Hitless software upgrade for a virtualized gateway coordinating multiple small cell radio access networks
First Claim
1. A method of upgrading an access controller that controls and coordinates a plurality of radio nodes (RNs) each associated with a cell in a cluster of cells belonging to a radio access network, comprising:
- (a) initializing a new access controller that is to replace a current access controller currently controlling and coordinating the plurality of radio nodes (RNs) each associated with the cell in the cluster of cells;
(b) causing all user equipments (UEs) currently attached to an RN identified to be the most lightly loaded to be handed off to a neighboring cell in the cluster;
(c) after all the UEs have been handed off from the identified RN, rebooting the identified RN so that it is being controlled and coordinated by the new access controller; and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for a second one of the plurality of RNs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for upgrading an access controller that controls and coordinates a plurality of radio nodes (RNs) each associated with a cell in a cluster of cells belonging to a radio access network includes initializing a new access controller. The new access controller is to replace a current access controller currently controlling and coordinating the plurality of RNs cell in the cluster. A most lightly loaded one of the plurality of RNs is identified. All UEs currently attached to the identified RN is caused to be handed off to a neighboring cell in the cluster. After all the UEs have been handed-off from the identified RN, the identified RN is rebooted so that it is being controlled and coordinated by the new access controller. The steps of causing the UEs to be handed-off and rebooting the identified RN are repeated for a second one of the plurality of RNs.
41 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of upgrading an access controller that controls and coordinates a plurality of radio nodes (RNs) each associated with a cell in a cluster of cells belonging to a radio access network, comprising:
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(a) initializing a new access controller that is to replace a current access controller currently controlling and coordinating the plurality of radio nodes (RNs) each associated with the cell in the cluster of cells; (b) causing all user equipments (UEs) currently attached to an RN identified to be the most lightly loaded to be handed off to a neighboring cell in the cluster; (c) after all the UEs have been handed off from the identified RN, rebooting the identified RN so that it is being controlled and coordinated by the new access controller; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for a second one of the plurality of RNs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for upgrading an access controller that controls and coordinates a plurality of radio nodes (RNs) each associated with a cell in a cluster of cells, comprising:
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a first access controller configured to control the plurality of RNs at a first time period; and a second access controller, wherein at least one of the first access controller and the second access controller is configured to; identify a most lightly loaded one of the plurality of RNs; cause all user equipments (UEs) currently attached to the identified RN to be handed off to a neighboring cell in the cluster; and after all the UEs have been handed off from the identified RN, reboot the identified RN so that it is being controlled and coordinated by the second access controller, wherein the first access controller is decommissioned after all of the plurality of RNs have been rebooted so that they are being controlled and coordinated by the second access controller. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for upgrading an access controller that controls and coordinates a plurality of radio nodes (RNs) each associated with a cell in a cluster of cells, comprising:
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a first access controller configured to control the plurality of RNs at a first time period; and a second access controller configured to control the plurality of RNs at a second time period, wherein at least one of the first access controller and the second access controller is configured to; identify a most lightly loaded one of the plurality of RNs; cause all user equipments (UEs) currently attached to the identified RN to be handed off to a neighboring cell in the cluster; after all the UEs have been handed off from the identified RN, reboot the identified RN; and cause software used by the second access controller to control and coordinate the identified RN to be downloaded to the identified RN. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A system for upgrading an access controller that controls and coordinates a plurality of radio nodes (RNs) each associated with a cell in a cluster of cells, comprising:
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a first access controller configured to control the plurality of RNs at a first time period; and a second access controller configured to control the plurality of RNs at a second time period, wherein at least one of the first access controller and the second access controller is configured to; cause all user equipments (UEs) currently attached to an identified most lightly loaded RN of the plurality of RNs to be handed off to a neighboring cell in the cluster; and after all the UEs have been handed off from the identified RN, reboot the identified RN so that it is being controlled by the second access controller. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification