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 method comprising:

receiving, by a user equipment (ue), ue-specific control information on a dedicated control channel from a first subset of transmission points within a first group of transmission points, wherein the first group of transmission points sharing a same first cell identifier (id) and forming a first hyper cell; and

receiving, by the ue, ue-specific data channel from a second subset of transmission points within the first group of transmission points, wherein the ue-specific data channel is scheduled by the ue-specific control information,

wherein the receiving the ue-specific control information comprises:

distinguishing, by the ue, the dedicated control channel by examining a ue id of the ue, wherein scrambling and reference signal location of the dedicated control channel are created in accordance with the ue id, and a reference signal sequence of the dedicated control channel is created in accordance with an index configured to the ue, and

wherein the receiving the ue-specific data channel further comprises:

distinguishing, by the ue, the ue-specific data channel by examining the ue id of the ue, wherein at least one of scrambling, a reference signal sequence, or a reference signal location of the ue-specific data channel is created in accordance with the ue id.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first subset of transmission points and the second subset of transmission points are same or different.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first subset of transmission points and the second subset of transmission points are transparent to the ue.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, by the ue from at least one transmission point of the first group of transmission points, a second cell id shared by a second group of transmission points that form a second hyper cell; and

transitioning, by the ue, from the first hyper cell to the second hyper cell in accordance with the second cell id when the ue moves from the first hyper cell to the second hyper cell.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first cell id is applied together with the ue id to distinguish at least one of the ue-specific data channel or the dedicated control channel.

15. A user equipment (ue) in a cellular network that includes a first group of transmission points, the ue comprising:

at least one processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the ue to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving ue-specific control information on a dedicated control channel from a first subset of transmission points within the first group of transmission points, wherein the first group of transmission points sharing a same first cell identifier (id) and forming a first hyper cell; and

receiving ue-specific data channel from a second subset of transmission points within the first group of transmission points, wherein the ue-specific data channel is scheduled by the ue-specific control information,

wherein the receiving the ue-specific control information comprises:

distinguishing the dedicated control channel by examining a ue id of the ue, wherein scrambling and reference signal location of the dedicated control channel are created in accordance with the ue id, and a reference signal sequence of the dedicated control channel is created in accordance with an index configured to the ue, and

wherein the receiving the ue-specific data channel further comprises:

distinguishing the ue-specific data channel by examining the ue id of the ue, wherein at least one of scrambling, a reference signal sequence, or a reference signal location of the ue-specific data channel is created in accordance with the ue id.

16. The ue of claim 15, wherein the first subset of transmission points and the second subset of transmission points are same or different.

17. The ue of claim 15, wherein the first subset of transmission points and the second subset of transmission points are transparent to the ue.

18. The ue of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

receiving, from at least one transmission point of the first group of transmission points, a second cell id shared by a second group of transmission points that form a second hyper cell; and

transitioning from the first hyper cell to the second hyper cell in accordance with the second cell id when the ue moves from the first hyper cell to the second hyper cell.

19. The ue of claim 15, wherein the first cell id is applied together with the ue id to distinguish at least one of the ue-specific data channel or the dedicated control channel.

20. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a transmit point of a first subset of transmission points to a user equipment (ue), ue-specific control information on a dedicated control channel transmitted by the first subset of transmission points within a first group of transmission points, wherein the first group of transmission points sharing a same first cell identifier (id) and forming a first hyper cell,

wherein the ue receives ue-specific data channel from a second subset of transmission points within the first group of transmission points, wherein the ue-specific data channel is scheduled by the ue-specific control information,

wherein the ue distinguishes the dedicated control channel by examining a ue id of the ue to receive the ue-specific control information, wherein scrambling and reference signal location of the dedicated control channel are created in accordance with the ue id, and a reference signal sequence of the dedicated control channel is created in accordance with an index configured to the ue, and

wherein the ue distinguishes the ue-specific data channel by examining the ue id of the ue to receive the ue-specific data channel, and wherein at least one of scrambling, a reference signal sequence, or a reference signal location of the ue-specific data channel is created in accordance with the ue id.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first subset of transmission points and the second subset of transmission points are same or different.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the first subset of transmission points and the second subset of transmission points are transparent to the ue.

23. The method of claim 20,

wherein the ue receives, from at least one transmission point of the first group of transmission points, a second cell id shared by a second group of transmission points that form a second hyper cell, and

wherein the ue transitions from the first hyper cell to the second hyper cell in accordance with the second cell id when the ue moves from the first hyper cell to the second hyper cell.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the first cell id is applied together with the ue id to distinguish at least one of the ue-specific data channel or the dedicated control channel.

25. A transmit point in a cellular network that comprises a user equipment (ue) and a first group of transmission points including the transmit point, the transmit point comprising:

at least one processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the transmit point to perform operations, the operations comprising:

transmitting, to the ue, ue-specific control information on a dedicated control channel transmitted by a first subset of transmission points including the transmit point within the first group of transmission points, wherein the first group of transmission points sharing a same first cell identifier (id) and forming a first hyper cell,

wherein the ue receives ue-specific data channel from a second subset of transmission points within the first group of transmission points, wherein the ue-specific data channel is scheduled by the ue-specific control information,

wherein the ue distinguishes the dedicated control channel by examining a ue id of the ue to receive the ue-specific control information, wherein scrambling and reference signal location of the dedicated control channel are created in accordance with the ue id, and a reference signal sequence of the dedicated control channel is created in accordance with an index configured to the ue, and

wherein the ue distinguishes the ue-specific data channel by examining the ue id of the ue to receive the ue-specific data channel, and wherein at least one of scrambling, a reference signal sequence, or a reference signal location of the ue-specific data channel is created in accordance with the ue id.

26. The transmit point of claim 25, wherein the first subset of transmission points and the second subset of transmission points are same or different.

27. The transmit point of claim 25, wherein the first subset of transmission points and the second subset of transmission points are transparent to the ue.

28. The transmit point of claim 25,

wherein the ue receives, from at least one transmission point of the first group of transmission points, a second cell id shared by a second group of transmission points that form a second hyper cell, and

wherein the ue transitions from the first hyper cell to the second hyper cell in accordance with the second cell id when the ue moves from the first hyper cell to the second hyper cell.

29. The transmit point of claim 25, wherein the first cell id is applied together with the ue id to distinguish at least one of the ue-specific data channel or the dedicated control channel.