SMALL CELLS IMPLEMENTING MULTIPLE AIR INTERFACES

• US 20130089070A1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Powerwave Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Sharony, Jacob, Sheikh, Khurram Parviz
• Application Number:
  US13/603,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20130089070A1
• 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 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed 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 are further configured to implement intra small cell handovers between communications with the mobile device in accordance with the longer range air interface and the shorter range air interface standards; and

wherein the one or more small cells are further configured to implement handovers associated with communication with the mobile device in accordance with the longer 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. A network comprising:

one or more cells, wherein each of the one or more cells are configured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of user equipment in accordance with a first air interface standard and a second air interface standard;

wherein the one or more cells are further configured to implement intra cell handovers between communications by transitioning communications with user equipment in accordance with the first air interface standard to communications in accordance with the second air interface standard.

7. The network as recited in claim 6, 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.

8. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the first air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relative large geographic range.

9. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the second air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relative short geographic range.

10. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the one or more cells are configured to implement handovers between a cell implementing only the first air interface standard.

11. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the one or more cells are configured to implement handovers between cells implementing the first and second air interface standards.

12. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the one or more cells are configured to implement the intra cell handover based on movement associated with the user equipment.

13. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the one or more cells are configured to implement the intra-cell handover without receiving instructions from a core network.

14. An apparatus comprising:

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

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

wherein the apparatus configured to implement communication handovers in a network having multiple apparatus between communications with a mobile device in accordance with the first air interface and the second air interface standards without interrupting a communication channel with the mobile device.

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 first air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relative large geographic range.

17. 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.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to implement handovers between cells implementing the first and second air interface standards.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to implement the intra cell handover based on movement associated with the user equipment.

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.