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 system, comprising:

a base station associated with a first hyper cell and a second hyper cell, wherein the first hyper cell comprises a first plurality of base stations including the base station and sharing a first cell identifier (id), and the second hyper cell comprises a second plurality of base stations including the base station and sharing a second cell id,

the base station associated with the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell configured to:

transmit a first synchronization channel associated with the first hyper cell in the first hyper cell to a first user equipment (ue); and

transmit a second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell in the second hyper cell to a second ue, the first synchronization channel associated with the first hyper cell and the second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell being carried in a single frequency network by applying frequency division multiplexing (FDM).

11. The network system of claim 10, wherein the base station is located in an overlapped coverage area of the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

12. The network system of claim 10, wherein the base station is assigned to the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell at different times, frequencies, or spatial directions.

13. The network system of claim 10, wherein a resource of the base station is shared by the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

14. The network system of claim 10, wherein the first cell id is unique to the first hyper cell, and the second cell id is unique to the second hyper cell.

15. A method, comprising:

transmitting, by a base station in a network system, a first synchronization channel associated with a first hyper cell in the first hyper cell to a first user equipment (ue), the base station associated with the first hyper cell and a second hyper cell, wherein the first hyper cell comprises a first plurality of base stations including the base station and sharing a first cell identifier (id), and the second hyper cell comprises a second plurality of base stations including the base station and sharing a second cell id; and

transmitting, by the base station, a second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell in the second hyper cell to a second ue, the first synchronization channel associated with the first hyper cell and the second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell being carried in a single frequency network by applying frequency division multiplexing (FDM).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the base station is located in an overlapped coverage area of the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the base station is assigned to the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell at different times, frequencies, or spatial directions.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a resource of the base station is shared by the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first cell id is unique to the first hyper cell, and the second cell id is unique to the second hyper cell.

20. A base station that is one of a first plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell and is one of a second plurality of base stations of a second hyper cell, the base station comprising:

at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

transmit a first synchronization channel associated with a the first hyper cell in the first hyper cell to a first user equipment (ue); and

transmit a second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell in the second hyper cell to a second ue, the first synchronization channel associated with the first hyper cell and the second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell being carried in a single frequency network by applying frequency division multiplexing (FDM),

wherein the base station shares a first cell identifier (id) with other base stations of the first plurality of base stations, and wherein the base station shares a second cell id with other base stations of the second plurality of base stations.

21. The base station of claim 20, wherein the base station is located in an overlapped coverage area of the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

22. The base station of claim 20, wherein the base station is assigned to the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell at different times, frequencies, or spatial directions.

23. The base station of claim 20, wherein a resource of the base station is shared by the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

24. The base station of claim 20, wherein the first cell id is unique to the first hyper cell, and the second cell id is unique to the second hyper cell.

25. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an apparatus from a base station in a network system, a first synchronization channel associated with a first hyper cell in the first hyper cell, the base station associated with the first hyper cell and a second hyper cell, wherein the first hyper cell comprises a first plurality of base stations including the base station and sharing a first cell identifier (id), and the second hyper cell comprises a second plurality of base stations including the base station and sharing a second cell id; and

receiving, by the apparatus from the base station, a second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell in the second hyper cell, the first synchronization channel associated with the first hyper cell and the second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell being carried in a single frequency network by applying frequency division multiplexing (FDM).

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the base station is located in an overlapped coverage area of the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the base station is assigned to the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell at different times, frequencies, or spatial directions.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein a resource of the base station is shared by the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the first cell id is unique to the first hyper cell, and the second cell id is unique to the second hyper cell.

30. An apparatus that is in a first hyper cell including a first plurality of base stations and in a second hyper cell including a second plurality of base stations, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive, from a base station in a network system, a first synchronization channel associated with the first hyper cell in the first hyper cell; and

receive, from the base station, a second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell in the second hyper cell, the first synchronization channel associated with the first hyper cell and the second synchronization channel associated with the second hyper cell being carried in a single frequency network by applying frequency division multiplexing (FDM),

wherein the first plurality of base stations includes the base station, wherein the second plurality of base stations includes the base station, wherein the base station shares a first cell identifier (id) with other base stations of the first plurality of base stations, and wherein the base station shares a second cell id with other base stations of the second plurality of base stations.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the base station is located in an overlapped coverage area of the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the base station is assigned to the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell at different times, frequencies, or spatial directions.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein a resource of the base station is shared by the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first cell id is unique to the first hyper cell, and the second cell id is unique to the second hyper cell.