Abstract:
A method for assigning downlink transmit power levels to radio nodes (RNs) in a small cell radio access network (RAN) includes assigning initial power levels to the RNs. For each cell, first events are counted indicating that UEs receiving a signal from their serving cells with a signal strength below a specified value have entered a coverage hole. For each cell, second events are counted indicating that UEs have re-established a previous connection on one of the cells. For each pair of cells, a coverage hole is identified between them if the number of first events for one cell exceeds a threshold and a number of second events or re-establishment of a previous connection on the other cell exceeds another threshold. For each identified coverage hole, the downlink transmit power level is increased of at least one RN in the pair of cells between which the coverage hole is identified.
Abstract:
A method for assigning a percentage of a CSAT time cycle to each radio node (RN) in a plurality of RNs that belong to a small cell radio access network (RAN) having a central controller includes: (i) for each time cycle period during which the RNs share a channel with one or more nodes that employ a different radio access technology (RAT), assigning a default occupancy percentage of the time cycles to each of the RNs; (ii) determining if the default occupancy percentage is able to be increased without violating one or more co-existence principles pre-established for the RAT employed by the RNs in the RAN and the different RAT; (iii) increasing the occupancy percentage of the first RN if it is determined that the default occupancy percentage is able to be increased without violating the co-existence principles; and (iv) sequentially repeating (ii)-(iii) for each remaining RN in the RAN.
Abstract:
A method for assigning downlink transmit power levels to radio nodes (RNs) in a small cell radio access network (RAN) includes assigning initial power levels to the RNs. For each cell, first events are counted indicating that UEs receiving a signal from their serving cells with a signal strength below a specified value have entered a coverage hole. For each cell, second events are counted indicating that UEs have re-established a previous connection on one of the cells. For each pair of cells, a coverage hole is identified between them if the number of first events for one cell exceeds a threshold and a number of second events or re-establishment of a previous connection on the other cell exceeds another threshold. For each identified coverage hole, the downlink transmit power level is increased of at least one RN in the pair of cells between which the coverage hole is identified.
Abstract:
A method of coordinating a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) includes aggregating, with a gateway, communications interfaces between a plurality of RANs and a packet core network through the gateway. A plurality of radio nodes (RNs) in each of the RANs is communicatively coupled to the gateway and to user equipment (UE) devices associated with the RNs in each of the RANs. The gateway also controls and coordinates mobility of the UE devices within and among the RANs. In addition, the gateway acts as a virtual enhanced NodeB (eNB) to the packet core network, thereby hiding the aggregated communications interfaces from the packet core network.
Abstract:
Discovery of a neighbor radio access system by a user mobile communications device serviced in a radio access network (RAN) for reporting to a serving system in the RAN. User mobile communications device serviced by a RAN is configured to scan one or more frequency ranges (e.g., bands) to discover other neighbor radio access systems. This is opposed to, for example, the user mobile communications device only searching for transmitted communications signals at specific center frequency (e.g., an EARFCN). There may be other radio access systems that operate neighbor cells and in other frequency bands in proximity the RAN serving the user mobile communications device. Discovered neighboring radio access systems can be reported by the user mobile communications device to its serving RAN in a measurement report, which can then be used by the serving RAN for other functionalities, such as trigger handovers of user mobile communications device for example.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed that provide a closed loop power control system including adaptively adjusting the desired target SINR over time so as to ultimately achieve a feasible SINR. In one implementation, a method is provided of optimizing uplink closed loop power control in a RAN in which one or more base stations each service a plurality of mobile stations, including: determining a power level for each mobile station for its respective uplink transmissions, including measuring a current achieved SINR for each mobile station; and for each mobile station, adjusting the power level to be sufficiently high to meet desired transmission characteristics but not so high as to cause unnecessary interference with transmissions from other mobile stations, by adjusting a desired target SINR based on factors selected from the following: current and prior achieved SINRs, current and prior interference measurements, and current and prior transmission power control commands.
Abstract:
A method of joint processing of data in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes is provided. The services node provides connectivity to a core network. The method includes determining that a plurality of first UEs (User Equipment) each being serviced by a selected set of the cells is to operate in accordance with a hybrid joint processing scheme. Information is transferred between the plurality of first UEs and the radio nodes in accordance with the hybrid joint processing scheme by performing L1 layer processing on the radio nodes and L2 layer processing at the services node.
Abstract:
A beacon cell adapted for use in a small cell RAN includes dual identities—a beacon identity and a regular or “live” identity—in which the identities are individually configured to address differing performance requirements in the small cell RAN. The beacon identity in the cell is specially configured to meet the performance requirements for mobile user equipment (UE) to be able to quickly and easily move from a macrocell base station in a mobile operator's network to the small cell RAN using a process called “reselection.” The live identity is configured to meet all requirements for service to be provided to the UE within the small cell RAN. Once captured by the beacon identity of the beacon cell, the UE can then immediately reselect to the live identity of the cell which operates in a conventional manner.
Abstract:
Arrangements disclosed here provide an LTE E-RAN employing a hierarchical architecture with a central controller controlling multiple LTE radio nodes (RNs). The RNs may be clustered within the small cell network. A fractional frequency reuse (“FFR”) scheme is provided that dynamically computes the FFR allocations at individual RNs and configures the corresponding schedulers within each RN to improve cell-edge users' experience. Once an FFR pattern has been generated and frequencies allocated, UE throughput can be emulated to predict the resulting bit rates for each UE. Using the prediction, a scheduler emulation may be run to predict the behavior of the system. The results of each cell may then be collected to generate the performance of the entire system, which may in turn be used to generate a new or modified FFR pattern, or new or modified clustering. Optimization of the performance results in an optimized FFR pattern.
Abstract:
In particular, systems and methods according to present principles configure physical eNodeB to have multiple virtual eNodeBs, where each virtual eNodeBs corresponds to a particular PLMN. Thus, each PLMN has its own virtual eNodeB which is hosted on a common shared physical eNodeB.