Auto-discovery and management of base station neighbors in wireless networks

• US 20090052350A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Liang, Tyagi, Anshuman
• Granted Patent: US 8,687,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that include determining a local node configuration for a local network node. The local network node configuration can include a local range and a local location. In addition, these systems and methods can include receiving a remote network node configuration for a remote network node via a communications link. The remote network node configuration can include a remote range and a remote location. Also these systems and methods can further include generating a neighbor list that includes the remote network node and the local network node. The neighbor list can be determined using the local network node configuration and the remote network node configuration.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a local node configuration for a local network node, wherein the local network node configuration comprises a local range and a local location;

receiving via a communications link a remote network node configuration for a remote network node, wherein the remote network node configuration comprises a remote range and a remote location; and

generating a neighbor list comprising the remote network node and the local network node, wherein the neighbor list is determined using the local network node configuration and the remote network node configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the node configurations further comprises sector information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the neighbor list comprises the angles in which the local network node is a neighbor to a remote network node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the local network node is a base transceiver station.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the network list based upon usage information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the local network node is configured to use data including the signal strength from mobile stations to determine the range of the local network node.

7. A method, comprising:

obtaining a first information about a first base station, wherein the first information comprises location and range information relating to the first base station;

sending the first information to a first server;

obtaining a second information about a second base station, wherein the second information comprises location and range information relating to the second base station;

sending the second information about the second base station to the server;

generating a neighbor list from the first information and the second information;

transmitting the neighbor list to the first base station and the second base station; and

storing the neighbor list in the first base station and the second base station.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first information further comprises information related to the signal strength of the first base station.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising updating the neighbor list based upon usage information.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first information further comprises angle information.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first information further comprises transmission power information of the first base station.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising handing off communication between a mobile station from the first base station to the second base station based upon the neighbor list.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the sending of the first wireless communication is preformed through a wireless communication channel.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the server is part of a packet switched network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the server is a gateway.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising a second server, wherein the server transmits the neighbor list to the first base station, and the second server transmits the neighbor list to the second base station.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the handoff is based upon sector information.

18. A system, comprising:

a first base station, wherein the first base station is capable of storing first identification information relating to the range of the first base station and the location of the first base station, and wherein the first base station is capable of communication with a first network;

a second base station, wherein the second base station is capable of storing second identification information relating to the range of the second base station and the location of the second base station, and wherein the second base station is capable of communication with a second network;

a server, wherein the first server is capable of communication with the first network and the second network, and wherein the server is capable of receiving the first and second identification information, creating a neighbor list based upon the first and the second identification information, and transmitting the neighbor list to the first base station and the second base station.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first base station unit further stores angle information relating the first base station coverage angle.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first base station unit further stores direction information relating the first base station centre angle.