Autonomous Infrastructure Wireless Networks

• US 20080298275A1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elvino Silveira Medina De Sousa
• Original Assignee: Elvino Silveira Medina De Sousa
• Inventors: De Sousa, Elvino Silveira Medina
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A method for deploying a cellular wireless communication network is provided. The method consists of: providing one or more micro base stations; autonomously deploying the micro base stations using a network access point linked to a cellular wireless communication network; and enabling configuration of the micro base stations to execute network operation commands from a network controller associated with the wireless communication network. Another aspect consists of enabling cooperation and network connectivity between micro base stations and other base stations, including micro base stations and large network base stations. Network connectivity to one or more cellular communication terminals associated with individuals or businesses subscribing to the cellular wireless communication network is enabled. A wireless network is also provided which is configurable to link a cellular wireless network through a high data transmission connection so as to define at least one access point between the micro base station and the wireless network. The network includes a wireless interface and receives operation commands from a network controller for configuration of micro base stations, to support the linking of cellular wireless terminals to the wireless network via the wireless interface by operation of the micro base station, as an intermediary. A corresponding system and computer readable medium is also provided

Claims

1. A method of deploying a cellular wireless communication network characterized by:

(a) providing to one or more individuals or businesses (or host entities) one or more wireless micro base stations;

(b) the one or more individuals autonomously deploying the micro base stations by connecting the micro base stations to at least one network access point linked to a fixed network, thereby enabling the configuration of the micro base stations to cooperate with a network controller associated with the cellular wireless communication network and also linked to the fixed network, the network controller being operable to send one or more network operation commands to the micro base stations; and

(c) executing the network operation commands on the micro base stations thereby providing network connectivity in a cellular zone defined by the micro base stations.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, characterized by the micro base stations cooperating with other base stations, including micro base stations and large network base stations, to provide network connectivity to one or more cellular wireless communication terminals associated with individuals or businesses subscribing to the cellular wireless communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, characterized by the micro base stations being operable to carry traffic between one or more cellular wireless communication terminals not associated with the micro base stations (or third party traffic) and the cellular wireless communication network via the fixed network, and the operation of the cellular wireless communication network providing a benefit to a host entity of the micro base station in exchange for the carriage of such third party traffic.

3. The method claimed in 1, characterized by the micro base stations utilizing a physical layer based on spread spectrum techniques with universal frequency re-use (frequency re-use cluster size equal to 1) and the network controller automatically configuring the base stations with a one or more of:

(a) a predetermined pilot signal power level;

(b) pilot signal parameters;

(c) adaptive antenna array pointing parameters; and

(d) one or more activity states for the micro base station, each activity state being associated with parameters established by the network controller, including the requirements for a change from one activity state to another.

5. A wireless communication network characterized in that the wireless communication network includes:

(a) a micro base station that;

(i) is configurable to link to a fixed network via a high data transmission connection so as to define at least one access point between the micro base station and the fixed network;

(ii) includes a wireless interface; and

(iii) is operable to receive operation commands from a network controller associated with at least one cellular wireless communication network and being linked to the fixed network so as to configure the micro base station to support network connectivity between one or more cellular wireless communication terminals via the wireless interface by operation of the micro base station, as an intermediary.

6. The wireless communication network of claim 5, characterized in that the at least one access point is connected to a high data transmission network to provide data connectivity to one or more computers linked to the micro base station.

7. The wireless communication network claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the micro base station configures automatically to connect to the fixed network and to the network controller.

8. The wireless communication network claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the micro base station is interoperable, based on operation commands from the network controller, with one or more other base stations including one or more other micro base stations or large network base stations, to provide connectivity to one or more cellular wireless communication terminals to the fixed network, as determined by the network controller.

9. The wireless communication network claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the wireless interface consists of a single unified air interface that is operable in a wide-area mode and a high bit rate or “

hot-spot”

mode, said wireless interface being configurable by the network controller to establish parameters of the operation of the micro base station in accordance with said wide-area mode and/or said “

hot-spot”

mode.

10. The wireless communication network claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the micro base station is operable to connect to the network controller by:

(a) connecting by operation of a wired interface via the fixed network to the network controller;

or

(b) connecting to another base station linked to the network controller via a point-to-point wireless link established by the wireless interface.

11. The wireless communication network claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the micro base station is operable to automatically:

(a) install a fixed network access point between the micro base station and the fixed network, (b) install a cellular access point for one or more cellular wireless communication terminals to access the fixed network as determined by the network controller, and (c) connect to the network controller.

12. The wireless communication network as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the network controller manages the interoperation between the micro base station and other linked base stations.

13. The wireless communication network as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the network controller is operable to provide operation commands based on a modulation scheme providing parameters for spread spectrum and resistance to interference, and the micro base station is operable to execute operation commands corresponding to such parameters and thereby implementing the modulation scheme.

14. The wireless communication network as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the micro base station is operable to measure a signal strength of one or more pilots corresponding to access points within a defined vicinity of the micro base station, and transmit such measurements to the network controller.

15. The wireless communication network as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the micro base station is operable to execute operation commands for establishing a pilot transmission power setting for the micro base station based on an optimization routine initiated by the network controller.

16. The wireless communication network as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the micro base station is operable to execute operation commands for determining one or more activity states for the micro base station, each activity state being associated with parameters established by the network controller, including the requirements for a change from one activity state to another.

17. The wireless communication network as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that an activity state of “

sleep mode”

is assigned to the micro base station and applied at the micro base station to reduce pilot interference, based on parameters established by the network controller.

18. The wireless communication network as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the micro base station is operable to connect to a high data transmission network consisting of one or more of the following:

(a) a Local Area Network, (b) a Wide Area Network, (c) a DSL access network, (d) a cable TV access network, or (e) a power line transmission communication network.

19. The wireless communication network as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the micro base station includes a physical layer based on spread spectrum techniques with universal frequency re-use (frequency re-use cluster size equal to 1) and the network controller automatically configures the micro base stations with a predetermined pilot signal power level, pilot signal parameters, and adaptive antenna array pointing parameters

20. A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for establishing on a server linked to a cellular wireless communication network for managing the interoperation of a plurality of base stations, the base stations including at least one micro base station, characterized in that the computer program includes:

(a) a control module that is operable to transmit one or more operation commands that are executable by the micro base stations to execute one or more of the following instructions;

(i) provide network connectivity in a cellular zone defined by the micro base station to a fixed network to one or more cellular wireless communication terminals, as determined by a network controller associated with the cellular wireless communication network; and

(ii) cooperate based on parameters defined by the network controller with other base stations, including other micro base stations and large network base stations, to provide network connectivity to one or more cellular wireless communication terminals associated with the cellular wireless communication network; and

(iii) configuring the micro base stations with a predetermined pilot signal power level, pilot signal parameters, adaptive antenna array pointing parameters, and/or one or more activity states for the micro base station, each activity state being associated with parameters established by the network controller, including the requirements for a change from one activity state to another.

21. A system for controlling a cellular wireless communication network characterized in that the system includes:

(a) a server linked to a control program, the server and control program defining a network controller;

(b) the network controller being linked to a cellular wireless communication network that includes a plurality a base stations for defining a plurality of cellular zones that support the wireless connection of cellular wireless communication terminals to the cellular wireless communication network, the base stations including one or more micro base stations that are automatically configurable to connect to the network controller via a high data transmission connection so as to define at least one access point between the micro base station and the network controller, the network controller including a control module that is operable to transmit one or more operation commands that are executable by the micro base stations to execute one or more of the following instructions;

(i) provide network connectivity in a cellular zone defined by the micro base station to one or more cellular wireless communication terminals associated with the cellular wireless communication network via a fixed network; and

(ii) co-operate based on parameters defined by the network controller with other base stations, including other micro base stations and large network base stations, to provide network connectivity to one or more cellular wireless communication terminals associated with the cellular wireless communication network; and

(iii) configuring the micro base stations with a predetermined pilot signal power level, pilot signal parameters, adaptive antenna array pointing parameters; and

/or one or more activity states for the micro base station, each activity state being associated with parameters established by the network controller, including the requirements for a change from one activity state to another.