Method and system for dynamic cell configuration

Abstract

An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network is disclosed. During operation, the apparatus collects data regarding network conditions of the cellular network. In accordance with the collected network condition data, the apparatus changes an association of a transmit point from a second cell id of a second hyper cell to a first cell id of a first hyper cell. Virtual data channels, broadcast common control channel and virtual dedicated control channel, transmit point optimization, UE-centric channel sounding and measurement, and single frequency network synchronization are also disclosed.

Description

An embodiment method for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network comprises collecting data regarding network conditions of the cellular network; in accordance with the collected data, determining that a transmit point is to be added to a first hyper cell, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (ID); and changing an association of the transmit point from a second cell ID to the first cell ID, wherein at least one transmit point of a second hyper cell is associated with the second cell ID.

Optionally, in the embodiment method, the network conditions include load distribution, and the method further comprises determining that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and changing cell IDs of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network.

Optionally, in the embodiment method, the network conditions include UE distribution across the network, and the method further comprises determining that a concentration of user equipments (UEs) serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and changing cell IDs of one or more transmit points to the cell ID of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell.

Optionally, the embodiment method further comprises determining that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and turning off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs.

An embodiment apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network comprises at least one collector configured to collect data regarding network conditions of the cellular network; at least one processing unit configured to: determine that a transmit point is to be added to a first hyper cell in accordance with the collected data, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (ID); and change an association of the transmit point from a second cell ID to the first cell ID, wherein at least one transmit point of a second hyper cell is associated with the second cell ID.

Optionally, in the embodiment apparatus, the network conditions include load distribution, and the at least one processing unit is configured to determine that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and change cell IDs of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network.

Optionally, in the embodiment apparatus the network conditions include user equipment (UE) distribution across the network, and the at least one processing unit is configured to determine that a concentration of UEs serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and change cell IDs of one or more transmit points to the cell ID of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell.

Optionally, in the embodiment apparatus the at least one processing unit is configured to determine that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and turn off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs.

Optionally, in the embodiment apparatus the apparatus is a base station controlling one or more remote radio heads and the base station is adapted to dynamically change one or more cell identifier (ID) in response to changing network conditions, wherein the base station is connected to each of the one or more remote radio heads via a communication line; the one or more remote radio heads are adapted to receive and transmit radio frequency signals; the base station includes a data collector configured to collect data regarding network conditions of the cellular network; and the base station includes at least one processing unit configured to determine that a transmit point is to be added to a first hyper cell in accordance with the collected data, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell ID; and change an association of the transmit point from a second cell ID to the first cell ID, wherein at least one transmit point of a second hyper cell is associated with the second cell ID, and wherein the transmit point is a remote radio head.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded simply as an illustration of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and are contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network, the method comprising:

collecting data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, the cellular network utilizing a wireless protocol;

in accordance with the collected data, determining that a first transmit point associated with a second hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol is to be added to a first hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (id); and

changing an association of the first transmit point from a second cell id to the first cell id, wherein at least one transmit point of the second hyper cell is associated with the second cell id.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network conditions include load distribution, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

changing cell ids of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network conditions include UE distribution across the network, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining that a concentration of user equipments (UEs) serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and

changing cell ids of one or more transmit points to the cell id of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and

turning off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs.

5. An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:

at least one collector configured to collect data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, the cellular network configured to utilize a wireless protocol;

at least one processing unit configured to:

determine that a first transmit point associated with a second hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol is to be added to a first hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol in accordance with the collected data, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (id); and

change an association of the first transmit point from a second cell id to the first cell id, wherein at least one transmit point of the second hyper cell is associated with the second cell id.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the network conditions include load distribution, and the at least one processing unit is configured to:

determine that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

change cell ids of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the network conditions include user equipment (UE) distribution across the network, and the at least one processing unit is configured to:

determine that a concentration of UEs serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and

change cell ids of one or more transmit points to the cell id of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured to:

determine that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and

turn off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs.

9. An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:

at least one collector configured to collect data regarding network conditions of the cellular network;

at least one processing unit configured to:

determine that a transmit point is to be added to a first hyper cell in accordance with the collected data, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (id); and

change an association of the transmit point from a second cell id to the first cell id, wherein at least one transmit point of a second hyper cell is associated with the second cell id,

wherein the apparatus is a base station controlling one or more remote radio heads and wherein the base station is adapted to dynamically change one or more cell identifier (id) in response to changing network conditions, wherein:

the base station is connected to each of the one or more remote radio heads via a communication line; and

the one or more remote radio heads are adapted to receive and transmit radio frequency signals, and wherein the transmit point is a remote radio head.

10. A network communication system, comprising:

a first set of base stations in a first hyper cell in a cellular network, the first set of base stations associated with a first cell identifier (id) of the first hyper cell;

a second set of base stations in the cellular network, the second set of base stations associated with a second cell id of a second hyper cell; and

a supernode for configuring the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell, the supernode configured to perform operations, the operations including:

collecting data regarding network conditions of the cellular network; and

changing a first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and a second serving coverage of the second hyper cell based on the collected data, the changing comprising:

determining that a base station of the second set of base stations to be removed from the second hyper cell and to be added to the first hyper cell based on the collected data, and

changing an association of the base station from the second cell id to the first cell id based on the determining.

11. The network communication system of claim 10, wherein the first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and the second serving coverage of the second hyper cell are amorphous.

12. The network communication system of claim 10, wherein the data regarding network conditions of the cellular network includes at least one of network topology, load distribution, or UE distribution.

13. The network communication system of claim 10, the first set of base stations including a first subset of base stations and a second subset of base stations, the base station configured to be grouped in the first subset of base stations to service a first UE in the first hyper cell, and the base station configured to be grouped in the second subset of base stations to serve the first UE in response to the first UE moving to a different location of the first hyper cell.

14. The network communication system of claim 13, wherein the first subset of base stations and the second subset of base stations comprise different base stations or partially same base stations.

15. A method comprising:

collecting, by a supernode for configuring a first hyper cell and a second hyper cell in a cellular network, data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, a first set of base stations of the first hyper cell associated with a first cell identifier (id) of the first hyper cell, and a second set of base stations associated with a second cell id of the second hyper cell; and

changing, by the supernode, a first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and a second serving coverage of the second hyper cell based on the collected data, the changing comprising:

determining that a base station of the second set of base stations to be removed from the second hyper cell and to be added to the first hyper cell based on the collected data, and

changing an association of the base station from the second cell id to the first cell id based on the determining.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and the second serving coverage of the second hyper cell are amorphous.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the data regarding network conditions of the cellular network includes at least one of network topology, load distribution, or UE distribution.

18. The method of claim 15, the first set of base stations including a first subset of base stations and a second subset of base stations, the base station configured to be grouped in the first subset of base stations to service a first UE in the first hyper cell, and the base station configured to be grouped in the second subset of base stations to serve the first UE in response to the first UE moving to a different location of the first hyper cell.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first subset of base stations and the second subset of base stations comprise different base stations or partially same base stations.