METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USE OF CELLULAR INFRASTRUCTURE TO MANAGE SMALL CELL ACCESS

• US 20140341182A1
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: GAGE, William Anthony, MUKHERJEE, Biswaroop
• Granted Patent: US 9,801,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/043 using a trusted network node as an anchor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0016 Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A method and apparatus at a small cell access point for offloading a wireless device in a macro cell, the method establishing a radio link signaling connection between a base station of the macro cell and the access point; and offloading the wireless device using control signaling over the signaling connection. Further, a method at the wireless device, the method receiving a message identifying a set of candidate small cell access points; selecting at least one access point from amongst the set of candidate small cell access points; reporting the selected at least one access point; receiving a preparatory message preparing the wireless device for a target small cell access point, wherein the target small cell access point is included in the selected at least one access point; and associating the wireless device with the target small cell access point.

Claims

1. A method at a small cell access point for offloading a wireless device in a macro cell, the method comprising:

establishing a radio link signaling connection between a base station of the macro cell and the small cell access point; and

offloading the wireless device using control signaling over the radio link signaling connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio link signaling connection is a cellular connection which carries control plane traffic between the small cell access point and the base station of the macro cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the small cell access point communicates with wireless devices over an 802.11 interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a backhaul connection between the small cell access point and a traffic interchange point for user plane traffic.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing results in the small cell access point becoming a trusted entity for the macro cell.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the offloading comprises:

preparing the small cell access point for the wireless device; and

associating with the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the preparing includes signaling over the radio link signaling connection to determine whether the small cell access point has capacity to service the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the preparing comprises:

receiving an association preparation message from the base station of the macro cell; and

using information within the association preparation message to bind user plane traffic for the wireless device from a traffic interchange point to the small cell access point.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the associating with the wireless device comprises:

receiving an association request from the wireless device; and

authenticating the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the authenticating uses a pairwise master key known to the small cell access point and the wireless device, wherein the pairwise master key was derived by the base station and received at the small cell access point during the preparing.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising signaling to the base station of the macro cell over the radio link signaling connection once authentication is complete.

12. A small cell access point for offloading a wireless device in a macro cell, the small cell access point comprising:

a processor; and

a communications subsystem,

wherein the small cell access point is configured to;

establish a radio link signaling connection between a base station of the macro cell and the small cell access point; and

offload the wireless device using control signaling over the radio link signaling connection.

13. The small cell access point of claim 12, wherein the radio link signaling connection is a cellular connection which carries control plane traffic between the small cell access point and the base station of the macro cell.

14. The small cell access point of claim 12, wherein the small cell access point is further configured to:

establish a backhaul connection between the small cell access point and a traffic interchange point for user plane traffic.

16. The small cell access point of claim 12, wherein the small cell access point is configured to offload by:

preparing the small cell access point for the wireless device; and

associating with the wireless device.

17. The small cell access point of claim 16, wherein the small cell access point prepares by:

receiving an association preparation message from the base station of the macro cell; and

using information within the association preparation message to bind user plane traffic for the wireless device from a traffic interchange point to the small cell access point.

18. A method at a wireless device connected to a macro cell, the method comprising:

receiving a message identifying a set of candidate small cell access points;

selecting at least one small cell access point from amongst the set of candidate small cell access points;

reporting the selected at least one small cell access point;

receiving a preparatory message preparing the wireless device for a target small cell access point, wherein the target small cell access point is included in the selected at least one small cell access point; and

associating the wireless device with the target small cell access point.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the message identifying the set of candidate small cell access points and the preparatory message are received over a cellular connection between the wireless device and the macro cell.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the message identifying the set of candidate small cell access points comprises use of one or more of:

access point identifier, access point capabilities, access point location, access point network connectivity, and access point business affiliation.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the selecting uses small cell signal quality measurements.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the message identifying the set of candidate small cell access points uses a radio resource control measurement object information element.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the reporting uses a radio resource control measurement report information element.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising maintaining a cellular connection between the wireless device and a base station of the macro cell while the wireless device is associated with the small cell access point.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising establishing a connection between the wireless device and a base station of the macro cell through the small cell access point.