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 sharing a first hyper cell identifier (id), wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (ids);

a second set of base stations in a second hyper cell, the second set of base stations sharing a second hyper cell id; and

a supernode configured to:

assign a first subset of base stations from the first set of base stations to form a first virtual data channel to serve a user equipment (ue) at a first location;

assign a second subset of base stations from the first set of base stations to form a second virtual data channel to serve the ue when the ue moves from the first location to a second location in the cellular network, the second subset of base stations selected based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, the data regarding the network conditions including ue distribution, wherein the first subset of base stations transmitting in the first virtual data channel and the second subset of base stations transmitting in the second virtual data channel are transparent to ue; and

select a base station from the second set of base stations based on the data regarding the network conditions of the cellular network, wherein the base station is removed from the second hyper cell and added to the first hyper cell to change a first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and a second serving coverage of the second hyper cell.

11. The network communication system of claim 10, wherein a serving coverage of the first subset of base stations and the second subset of base stations has no boundary between two adjacent base stations.

12. The network communication system of claim 10, wherein a first base station of the first subset of base stations and the second subset of base stations is without being assigned an individual cell id unique to the base station to form an individual cell for the base station.

13. The network communication system of claim 10, wherein the data regarding the network conditions of the cellular network further includes network load status.

14. The network communication system of claim 10, wherein the ue distinguishes the first virtual data channel based on a ue id associated with a data transmission.

15. The network communication system of claim 10, wherein the first set of base stations and the second set of base stations share at least one common base station.

16. The network communication system of claim 10, the supernode further configured to:

assign a third subset of base stations from the first set of base stations to form a virtual control channel to serve the ue at the first location, the third subset of base stations being different from the first subset of base stations.

17. A method comprising:

assigning, by a supernode in a network communication system, a first subset of base stations from a first set of base stations to form a first virtual data channel to serve a user equipment (ue) at a first location, the network communication system including the first set of base stations in a first hyper cell in a cellular network, the first set of base stations sharing a first hyper cell identifier (id), wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (ids), and wherein the network communication system further comprises a second set of base stations in a second hyper cell, the second set of base stations sharing a second hyper cell id;

assigning, by the supernode, a second subset of base stations from the first set of base stations to form a second virtual data channel to serve the ue when the ue moves from the first location to a second location in the cellular network, the second subset of base stations selected based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, the data regarding the network conditions including ue distribution, wherein the first subset of base stations transmitting in the first virtual data channel and the second subset of base stations transmitting in the second virtual data channel are transparent to ue; and

selecting, by the supernode, a base station from the second set of base stations based on the data regarding the network conditions of the cellular network, wherein the base station is removed from the second hyper cell and added to the first hyper cell to change a first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and a second serving coverage of the second hyper cell.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a serving coverage of the first subset of base stations and the second subset of base stations has no boundary between two adjacent base stations.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a first base station of the first subset of base stations and the second subset of base stations is without being assigned an individual cell id unique to the base station to form an individual cell for the base station.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the data regarding the network conditions of the cellular network further includes network load status.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the ue distinguishes the first virtual data channel based on a ue id associated with a data transmission.

22. The method of claim 17, the first set of base stations and the second set of base stations share at least one common base station.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

assigning, by the supernode, a third subset of base stations from the first set of base stations to form a virtual control channel to serve the ue at the first location, the third subset of base stations being different from the first subset of base stations.