METHOD AND APPARATUS OF SUPPORTING WIRELESS FEMTOCELL CLUSTERS

• US 20120039314A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: AirWalk Communications, Inc. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Osborn, Christopher Martin Edward, Seo, Seong Ju, Choi, Kyungsik
• Granted Patent: US 9,019,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

A method of operating a femtocell network cluster is disclosed. One example method of operating the femtocell network cluster may include certain operations, such as, selecting a master femtocell access point among various femtocell access points operating on the femtocell network cluster and updating a master table to include the master femtocell access point in the master table neighbor list. Other operations may include transmitting the master table to each of the femtocell access points informing them of the identity of the master femtocell access point. The tables may be maintained by all of the femtocell access points operating on the network.

Claims

1. A method of operating a femtocell network cluster, the method comprising:

selecting a master femtocell access point among a plurality of femtocell access points operating on the femtocell network cluster;

updating a master table to include the master femtocell access point in the master table neighbor list; and

transmitting the master table to each of the plurality of femtocell access points informing them of the identity of the master femtocell access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the master femtocell access point comprises setting an IP address of the master femtocell access point and creating a cluster identifier for the femtocell network cluster.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the master table to each of the plurality of femtocell access points informing them of the identity of the master femtocell access point comprises transmitting the IP address of the master femtocell access point and the cluster identifier of the femtocell network cluster.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically transmitting a synchronization update message to each of the plurality of femtocell access points including a copy of the master table indicating whether any changes in the femtocell network cluster have occurred.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the changes in the femtocell network cluster comprise any additions or deletions to the plurality of femtocell access points operating in the femtocell network cluster.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message at the master femtocell access point that a new femtocell access point is attempting to register as a new member of the femtocell network cluster.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

updating the master table to include an entry of the new femtocell access point and distributing the updated master table to each of the plurality of femtocell access points.

8. An apparatus configured to operate a femtocell network cluster, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to select a master femtocell access point among a plurality of femtocell access points operating on the femtocell network cluster, and to update a master table to include the master femtocell access point in the master table neighbor list; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the master table to each of the plurality of femtocell access points informing them of the identity of the master femtocell access point.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein during the selection of the master femtocell access point the processor is further configured to set an IP address of the master femtocell access point and a cluster identifier for the femtocell network cluster and store the values in a memory.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transmitter transmits the master table to each of the plurality of femtocell access points to inform them of the identity of the master femtocell access point and is further configured to transmit the IP address of the master femtocell access point and the cluster identifier of the femtocell network cluster.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is further configured to periodically transmit a synchronization update message to each of the plurality of femtocell access points including a copy of the master table indicating whether any changes in the femtocell network cluster have occurred.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the changes in the femtocell network cluster comprise any additions or deletions to the plurality of femtocell access points operating in the femtocell network cluster.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a message at the master femtocell access point that a new femtocell access point is attempting to register as a new member of the femtocell network cluster.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to update the master table to include an entry of the new femtocell access point and to distribute the updated master table to each of the plurality of femtocell access points.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to operate a femtocell network cluster, the processor being further configured to perform:

selecting a master femtocell access point among a plurality of femtocell access points operating on the femtocell network cluster;

updating a master table to include the master femtocell access point in the master table neighbor list; and

transmitting the master table to each of the plurality of femtocell access points informing them of the identity of the master femtocell access point.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the selecting the master femtocell access point comprises setting an IP address of the master femtocell access point and creating a cluster identifier for the femtocell network cluster.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein transmitting the master table to each of the plurality of femtocell access points informing them of the identity of the master femtocell access point comprises transmitting the IP address of the master femtocell access point and the cluster identifier of the femtocell network cluster.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

periodically transmitting a synchronization update message to each of the plurality of femtocell access points including a copy of the master table indicating whether any changes in the femtocell network cluster have occurred.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the changes in the femtocell network cluster comprise any additions or deletions to the plurality of femtocell access points operating in the femtocell network cluster.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a message at the master femtocell access point that a new femtocell access point is attempting to register as a new member of the femtocell network cluster.