Method and system for carrier frequency management based on slot contention
First Claim
1. A method for performing a carrier frequency management function at a radio access network (RAN), wherein the RAN radiates on a first carrier frequency to define a first forward link, wherein the RAN radiates on a second carrier frequency to define a second forward link, wherein the RAN is capable of serving wireless communication devices (WCDs) with the first forward link and the second forward link, wherein the first forward link and the second forward link both operate in accordance with time-division multiplexing (TDM), whereby each of the first forward link and the second forward link is divided into TDM slots, wherein the RAN transmits data to at least one WCD during each forward link TDM slot, and wherein each WCD served by the RAN is in a state selected from the group consisting of an idle state and an active state, the method comprising:
- the RAN determining a first slot contention metric for the first forward link, wherein determining the first slot contention metric comprises determining a number of WCDs that are (i) served by the first carrier frequency, (ii) in the active state, and (iii) awaiting packets queued in the RAN and destined to at least one of the number of WCDs;
the RAN determining a second slot contention metric for the second forward link; and
based at least on the first slot contention metric and the second slot contention metric, the RAN performing the carrier frequency management function, wherein the carrier frequency management function comprises a function chosen from the group consisting of (i) assigning a WCD to one of the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency, (ii) taking one of the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency out of service, and (iii) the placing a third carrier frequency in service.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for carrier frequency management based on slot contention are provided. A radio access network (RAN) may radiate on one or more carrier frequencies to define wireless coverage areas. Each wireless coverage area may provide network access for one or more wireless communication devices (WCDs). In order to efficiently manage these carrier frequencies, the RAN may measure a slot contention metric for each carrier frequency. Based on the measured slot contention metrics, the RAN may perform a carrier frequency management function affecting at least one of the carrier frequencies. Carrier frequency management functions may include, but are not limited to, assigning a WCD to a carrier frequency, taking a carrier frequency out of service, and placing a new carrier frequency in service.
85 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for performing a carrier frequency management function at a radio access network (RAN), wherein the RAN radiates on a first carrier frequency to define a first forward link, wherein the RAN radiates on a second carrier frequency to define a second forward link, wherein the RAN is capable of serving wireless communication devices (WCDs) with the first forward link and the second forward link, wherein the first forward link and the second forward link both operate in accordance with time-division multiplexing (TDM), whereby each of the first forward link and the second forward link is divided into TDM slots, wherein the RAN transmits data to at least one WCD during each forward link TDM slot, and wherein each WCD served by the RAN is in a state selected from the group consisting of an idle state and an active state, the method comprising:
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the RAN determining a first slot contention metric for the first forward link, wherein determining the first slot contention metric comprises determining a number of WCDs that are (i) served by the first carrier frequency, (ii) in the active state, and (iii) awaiting packets queued in the RAN and destined to at least one of the number of WCDs; the RAN determining a second slot contention metric for the second forward link; and based at least on the first slot contention metric and the second slot contention metric, the RAN performing the carrier frequency management function, wherein the carrier frequency management function comprises a function chosen from the group consisting of (i) assigning a WCD to one of the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency, (ii) taking one of the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency out of service, and (iii) the placing a third carrier frequency in service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, performed by a radio access network (RAN), wherein the RAN radiates on a plurality of carrier frequencies, wherein each carrier frequency is associated with a forward link and a reverse link, wherein the RAN is capable of serving wireless communication devices (WCDs) with each carrier frequency, wherein each forward link operates in accordance with time-division multiplexing (TDM), whereby each forward link is divided into TDM slots, and wherein the RAN transmits data to at least one WCD during each forward link TDM slot, the method comprising:
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the RAN measuring a first series of reverse link activity factors on a first carrier frequency; the RAN measuring a second series of slot contention metrics on the first carrier frequency; the RAN determining a mapping between the measured reverse link activity factors in the first series and the measured slot contention metrics in the second series; the RAN measuring a third series of reverse link activity factors on a second carrier frequency; based on the mapping and the third series of reverse link activity factors, the RAN determining a given slot contention metric for the second carrier frequency; and responsive to determining the given slot contention metric, the RAN performing a carrier frequency management function affecting at least one of the carrier frequencies of the plurality of carrier frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A radio access network (RAN) comprising:
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at least one base transceiver system (BTS), radiating on a first carrier frequency, wherein the first carrier frequency is associated with a first forward link and a first reverse link, and the at least one BTS radiating on a second carrier frequency, wherein the second carrier frequency is associated with a second forward link and a second reverse link; a processor, capable of executing program instructions; and a memory, containing a mapping between measured reverse link activity factors and forward link slot contention factors, wherein the memory also contains program instructions, executable by the processor, to (i) measure a first reverse link activity factor for the first reverse link, (ii) measure a second reverse link activity factor for the second reverse link, (iii) determine, based on the first reverse link activity factor and the mapping, a first slot contention factor for the first forward link, (iv) determine, based on the second reverse link activity factor and the mapping, a second slot contention factor for the second forward link, (v) based on the first slot contention factor and the second slot contention factor, select one of the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency, and (vi) assign a new session from a wireless communication device (WCD) to the selected carrier frequency. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for placing a carrier frequency in service for a radio access network (RAN), wherein the RAN radiates on a first carrier frequency to define a first forward link, wherein the RAN is capable of serving wireless communication devices (WCDs) with the first forward link, wherein the first forward link operates in accordance with time-division multiplexing (TDM), whereby the first forward link is divided into TDM slots, wherein the RAN transmits data to at least one WCD during each forward link TDM slot, and wherein each WCD served by the RAN is in a state selected from the group consisting of an idle state and an active state, the method comprising:
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the RAN determining a slot contention metric for the first forward link, wherein determining the slot contention metric comprises determining a number of WCDs that are (i) served by the first carrier frequency, (ii) in the active state, and (iii) awaiting packets queued in the RAN and destined to at least one of the number of WCDs; the RAN determining that the slot contention metric is higher than a threshold value; based at least on the determination that the slot contention metric is higher than the threshold value, the RAN beginning to radiate on a second carrier frequency to define a second wireless coverage area, whereby the second carrier frequency is capable of providing service to WCDs via the second wireless coverage area.
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Specification