Methods and apparatus for optimization of femtocell network management
First Claim
1. A method of placing a femtocell of a wireless network into a self-coordinated mode of operation, the method comprising:
- signaling a plurality of parameters to the femtocell, wherein each of the plurality of parameters comprises an operating value for the parameter and wherein at least one of the parameters comprises a range of operating values;
wherein the femtocell performs one or more radio operations in the self-coordinated mode of operation using the plurality of parameters and the corresponding operating values without further exchanges with the network;
wherein, the self-coordinated mode of operation for the femtocell enables the femtocell to dynamically alter the one or more radio operations, in response to a change in the wireless network that decreases the quality of service between a UE and the femtocell, constrained at least in part by the range of operating values for the at least one of the parameters without further exchanges with the network;
wherein, when the plurality of parameters comprises a temporal parameter with a maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation, an expiration of the maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation triggers the femtocell to request an update of the temporal parameter from the network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus that reduce network management overhead required for the operation of wireless femtocells. In one aspect of the invention, a central network entity governs the simultaneous operation of several femtocells by specifying modes of operation, and operational parameters for one or more of the femtocells. In one embodiment, at least one of the specified modes of operation directs a femtocell to operate in a substantially autonomous manner within the network-defined operational parameters. The network-defined constraints are provided to the femtocell for example, responsive to a successful registration attempt.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of placing a femtocell of a wireless network into a self-coordinated mode of operation, the method comprising:
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signaling a plurality of parameters to the femtocell, wherein each of the plurality of parameters comprises an operating value for the parameter and wherein at least one of the parameters comprises a range of operating values; wherein the femtocell performs one or more radio operations in the self-coordinated mode of operation using the plurality of parameters and the corresponding operating values without further exchanges with the network; wherein, the self-coordinated mode of operation for the femtocell enables the femtocell to dynamically alter the one or more radio operations, in response to a change in the wireless network that decreases the quality of service between a UE and the femtocell, constrained at least in part by the range of operating values for the at least one of the parameters without further exchanges with the network; wherein, when the plurality of parameters comprises a temporal parameter with a maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation, an expiration of the maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation triggers the femtocell to request an update of the temporal parameter from the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of determining a plurality of parameters for a self-coordinated mode of operation for a newly deployed femtocell, the method comprising:
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determining a number of active femtocells in a vicinity of the newly deployed femtocell associated with a first wireless network operator; determining a network load parameter; determining whether a given frequency spectrum is shared by other wireless network operators; calculating the plurality of parameters based on the number of active femtocells, the network load parameter, and whether the given frequency spectrum is shared by other wireless network operators; transmitting the plurality of parameters to the newly deployed femtocell enabling operation for the newly deployed femtocell within a coverage area of the number of active femtocells, wherein each of the plurality of parameters comprises an operating value for the parameter and wherein at least one of the parameters comprises a range of operating values; wherein the femtocell performs one or more radio operations in the self-coordinated mode of operation using the plurality of parameters and the corresponding operating values without further exchanges with the network; wherein, the self-coordinated mode of operation for the femtocell enables the femtocell to dynamically alter the one or more radio operations, in response to a change in the wireless network that decreases the quality of service between a UE and the femtocell, constrained at least in part by the range of operating values for the at least one of the parameters without further exchanges with the network; wherein, when the plurality of parameters comprises a temporal parameter with a maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation, an expiration of the maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation triggers the femtocell to request an update of the temporal parameter from the network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A femtocell comprising:
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a processing device in data communication with a memory; a wireless subsystem; a network interface subsystem configured to communicate with a central network entity of a wireless network; and a plurality of executable instructions resident within the memory that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to; receive a plurality of parameters from the central network entity via the network interface subsystem, wherein each of the plurality of parameters comprises an operating value for the parameter and wherein at least one of the parameters comprises a range of operating values; autonomously select a frequency part and a size for the operation of the femtocell apparatus based at least in part on the received plurality of parameters; enable the self-coordinated mode of operation based on the selected frequency part and size for the femtocell apparatus, wherein the femtocell performs one or more radio operations in a self-coordinated mode of operation using the plurality of parameters and the corresponding operating values without further exchanges with the network; wherein, the femtocell is configured to dynamically alter the one or more radio operations, in response to a change in the wireless network that decreases the quality of service between a UE and the femtocell, constrained at least in part by the range of operating values for the at least one of the parameters without further exchanges with the network; wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a temporal parameter with a maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation, wherein upon an expiration of the maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation, the instructions cause the processor to; request an update of the temporal parameter from the central network entity via the network interface subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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14. A method of operating a femtocell in a self-coordinated mode, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of parameters from a central network entity of a wireless network, wherein each of the plurality of parameters comprises an operating value for the parameter and wherein at least one of the parameters comprises a range of operating values; selecting one or more radio resources for femtocell operation based at least in part on the received plurality of parameters and the corresponding operating values; and responsive to a change in the wireless network that decreases the quality of service between a UE and the femtocell, re-selecting a one or more radio resources for femtocell operation based at least in part on the received plurality of parameters and the corresponding operating values and wherein occurs without further exchanges with the central network entity; wherein, when the plurality of parameters comprises a temporal parameter with a maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation, an expiration of the maximum allowed duration for the self-coordinated mode of operation triggers the femtocell to request an update of the temporal parameter from the network.
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Specification