FLEXIBLE NETWORK SHARING
First Claim
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1. A method for managing a radio access network (RAN) capacity with a plurality of operators, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a first brokerage control unit, a capacity query request from a participating operator of the plurality of operators requesting shared RAN resources;
determining available shared RAN resources;
sending a capacity query result granting the requested shared RAN resources from the available shared RAN resources to the participating operator; and
conducting an accounting of usage of shared RAN resources by the participating operator.
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Abstract
Flexible sharing of common radio access network (RAN) resources may pool unallocated resources. For example, sharing of the network resources may be static, e.g., the sharing contract may define a fixed percentage allocation of network resources that may not be modified without change in contract. The sharing of the network resource may also be dynamic and may accommodate the capacity needs of hosted operators on a real-time basis.
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20 Claims
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1. A method for managing a radio access network (RAN) capacity with a plurality of operators, the method comprising:
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receiving, via a first brokerage control unit, a capacity query request from a participating operator of the plurality of operators requesting shared RAN resources; determining available shared RAN resources; sending a capacity query result granting the requested shared RAN resources from the available shared RAN resources to the participating operator; and conducting an accounting of usage of shared RAN resources by the participating operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for managing a radio access network (RAN) capacity with a plurality of operators, the system comprising:
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a first brokerage control unit configured to receive a capacity query request from a participating operator of the plurality of operators requesting shared RAN resources; a second brokerage control unit in communication with the first brokerage control unit and configured to send the capacity query request to the first brokerage control unit; a first charging system in communication with the first brokerage control unit; and a second charging system in communication with the second brokerage control unit, the first brokerage control unit configured to determine available shared RAN resources, to send a capacity query result granting the requested shared RAN resources from the available shared RAN resources to the participating operator, and to conduct an accounting of usage of shared RAN resources by the participating operator, the first charging system configured to generate charging information as a function of the accounting of the usage of the shared RAN resources by the participating operator and to send the charging information to the second charging system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling resource appropriation within a radio access network (RAN), the method comprising:
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receiving, via a brokerage control unit (BCU) an allocation behavior report for a participating operator from a network node; determining, from the allocation behavior report, whether a usage of a resource allocated to the participating operator complies with a resource allocation policy; and if the usage of the resource allocated to the participating operator does not comply with the resource allocation policy, transmitting a message to the participating operator to adjust the usage of the resource allocated to the participating operator. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification