Enhanced features for a gateway coordinating multiple small cell radio access networks
First Claim
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1. A gateway through which a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) communicate with a packet core network, comprising:
- a plurality of access controller modules to which as least one RAN is assigned, at least one of the plurality of access controller modules being configured to control the at least one RAN assigned thereto;
a core network (CN) aggregator module configured as a single interface for communication between the plurality of access controller modules and the packet core network;
a mobility anchor module at which all data plane traffic between user equipment (UE) devices attached to one of the plurality of RANs and the packet core network terminate; and
a cluster manager module for assigning radio nodes (RNs) to the plurality of access controller modules and transferring RN assignments from one access controller module to a different access controller module under specified circumstances,wherein each of the plurality of access controller modules further includes an event detector configured to monitor for and detect anomalous and other events that occur across different ones of the RNs.
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Abstract
A method of coordinating a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) includes aggregating, with a gateway, communications interfaces between a plurality of RANs and a packet core network through the gateway. A plurality of radio nodes (RNs) in each of the RANs is communicatively coupled to the gateway and to user equipment (UE) devices associated with the RNs in each of the RANs. The gateway also controls and coordinates mobility of the UE devices within and among the RANs.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A gateway through which a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) communicate with a packet core network, comprising:
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a plurality of access controller modules to which as least one RAN is assigned, at least one of the plurality of access controller modules being configured to control the at least one RAN assigned thereto; a core network (CN) aggregator module configured as a single interface for communication between the plurality of access controller modules and the packet core network; a mobility anchor module at which all data plane traffic between user equipment (UE) devices attached to one of the plurality of RANs and the packet core network terminate; and a cluster manager module for assigning radio nodes (RNs) to the plurality of access controller modules and transferring RN assignments from one access controller module to a different access controller module under specified circumstances, wherein each of the plurality of access controller modules further includes an event detector configured to monitor for and detect anomalous and other events that occur across different ones of the RNs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A gateway through which a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) communicate with a packet core network, comprising:
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a plurality of access controller modules to which as least one RAN is assigned, the plurality of access controller modules being configured to control the at least one RAN assigned thereto; a core network (CN) aggregator module configured as a single interface for all communication between the plurality of access controller modules and the packet core network; a mobility anchor module at which data plane traffic between user equipment (UE) devices attached to one of the plurality of RANs and the packet core network terminate; and a cluster manager module for assigning radio nodes (RNs) to the plurality of access controller modules and transferring RN assignments from one access controller module to a different access controller module, wherein at least one of the plurality of access controller modules includes an encoder for compressing data packets in upstream user traffic to remove redundancies therein and the CN aggregator module includes a decoder. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A gateway through which a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) communicate with a packet core network, comprising:
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a plurality of access controller modules to which as least one RAN is assigned, each of the plurality of access controller modules being configured to control the at least one RAN assigned thereto; a core network (CN) aggregator module configured as a single interface for communication between the plurality of access controller modules and the packet core network; a mobility anchor module at which data plane traffic between user equipment (UE) devices attached to one of the plurality of RANs and the packet core network terminate; and a cluster manager module for assigning radio nodes (RNs) to the plurality of access controller modules and transferring RN assignments from one access controller module to a different access controller module under specified circumstances, wherein the CN aggregator module includes an encoder for compressing data packets in downstream user traffic destined for a common access controller module of the plurality of access controller modules. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A gateway through which a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) communicate with a packet core network, comprising:
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a plurality of access controller modules to which as least one RAN is assigned, at least one of the plurality of access controller modules being configured to control the at least one RAN assigned thereto; a core network (CN) aggregator module configured as a single interface for communication between the plurality of access controller modules and the packet core network; a mobility anchor module at which data plane traffic between user equipment (UE) devices attached to one of the plurality of RANs and the packet core network terminate; and a cluster manager module for assigning radio nodes (RNs) to the plurality of access controller modules and transferring RN assignments from one access controller module to a different access controller module, wherein at least one access controller module of the plurality of access controller modules controlling a first RAN of the plurality of RANs in which a first RN of the plurality of RNs is located is configured such that when IP connectivity to the first RN has been lost the at least one access controller module causes at least a second RN of the plurality of RNs to transmit an over-the-air diagnostic signal to the first RN. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification