Method and apparatus for automatic configuration of wireless communication networks

• US 20060203746A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Vassilovski, Dan, Maggenti, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,888,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

Method and apparatus for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network provides for receiving information from at least one node indicating a change in the network and automatically reconfiguring the network based on the received information. In another embodiment, a method for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network, including at least one node that includes wireless infrastructure resources, includes determining availability of a resource at a node operating in the network and automatically configuring the network based on the availability of the resource such that the network operates properly and/or efficiently.

Claims

1. A method for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network including a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

receiving information from at least one node indicating a change in the network; and

automatically reconfiguring the network based on the received information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said change comprises addition of a node to the network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said change comprises relocation of a node within the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said change comprises disruption of a node within the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said change comprises a change in a resource on a node within the network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said change comprises a change in load on a node within the network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said reconfiguring comprises reconfiguring a network parameter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said network parameter comprises a handoff parameter.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said network parameter comprises a neighbor list for a node in the network.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said network parameter comprises an PN offset for identifying a node in the network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said reconfiguring comprises reconfiguring radiated power at a node within the network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said reconfiguring comprises reconfiguring antenna characteristics at a node within the network .

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said reconfiguring comprises enabling a node in the network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said reconfiguring comprises disabling a node in the network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said reconfiguring comprises adding a resource to the network.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said reconfiguring comprises reassigning a resource in the network.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises receiving multicast information.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises receiving broadcast information.

19. A computer-readable medium storing means for enabling a processor to perform a method for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network including a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

receiving information from at least one indicating a change in the network; and

automatically reconfiguring the network based on the received information.

20. An apparatus for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network including a plurality of nodes, comprising:

means for receiving information indicating a change in the network; and

means for automatically reconfiguring the network based on the received information.

21. An apparatus for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network including a plurality of nodes, comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving information;

a transmitter capable of transmitting information; and

a processor capable of carrying out a method for automatically reconfiguring the wireless communication network, the method comprising;

receiving information from at least one indicating a change in the network; and

automatically reconfiguring the network based on the received information.

22. A method for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network, including at least one node that comprises at least one wireless infrastructure resource;

the method comprising;

determining availability of a resource on a node operating in the network; and

automatically reconfiguring the network based on the availability of the resource.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said resource comprises one of BTS, BSC, and MSC.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said resource comprises connectivity to an external resource.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said reconfiguring comprises choosing one MSC to support a plurality of BSCs within said network.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said reconfiguring comprises choosing one or more MSCs to share support for a plurality of BSCs within said network.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said reconfiguring comprises choosing one BSC to support a plurality of BTSs within said network.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein said reconfiguring comprises choosing one or more BSCs to share support for a plurality of BTSs within said network.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein said determining the availability comprises determining that a node is added to the network.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said reconfiguring comprises using a resource on the added node.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein said network comprises only one node and said reconfiguring comprises using all required resources of the node.

32. A computer-readable medium storing means for enabling a processor to perform a method for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network, including at least one node that comprises at least one wireless infrastructure resource;

the method comprising;

determining availability of a resource at a node operating in the network; and

automatically configuring the network based on the availability of the resource.

33. An apparatus for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network, including at least one node that comprises at least one wireless infrastructure resource;

comprising;

means for determining availability of a resource at a node operating in the network; and

means for automatically configuring the network based on the availability of the resources.

34. An apparatus for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network, including at least one node that comprises at least one wireless infrastructure resource;

comprising;

a receiver capable of receiving information;

a transmitter capable of transmitting information; and

a processor capable of carrying out a method for automatically reconfiguring a wireless communication network, the method comprising;

determining availability of a resource at a node operating in the network; and

automatically configuring the network based on the availability of the resources.

35. A method for automatically configuring a node in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

receiving forward link communication from at least a first node operating in the network;

determining operational information related to the network based on the received communication; and

forwarding the operational information to at least a second node operating in the network, such that the second node may configure itself based on the received operational information.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said operational information comprises received power level of the second node at the first node.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said operational information comprises change in the capability of the second node.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said operational information comprises an PN-Offset of the second node.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein said second node configures its radiated power.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said second node configures its PN-Offset.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein said operational information comprises handoff parameters of the first node.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said second node configures its handoff parameters.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein said operational information comprises neighbor lists of the first node.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said second node configures its neighbor lists.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein said operational information comprises operating frequencies and codes of the first node.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said second node configures its operating frequencies and codes.

47. The method of claim 35, wherein said operational information comprises at least one antenna configuration of the first node.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said second node configures its antenna configuration.