Dynamic Multi-Access Wireless Network Virtualization

• US 20160277975A1
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parallel Wireless, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Parallel Wireless, Inc.
• Inventors: Donepudi, Sridhar, Garg, Sumit, Agarwal, Kaitki, Mishra, Rajesh Kumar, Papa, Steven Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,485,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/122 of virtualised topologies, e.g. software-defined networks [SDN] or network function virtualisation [NFV]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/144 over a different radio air interface technology
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

We disclose systems and methods of dynamically virtualizing a wireless communication network. The communication network is comprised of heterogeneous multi-RAT mesh nodes coupled to a computing cloud component. The computing cloud component virtualizes the true extent of the resources it manages and presents an interface to the core network that appears to be a single base station.

Claims

1. A virtualized wireless communication network comprising a heterogeneous multi-RAT mesh network communicatively coupled to a computing cloud component, the computing cloud component further comprising a general purpose processor and an accelerator.

2. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the computing cloud component acts as an S1-GW proxy and a WAG/MAG and an Iu proxy to facilitate LTE to Wi-Fi handover.

3. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the computing cloud component further comprises a memory for storing GTP-U data that can be used in an X2 handover.

4. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 1 further comprising an SDN controller.

5. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the computing cloud component further comprises a memory for storing computer executable code that when run causes the processor to update a network topology and a resource adjustment based on a capacity requirement of the heterogeneous multi-RAT mesh network.

6. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the computing cloud component further comprises a memory for storing a GPS location of a heterogeneous multi-RAT node, which is a part of the heterogeneous multi-RAT mesh network, the GPS location being analyzed by the computing cloud component to determine if the heterogeneous multi-RAT node should connect to a second computing cloud component in order to receive a better quality of service or a lower data path latency.

7. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 1 further comprising a database communicatively coupled to the computing cloud component wherein the database stores a plurality of environmental conditions of the heterogeneous multi-RAT mesh network.

8. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the computing cloud component is communicatively coupled to an upstream network device and the computing cloud component further comprises a memory for storing computer executable code that when run causes the computing cloud component to perform a calculation associated with allocation of resources within the heterogeneous multi-RAT mesh network to the upstream network device.

9. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 8 wherein the upstream network device is an MME, a SGW or a PGW.

10. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the computing cloud component is communicatively coupled to an upstream network device and the computing cloud component is virtualized so that it appears to the upstream network device as a base station.

11. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 10 wherein the upstream network device is an MME, an SGW, or a macro cell.

12. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 11 wherein the base station is an eNodeB.

13. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the heterogeneous multi-RAT mesh network further comprises a non-meshed backhaul connection to the computing cloud component.

14. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 13 wherein the backhaul connection is a wired connection.

15. The virtualized wireless communication network of claim 13 wherein the backhaul connection is a wireless connection.

16. A computer implemented method of virtualization comprising the steps of

a. Pooling a first radio resource of a first multi-RAT node with a second radio resource of a second multi-RAT node wherein the first and second multi-RAT nodes are communicatively coupled so as to form a mesh network;

b. Maintaining a connection to an upstream network device; and

c. Managing the pooled resources so that the upstream network device interfaces with the pooled resources as a single base station.

17. The computer implemented method of virtualization of claim 16 further comprising storing anchor data in a memory device.

18. The computer implemented method of virtualization of claim 16 further comprising choosing the first radio resource or the second radio resource from the pooled resources to perform a communication task based on an environmental condition.

19. The computer implemented method of virtualization of claim 16 further comprising handing off a data transmission from the first radio resource to the second radio resource.

20. The computer implemented method of virtualization of claim 18 wherein the handing off of a data transmission from a first radio resource to a second radio resource is based upon an environmental condition.

21. The computer implemented method of virtualization of claim 16 wherein the managing the pooled resources further comprises allocating a radio bearer by analyzing a quality of service value, a radio resource utilization value, or a data priority metric.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 16 further comprising:

a. dynamically inspecting a data packet;

b. determining a data type of the data packet; and

c. choosing the first or second radio resource based on the data type.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 16 further comprising caching content on a local content server based on a characteristic of data traffic within the network.

24. A computer implemented method of paging a user equipment “

UE”

within a heterogeneous multi-RAT mesh network comprising the steps of;

a. receiving a location request for a UE from a first network;

b. using a network attachment information for a second network to locate the UE; and

c. sending a paging message to the UE based on the network attachment information for the second network.

25. The computer implemented method of claim 24 wherein the second network is a Wi-Fi network and the network attachment information is Wi-Fi network attachment information.