Small cells implementing multiple air interfaces

• US 9,088,923 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Sharony, Jacob, Sheikh, Khurram Parviz
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US13/603,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20130084873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 455436-444, 455/426.1, 370/331, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A communication networks including a plurality of small cell providing air interface infrastructure functionality is provided. Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of inter-small cell communication in accordance multiple air interfaces supported within individual small cells. Additionally, aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of intra-small cell communication in accordance with communication networks implementing multiple small cells. In other aspects, small cells coordinate handovers through the use of a controller, or by leveraging wireless connections created between the small cells. In further aspects, the small cells enable the utilization of multiple air interface standards within a small cell.

Claims

1. A heterogeneous network comprising:

one or more macro cells, wherein each macro cell is configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device in accordance with a longer range air interface standard; and

two or more small cells, wherein each small cell is configured to wirelessly communicate with the mobile device in accordance with the longer range air interface standard and a shorter range air interface standard;

wherein the two or more small cells are further configured to implement intra small cell handovers between communications with the mobile device in accordance with the longer range air interface and the shorter range air interface standards;

wherein the two or more small cells are configured to form a mesh network based on the shorter range air interface standard; and

wherein the two or more small cells implement inter small cell handovers associated with communication with the mobile device in accordance with the longer range air interface standard based on control information passed along the mesh network without receiving handover instructions from a core network.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the longer range air interface standard corresponds to the long term evolution air interface standard.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the shorter range air interface standard corresponds to IEEE 802.11 air interface standard.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the two or more small cells are further configured to implement inter small cell handovers between a macro cell and a small cell.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the control information corresponds to an X2 protocol.

6. A network comprising:

two or more cells, wherein each of the two or more cells are configured to wirelessly communicate with user equipment in accordance with a first air interface standard and a second air interface standard; and

wherein the two or more cells are configured to form a mesh network utilizing the second air interface standard; and

wherein the two or more cells are further configured to implement inter cell handovers between communications with the mobile device in accordance with the first air interface based on control information passed along the formed mesh network.

7. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the first air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relatively large geographic range.

8. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the second air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relatively short geographic range.

9. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the two or more cells are configured to implement handovers between a cell implementing only the first air interface standard.

10. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the two or more cells are configured to utilize a signaling protocol to control handovers via the communication network.

11. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the formed communication network corresponds to a mesh network.

12. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the two or more cells are further configured to implement intra cell handovers between the first air interface standard and the second air interface standard.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the formed communication network corresponds to a mesh network.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the formed communication network is dynamically formed.

15. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein the two or more cells are further configured to implement inter cell handovers without receiving control instructions from a core network.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a first radio component configured to facilitate communication in accordance with a first air interface standard;

a second radio component configured to facilitate communication in accordance with a second air interface standard;

wherein the apparatus is configured to form a communication network with a plurality of cells utilizing the second air interface standard;

wherein the apparatus is configured to establish communications with mobile devices in accordance with the first air interface standard; and

wherein the apparatus is further configured to implement inter cell handovers between communications with the mobile device in accordance with the first air interface standard based on control information passed along the formed communication network.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further configured to implement handovers associated with communication with the mobile device in accordance solely with the first air interface standard.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the first air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relatively large geographic range.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the second air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relatively short geographic range.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured to utilize a signaling protocol to control handovers via the communication network.

21. A method for managing communications with user equipment, comprising:

in a heterogeneous network including two or more cells, wherein each of the two or more cells are configured to wirelessly communicate with user equipment in accordance with a first air interface standard and a second air interface standard;

causing, at a first cell, the formation of a communication network utilizing the second air interface standard;

obtaining, at the first cell, control information associated with a handover with a second cell via the communication network; and

causing a handover of a mobile device between the first cell and the second cell in accordance with the first air interface standard based, at least in part, on the control information.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the first air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relatively large geographic range.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the second air interface standard corresponds to an air interface standard associated with a relatively short geographic range.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein causing the formation of the communication network utilizing the second air interface standard includes utilizing joining an existing communication network.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein causing a handover between the first cell and the second in accordance with the first air interface standard based, at least in part, on the control information includes utilizing a signaling protocol to control handovers via the communication network.

26. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the formed communication network corresponds to a mesh network.