Long Term Evolution RAN Component Selection Based on Message Type

• US 20140140270A1
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Venson M.
• Application Number:
  US13/679,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20140140270A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A front end processing unit may be configured in a radio access network (RAN) and may determine a particular RAN component to use to provide transport for incoming communications. The front end processing unit may determine criteria for the communication and select an appropriate RAN component based on the criteria for communicating with the user mobile device originating the communication. In an embodiment, a higher service level capable user device that transmits a communication to a higher service level RAN component may be instructed to communicate with a lower service level RAN component for transport of the communication where it is determined that the communication does not warrant the use of higher service level network resources. Front end processing unit functionality may be integrated into individual RAN components, such as a base transceiver station, a Node B, and an eNode B, rather than being performed by a separate device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first radio access network component, a communication from a mobile device;

determining, at the first radio access network component, a first characteristic of the communication;

determining, based on the first characteristic, that a second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication; and

transmitting an instruction from the first radio access network component to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to provide the communication to the second radio access network component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication is received from the mobile device via a third radio access network component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction is transmitted to the mobile device via a third radio access network component.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a second characteristic of the communication, wherein determining that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication comprising determining, based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic, that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a notification to the second radio access network component indicating that the mobile device will provide the communication to the second radio access network component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication comprises selecting the second radio access network component from a plurality of radio access network components.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a characteristic of a radio access network, wherein determining that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication comprising determining, based on the first characteristic and the characteristic of the radio access network, that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication.

8. A radio access network component comprising:

a memory comprising executable instructions; and

a processor, wherein the processor, when executing the executable instructions, effectuates operations comprising;

receiving a communication from a mobile device;

determining a first characteristic of the communication;

determining, based on the first characteristic, that a second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication; and

transmitting an instruction to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to provide the communication to the second radio access network component.

9. The radio access network component of claim 8, wherein the communication is received from the mobile device via a third radio access network component.

10. The radio access network component of claim 8, wherein the instruction is transmitted to the mobile device via a third radio access network component.

11. The radio access network component of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a second characteristic of the communication, and wherein the operation of determining that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication comprises determining, based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic, that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication.

12. The radio access network component of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a notification to the second radio access network component indicating that the mobile device will provide the communication to the second radio access network component.

13. The radio access network component of claim 8, wherein the operation of determining that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication comprises selecting the second radio access network component from a plurality of radio access network components.

14. The radio access network component of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a characteristic of a radio access network, and wherein the operation of determining that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication comprises determining, based on the first characteristic and the characteristic of the radio access network, that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication.

15. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving a communication from a mobile device;

determining a first characteristic of the communication;

determining, based on the first characteristic, that a second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication; and

transmitting an instruction to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to provide the communication to the second radio access network component.

16. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the communication is received from the mobile device via a third radio access network component.

17. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instruction is transmitted to the mobile device via a third radio access network component.

18. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a second characteristic of the communication, and wherein the operation of determining that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication comprises determining, based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic, that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication.

19. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a notification to the second radio access network component indicating that the mobile device will provide the communication to the second radio access network component.

20. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a characteristic of a radio access network, and wherein the operation of determining that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication comprises determining, based on the first characteristic and the characteristic of the radio access network, that the second radio access network component is to be used to provide transport for the communication.