Multimode wireless radio access network with distributed processing

• US 20070054684A1
• Filed: 09/03/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mayflower Communications Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mayflower Communications Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Xiao, Ferzali, Wassim
• Granted Patent: US 8,045,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/515
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A multimode Radio Access Network (RAN) for wireless communication is disclosed. The RAN separates the control signals from the data streams for their distributed processing. The control signals are transmitted between base stations and a Radio Resource Server (RRS), while the data streams are communicated between the base stations and Wireless Access Gateways (WAGs). The base station and WAG resources are managed by the RRS. Besides providing single and multiple radio mode access to a mobile user for efficient communication with other wireless communication networks, the RAN infrastructure has a high outage tolerance and can be scaled cost effectively for wider coverage and increased data traffic capacity.

Claims

1. A multimode wireless radio access network (RAN) system for accessing other communication networks comprising:

at least one base station;

each base station operating with at least one radio access mode; and

network architecture for distributed processing of the base station'"'"'s control signals and data streams.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network architecture comprises at least one Radio Resource Server (RRS).

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the network architecture further comprises at least one Wireless Access Gateway (WAG).

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each RRS is in communication with at least one WAG.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein each RRS is in communication with other RRSs.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the RRS manages the base station'"'"'s control signals and data streams.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein data streams includes multimedia signals.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the RRS operates over multiple radio modes.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the RRS manages at least one WAG'"'"'s resources and connectivity to other communication networks.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein each WAG transmits data streams of a single mode between at least one base station and other communication networks.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the WAG operates in the same radio mode as the base station.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein other communication networks includes a wireless wide area network (WWAN).

13. The system of claim 12, wherein WWAN includes UMTS.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein WWAN includes CDMA2000.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein other communication networks includes a wireless local area network (WLAN).

16. The system of claim 15, wherein WLAN includes IEEE802.11.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein WLAN includes IEEE802.16

18. A single mode wireless radio access network (RAN) system for accessing other communication networks comprising:

at least one base station; and

network architecture for distributed processing of the base station'"'"'s control signals and data streams.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the network architecture comprises at least one Radio Resource Server (RRS).

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the network architecture further comprises at least one Wireless Access Gateway (WAG).

21. The system of claim 20 wherein each RRS is in communication with at least one WAG.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein each RRS is in communication with other RRSs.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the RRS manages the base station'"'"'s control signals and data streams.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein data streams includes multimedia signals.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the RRS manages at least one WAG'"'"'s resources and connectivity to other communication networks.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein each WAG transmits data streams of a single mode between at least one base station and other communication networks.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the WAG operates in the same radio mode as the base station.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein other communication networks include a wireless wide area network (WWAN).

29. The system of claim 28, wherein WWAN includes UMTS.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein WWAN includes CDMA2000.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein other communication network includes a wireless local area network (WLAN).

32. The system of claim 31, wherein WLAN includes IEEE802.11.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein WLAN includes IEEE802.16.

34. A wireless radio access network (RAN) system comprising:

at least one base station;

and means for the distributed processing of at least one base station'"'"'s control signals and data streams for communicating with other wireless radio networks.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein data streams includes multimedia signals.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein other communication network is a wireless wide area network (WWAN).

37. The system of claim 36, wherein WWAN includes UMTS.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein WWAN includes CDMA2000.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein other communication network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

40. The system of claim 39, wherein WLAN includes IEEE802.11.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein WLAN includes IEEE802.16.

42. A method for wireless radio access comprising the steps of:

separating the control signals from the data streams for at least one base station operating in at least one radio mode;

communicating the control signals between at least one base station and a Radio Resource Server (RRS) operating over at least one radio mode;

transmitting the data streams between at least one base station and at least one Wireless Access Gateway (WAG) operating in the radio mode of said base station;

controlling the base station and WAG using the RRS; and

processing the WAG data streams for wireless communication with other communication networks.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the RRS manages the base station'"'"'s control signals and data streams.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the RRS manages at least one WAG'"'"'s resources and connectivity.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein each WAG transfers data streams of a single mode for at least one base station.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein each WAG operates at a selected radio mode.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein data streams includes multimedia signals.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein other communication networks includes a wireless wide area network (WWAN).

49. The method of claim 48, wherein WWAN includes UMTS.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein WWAN includes CDMA2000.

51. The method of claim 42, wherein other communication networks includes a wireless local area network (WLAN).

52. The method of claim 51, wherein WLAN includes IEEE802.11.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein WLAN includes IEEE802.16.

54. A method for distributed processing of signals in a wireless radio access network (RAN) comprising:

communicating the control signals between at least one base station and a Radio Resource Receiver (RRS);

transmitting the data streams between at least one base station and at least one Wireless Access Gateway (WAG);

and separately processing the distributed WAG data stream.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein data streams includes multimedia signals.

56. A method of handover of user equipment from one access mode to another comprising the steps of:

Radio Resource Server (RRS) decision to switch the radio access mode based on signals at the user equipment;

RRS selection of a wireless access gateway (WAG);

RRS control of base station and WAG resources, and

RRS command to user equipment for committing radio resources for the new access mode.

57. The method of handover claim 57, wherein RRS selection of a WAG includes RRS communication with a core network.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein RRS control includes dynamic allocation of resources.