM:
1. A method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access
communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving (311) a registration request message from a mobile station (300,
400); and
inserting information about service flows to be provisioned by a base
station (350, 450) into a registration response message and transmitting
(313) the registration response message to the mobile station (300, 400)
after the registration request message is received;
characterized in that
the information represents a total number of dynamic service addition
message transaction operations according to a number of the service
flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450), or
the information represents a total number of the service flows to be
provisioned by the base station (350, 450).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dynamic service addition
message transaction operation comprises an operation of transmitting
(411) a dynamic service addition request message by the base station
(450) and an operation of transmitting (413) a dynamic service addition
response message by the mobile station (400).
3. A method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access
communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting (311) a registration request message to a base station (350,
450); and
receiving (313) a registration response message including information
about service flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450) from
the base station (350, 450) after the registration request message is
transmitted;
characterized in that
the information represents a total number of dynamic service addition
message transaction operations according to a number of the service
flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450), or
the information represents a total number of the service flows to be
provisioned by the base station (350, 450).
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the dynamic service addition
message transaction operation comprises an operation of transmitting
(411) a dynamic service addition request message by the base station
(350, 450) and an operation of transmitting (413) a dynamic service
addition response message by a mobile station (400).
5. A system for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access
communication system, the system comprising:
a mobile station (300, 400) for transmitting (311) a registration request
message to a base station (350, 450); and
the base station (350, 450) for including information about service flows

to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450) into a registration
response message and transmitting (313) the registration response
message to the mobile station (300, 400) if the registration request
message is received;
characterized in that
the information represents a total number of dynamic service addition
message transaction operations according to a number of the service
flows to be provisioned by the base station (350, 450), or
the information represents a total number of the service flows to be
provisioned by the base station (300, 400).
6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the dynamic service addition
message transaction operation comprises an operation of transmitting
(411) a dynamic service addition request message by the base station
(450) and an operation of transmitting (413) a dynamic service addition
response message by the mobile station (400).

ABSTRACT

TITLE: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISIONING SERVICE FLOWS IN
BROADBAND WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION
A method for provisioning service flows in a broadband wireless access communication
system, the method comprising receiving (311) a registration request message from a
mobile station (300,400); and transmitting (313) a registration response message including
information about service flows to be provisioned by a base station (350,450), to the
mobile station after the registration request message is received, wherein the information
represents a total number of Dynamic Service Addition (DSA) transactions for the service
flows.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISIONING SERVICE FLOWS IN BROADBAND WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION

Documents:

Inventors:

PCT Conventions: