Resource allocation amongst parties sharing the same radio access network
First Claim
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1. A method in a base station of allocating resources of a cell served by the base station among a plurality of operators sharing the cell resources, the method comprising:
- measuring cell resource utilization of each of a plurality of operators sharing the cell;
receiving from a central node serving at least the base station, a resource allocation request instructing the base station to reallocate the cell resources among the plurality of operators;
allocating cell resources among the plurality of operators according to the resource allocation request received from the central node, the allocation being configured such that cell resource utilization for an operator of the plurality of operators is allowed to exceed a corresponding cell resource utilization quota only for a specified service.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for allocating resources of a cell served by a base station among a plurality of operators sharing the cell resources are disclosed. One embodiment is a method including receiving from a central node serving at least the base station, a resource allocation request instructing the base station to reallocate the cell resources among the plurality of operators. The method further includes allocating cell resources among the plurality of operators according to the resource allocation request received from the central node.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method in a base station of allocating resources of a cell served by the base station among a plurality of operators sharing the cell resources, the method comprising:
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measuring cell resource utilization of each of a plurality of operators sharing the cell; receiving from a central node serving at least the base station, a resource allocation request instructing the base station to reallocate the cell resources among the plurality of operators; allocating cell resources among the plurality of operators according to the resource allocation request received from the central node, the allocation being configured such that cell resource utilization for an operator of the plurality of operators is allowed to exceed a corresponding cell resource utilization quota only for a specified service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method in a resource allocation controller of determining a cell resource utilization of a cell of a base station, the cell being shared by a plurality of operators, the method comprising:
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receiving a current cell resource utilization by each of the plurality of operators; assigning cell resource utilization quotas per each of the plurality of operators based on cell resource utilization policies; comparing the current cell resource utilization to the assigned cell resource utilization quotas to determine whether to initiate a cell resource utilization reallocation of cell resources among the plurality of operators; and reallocating cell resources based on at least one cell resource utilization policy, the reallocation being configured such that cell resource utilization for an operator of the plurality of operators is allowed to exceed a corresponding cell resource utilization quota only for a specified service. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A resource allocation controller, RAC, comprising:
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a communication interface configured to receive cell resource utilizations from a base station and to transmit cell resource utilization reallocations to the base station; a processor, the processor being configured to compare an assigned cell resource utilization quota to a cell utilization quota requested by an operator of the plurality of operators; and a memory configured to store; current cell resource utilization by each of a plurality of operators sharing resources of a cell; assigned cell resource utilization quotas per each of the plurality of operators based on cell resource utilization policies; and the memory further configured to contain instructions executable by the processor to configure the processor to; compare current cell resource utilization to assigned cell resource utilization quotas to determine whether to initiate a cell resource utilization reallocation of cell resources among the plurality of operators, the reallocation being configured such that cell resource utilization for an operator of the plurality of operators is allowed to exceed a corresponding cell resource utilization quota only for a specified service. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A resource allocation controller, RAC, comprising:
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a communication interface configured to receive cell resource utilizations from a base station and to transmit cell resource utilization reallocations to the base station; a processor, the processor being configured to reallocate cell resources based on a determination of unused cell resources; a memory configured to store; current cell resource utilization by each of a plurality of operators sharing resources of a cell; assigned cell resource utilization quotas per each of the plurality of operators based on cell resource utilization policies; and the memory further configured to contain instructions executable by the processor to configure the processor to; compare current cell resource utilization to assigned cell resource utilization quotas to determine whether to initiate a cell resource utilization reallocation of cell resources among the plurality of operators, the reallocation being configured such that cell resource utilization for an operator of the plurality of operators is allowed to exceed a corresponding cell resource utilization quota only for a specified service. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A resource allocation controller, RAC, comprising:
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a communication interface module configured to receive cell resource utilizations from a base station serving a cell having resources shared by a plurality of operators and to transmit cell resource utilization reallocations to the base station; a cell resource utilization quota assignment module configured to assign cell resource utilization quotas per each of the plurality of operators based on cell resource utilization policies; a cell resource utilization comparison module configured to compare current cell resource utilization to assigned cell resource utilization quotas to determine whether to initiate a cell resource utilization reallocation of cell resources among the plurality of operators; and a processor configured to; reallocate cell resources based on at least one cell resource utilization policy, the reallocation being configured such that cell resource utilization for an operator of the plurality of operators is allowed to exceed a corresponding cell resource utilization quota only for a specified service.
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20. A base station serving a cell and configured for communication with a central node, the base station comprising:
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a communication interface configured to receive cell resource utilization quotas from the central node and to transmit cell resource utilizations to the central node; a processor; and a memory configured to store; measured cell resource utilizations; and assigned cell resource utilization quotas; the memory further configured to contain instructions executable by the processor to configure the processor to; measure cell resource utilizations of a plurality of operators sharing cell resources; allocate cell resources among the plurality of operators according to cell resource utilization quotas; receive assigned cell resource utilization quotas from a resource allocation controller and to report measured cell resource utilizations to the resource allocation controller; receive assigned cell resource utilization quotas from a resource allocation controller and to report measured cell resource utilizations to the resource allocation controller; renegotiate allocation quotas based on requests for cell resources from at least one of a plurality of operators, the renegotiated allocation quotas being based on at least one cell resource utilization policy.
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21. A base station serving a cell and configured for communication with a central node, the base station comprising:
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a performance measurement module configured to measure cell resource utilization of each of a plurality of operators sharing the cell, cell resource utilization including S1 interface signaling load per operator; and a cell resource allocation module configured to allocate cell resources among the plurality of sharing operators according to cell resource utilization quotas; a communication interface module to receive assigned cell resource utilization quotas from a resource allocation controller and to report measured cell resource utilizations to the resource allocation controller; and a quota renegotiation module configured to reallocate cell resources based on; requests for cell resources from at least one of the plurality of operators; and at least one cell resource utilization policy; and the reallocation being configured such that cell resource utilization for an operator of the plurality of operators is allowed to exceed a corresponding cell resource utilization quota only for a specified service. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification