SMALL CELLS IMPLEMENTING MULTIPLE AIR INTERFACES

• US 20130089069A1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Powerwave Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Sharony, Jacob, Sheikh, Khurram Parviz
• Granted Patent: US 9,143,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A communication networks including a plurality of small cell providing air interface infrastructure functionality is provided. Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of inter-small cell communication in accordance multiple air interfaces supported within individual small cells. Additionally, aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of intra-small cell communication in accordance with communication networks implementing multiple small cells. In other aspects, small cells coordinate handovers through the use of a controller, or by leveraging wireless connections created between the small cells. In further aspects, the small cells enable the utilization of multiple air interface standards within a small cell.

Claims

1. A heterogeneous network comprising:

one or more macro cells, wherein each macro cell is configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device in accordance with a longer range air interface standard; and

one or more small cells, wherein each small cell is configured to wirelessly communicate with the mobile device in accordance with the longer range air interface standard and a shorter range air interface standard;

wherein the one or more small cells includes a home agent node and a foreign agent node for the longer range air interface standard and a home agent node and a foreign agent node for the shorter range air interface standard, wherein the home agent node for the longer range air interface standard and the home agent node for the shorter range air interface standard are associated with different network addresses;

wherein communications initiated in accordance with the longer range air interface standard utilize a communication channel between the home agent for the longer range air interface standard and the foreign agent node for the longer range air interface standard; and

wherein the one or more small cells are configured to implement intra cell handovers by utilizing a communication tunnel between the home agent for the longer range interface standard and the foreign agent node for the shorter range air interface standard.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the longer range air interface standard corresponds to the long term evolution air interface standard.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the shorter range air interface standard corresponds to IEEE 802.11 air interface standard.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more small cells are configured to implement handovers between a macro cell and a small cell.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more small cells are configured to implement handovers between a small cell and a small cell.

6. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein communications initiated in accordance with the shorter range air interface standard utilize a communication channel between the home agent for the shorter range air interface standard and the foreign agent node for the shorter range air interface standard.

7. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the one or more small cells are configured to implement intra cell handovers by utilizing a communication tunnel between the home agent for the shorter range interface standard and the foreign agent node for the longer range air interface standard.

8. A method for managing communications with user equipment, comprising:

causing, at first node of a cell, communications with a core network, wherein the first node corresponds to a home agent node of a first air interface standard and is associated with a first network address;

causing, at a second node of the cell, establishment of communications with user equipment in accordance with the first air interface standard, wherein the second node corresponds to a foreign agent node associated with the first air interface standard;

establishing, at the first node of the cell, a first communication tunnel between the first and second node associated with the first air interface standard;

obtaining, at the first node of the cell, an indication of an intra cell handover;

causing, at a third node of the cell, establishment of communications with user equipment in accordance with a second air interface standard, wherein the third node corresponds to a foreign agent node associated with the second air interface standard; and

responsive to the indication of the intra cell handover, enabling communications, at the first node of the cell, utilizing a second communication tunnel between the first and third node;

wherein communications between the first node of the cell and the core network continue to correspond to the first network address.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more cells are further configured to implement handovers associated with communication with the mobile device in accordance solely with the first air interface standard.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relative large geographic range.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the second air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relative short geographic range.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second communication tunnels correspond to a mobile IP communication tunnel.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

obtaining, at the first node of the cell, a second indication of an intra cell handover; and

responsive to the second indication of the intra cell handover, enabling communications, at the first node of the cell, utilizing the first communication tunnel between the first and second node.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a first radio component configured to facilitate communication in accordance with a first air interface standard;

a home agent node and foreign agent node corresponding to the first air interface standard;

a second radio component configured to facilitate communication in accordance with a second air interface standard; and

a home agent node and foreign agent node corresponding to the second air interface standard;

wherein the apparatus is configured to implement intra cell handovers by utilizing a communication tunnel between at least one of the home agent for the first air interface standard or the home agent for the second air interface standard and an opposite foreign agent node.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further configured to implement handovers associated with communication with the mobile device in accordance solely with the first air interface standard.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the apparatus is also configured to implement communications in accordance with either the first or second air interface standard utilizing a communication tunnel between the home agent node for the first air interface standard or the second air interface standard and a matching foreign agent node.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the first air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relative large geographic range.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the second air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relative short geographic range.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the one or more cells are configured to implement handovers between cells implementing the first and second air interface standards.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 further comprising a third radio component configured to communicate in accordance with a third air interface standard.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein communications initiated in accordance with the first air interface standard are associated with a first network address.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein communications in accordance with the second air interface standard, responsive to an intra cell handover, are associated with the first network address.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein communications initiated in accordance with the second air interface standard are associated with a second network address.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein communications in accordance with the first air interface standard, responsive to an intra cell handover, are associated with the second network address.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the communication tunnel corresponds to a mobile IP communication tunnel.