State change enabled by a hierarchical class of a radio access network device

• US 10,375,631 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2019
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sukumaran, Jayesh, Orloff, David, Reiger, Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US16/239,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20190159125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/18 TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Enabling a changing of a state of a device based on a hierarchical class of the device is disclosed. Non-macro radio access network (RAN) devices can be comprised in a network connected to a macro RAN device via a gateway RAN device. The gateway RAN device can be connected to a field RAN device via an intermediate RAN device. A state of a field RAN device can be altered based on a criterion. In an embodiment the criterion can be use of the hierarchical class of the RAN device, e.g., a field class RAN device, by an active or idle UE. In an embodiment the criterion can be use, by an active or idle UE, of another RAN device that is a logical neighbor to the field RAN device. Altering the state can result in a power savings or improved interference characteristics of the network.

Claims

1. A field radio access network device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

enabling access to a parameter of the field radio access network device by a controller device; and

in response to receiving an indication from the controller device, changing a state of the field radio access network device, wherein the changing the state of the field radio access network device is based on a first field radio access network device relationship between the field radio access network device and a gateway radio access network device comprising a gateway neighbor relationship with a macro radio access network device, a second field radio access network device relationship between the field radio access network device and an intermediate radio access network device comprising an intermediate neighbor relationship with the gateway radio access network device, and a third field radio access network device relationship between the field radio access network device and a user equipment that is not affiliated with the field radio access network device and is not affiliated with a neighbor radio access network device that is a neighbor to the field radio access network device.

2. The field radio access network device of claim 1, wherein the changing the state of the field radio access network device results in altering a power state of the field radio access network device.

3. The field radio access network device of claim 1, wherein the changing the state of the field radio access network device results in the field radio access network device transmitting a different amount of radio frequency energy than before the initiating the state transition.

4. The field radio access network device of claim 1, wherein the controller device is comprised in the field radio access network device.

5. The field radio access network device of claim 1, wherein the controller device is comprised in a device other than the field radio access network device.

6. The field radio access network device of claim 5, wherein the field radio access network device is a first field radio access network device, and wherein the device other than the first field radio access network device controls a second field radio access network device.

7. The field radio access network device of claim 6, wherein the second field radio access network device comprises the controller device.

8. The field radio access network device of claim 6, wherein the second field radio access network device does not comprise the controller device.

9. A controller device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

accessing a parameter of a field radio access network device; and

causing the field radio access network device to undergo a state change, wherein the state change is based on a first field radio access network device relationship between the field radio access network device and a gateway radio access network device comprising a gateway neighbor relationship with a macro radio access network device, a second field radio access network device relationship between the field radio access network device and an intermediate radio access network device comprising an intermediate neighbor relationship with the gateway radio access network device, and a third field radio access network device relationship between the field radio access network device and a user equipment that is not affiliated with the field radio access network device and is not affiliated with a neighbor radio access network device that is a neighbor to the field radio access network device.

10. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the state change results in altering power consumed by the field radio access network device.

11. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the state change results in transmitting a different amount of radio frequency energy via the field radio access network device than before the state change.

12. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the controller device is comprised in a gateway radio access network device.

13. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the controller device is comprised in a macro radio access network device.

14. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the field radio access network device is a first field radio access network device, and wherein the controller device is comprised in a second field radio access network device.

15. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the field radio access network device is a first field radio access network device, and wherein the controller device further controls a second field radio access network device.

16. A method, comprising:

in response to receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a parameter of a field radio access network device, determining a first field radio access network device relationship between the field radio access network device and a gateway radio access network device comprising a gateway neighbor relationship with a macro radio access network device, a second field radio access network device relationship between the field radio access network device and an intermediate radio access network device comprising an intermediate neighbor relationship with the gateway radio access network device, and a third field radio access network device relationship between the field radio access network device and a user equipment that is not affiliated with the field radio access network device and is not affiliated with a neighbor radio access network device that is a neighbor to the field radio access network device; and

triggering, by the system, a state change of the field radio access network device based on the first field radio access network device relationship, the second field radio access network device relationship, and the third field radio access network device relationship.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the state change causes the field radio access network device to consume a different amount of power than before the state change.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the state change causes the field radio access network device to generate a different amount of radio frequency energy than before the state change.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the system comprising the processor is comprised in a gateway radio access network device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the system comprising the processor is comprised in a device located remotely from the field radio access network device.