NETWORK ASSISTED USER ASSOCIATION AND OFFLOADING TECHNIQUES FOR INTEGRATED MULTI-RAT HETEROGENEOUS NETWORKS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A macro base station (MBS) operating as an enhanced/evolved Node B (eNB) in an LTE network, comprising:
- an air interface for communicating with users within a macrocell and connecting associated users to a core network;
processing circuitry configured to identify a number M of the weakest users associated with the MBS according to a defined strength metric, request a list of L preferred pico base stations (PBSs) for offloading from each of the weakest users, offload a weakest user to one of its L preferred PBSs if information received from that PBS indicates that the offloading would result in changes in an overall system utility and a user utility as defined by a specified utility metric that meet one or more specified criteria.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are described that incorporate joint network assisted offloading and cross-RAT (Radio Access Technology) user mapping techniques for integrated multi-RAT Het-Nets. Techniques are described for network based offloading and user association methods for multi-tier, multi-RAT HetNets, which account for overall user as well as network utility.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A macro base station (MBS) operating as an enhanced/evolved Node B (eNB) in an LTE network, comprising:
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an air interface for communicating with users within a macrocell and connecting associated users to a core network; processing circuitry configured to identify a number M of the weakest users associated with the MBS according to a defined strength metric, request a list of L preferred pico base stations (PBSs) for offloading from each of the weakest users, offload a weakest user to one of its L preferred PBSs if information received from that PBS indicates that the offloading would result in changes in an overall system utility and a user utility as defined by a specified utility metric that meet one or more specified criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A base station operating as an enhanced/evolved Node B (eNB) in an LTE network, comprising:
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an LTE air interface for communicating with users within a cell served by the base station and connecting associated users to a core network; a second air interface for communicating with users within the cell served by the base station and connecting associated users to a core network; processing circuitry configured to calculate utilities for users being associated with the base station via either the LTE or second air interface based upon a selected utility metric and optimally partition users between the first and second air interfaces based on the calculated utilities. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method performed by a macro base station (MBS) operating as an enhanced/evolved Node B (eNB) in an LTE network, comprising:
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allowing users to initially associate with either the MBS or a pico base station (PBS) operating within a macrocell served by the MBS as a function of the signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) measured by the users; identifying a number M of the weakest users associated with the MBS according to a defined strength metric; and
,offloading a weakest user a PBS if information received from that PBS indicates that the offloading would result in changes in an overall system utility and a user utility as defined by a specified utility metric that meet one or more specified criteria. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method performed by a pico base station (PBS) operating as an enhanced/evolved Node B (eNB) in an LTE network, comprising:
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calculating utilities for users being associated with the base station via either an LTE air interface or a WiFi air interface based upon a selected utility metric; and optimally partitioning users between the LTE and WiFi air interfaces based on the calculated utilities. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification