Architecture for radio access network virtualization

• US 9,232,387 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Puthenpura, Sarat, Broustis, Ioannis, Razoumov, Leonid, Rozner, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaidi, Iqbal
• Application Number:
  US14/060,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20150110008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-339, 370/415, 370229-238, 370252-253
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/065 using assembly or disassembly of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Multiple access wireless communication networks/infrastructures are virtualized in telecommunications environments. A system replicates a cell identifier associated with a macro base station device to create a virtual base station device presence for a set of network devices included in the multiple access wireless communication network and thereafter facilitates communication with the multiple access wireless communication network, the set of network devices, and a mobile device through the created virtual base station presence.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

receiving a cell identifier associated with a macro base station device;

replicating the cell identifier to create first presence data representing a first virtual base station device object for network devices associated with a radio access network; and

facilitating communication between the network devices and a mobile device based on the first presence data, wherein the facilitating of the communication further comprises;

in response to receiving a paging response from the mobile device associated with the radio access network, replacing a header included in the paging response with another header that comprises the first presence data that represents the first virtual base station device object.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise maintaining a data structure of identities to distinguish the first virtual base station device object represented by the first presence data from a second virtual base station device object represented by second presence data, and wherein the data structure of identities comprises a media access control address of a network interface associated with the first virtual base station device object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise grouping the first presence data representing the first virtual base station device object with second presence data representing a second virtual base station device object as a function of the cell identifier.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise initiating a sending of a radio access network level transmission synchronization timing value or a radio access network level transmission parameter to the first virtual base station device object.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise initiating a sending of a radio access network level quality of service requirement for the mobile device to the first virtual base station device object.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise initiating a sending of a software update to the first virtual base station device object.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise initiating a sending of an operating system image or a system configuration parameter to the first virtual base station device object.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise executing a self organized networking process for a radio access network level parameterization of the first virtual base station device object.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise coordinating a use of different wireless technologies between the first virtual base station device object and a second virtual base station device object to associate the mobile device with a single network identifier.

10. A method, comprising:

replicating, by a system comprising a processor, a cell identifier associated with a macro base station device to create an identity associated with a virtual base station device instance for network devices included in a multi-access communication system;

using the identity associated with the virtual base station device instance, facilitating, by the system, communication between a device of the multi-access communication system and a user equipment device associated with the network devices; and

as a function of receiving a paging response from the device associated with the multi-access communication system, modifying, by the system, a header included in the paging response to generate a modified header that comprises the identity associated with the virtual base station device instance.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, as a function of a data structure of identities, delivering, by the system, a paging request received from a mobility management entity device to the virtual base station device instance.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising, as a function of the paging response received from the device associated with the multi-access communication system, replying, by the system, to a paging request received from a mobility management entity device.

13. A machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

creating an instance of a base station device associated with network devices included in a radio access network as a function of duplicating a cell identifier associated with a macro base station device included in the network devices resulting in a duplicate of the cell identifier; and

facilitating communication between a mobile device and the network devices via the instance of the base station device, wherein the facilitating of the communication comprises;

receiving a paging response from a device associated with the radio access network, and

updating a header included in the paging response with an updated header that comprises the duplicate of the cell identifier of the macro base station device, wherein the updated header is associated with the instance of the base station device.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise maintaining a data structure of identities that comprises a media access control address of a network interface associated with one device included in the instance of the base station device.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise disseminating a radio access network level transmission synchronization timing or a radio access network level transmission parameter to the instance of the base station device.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise sending a radio access network level quality of service requirement associated with the mobile device to the instance of the base station device.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise sending a software update to the instance of the base station device.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise initiating self organized networking for a radio access network parameterization of the instance of the base station device.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise delivering a paging request received from a mobility management entity device to the instance of the base station device based on a data structure of identities that distinguishes the instance of the base station device from another instance of the base station device.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, as a function of the paging response received from the device associated with the radio access network, replying to a paging request received from a mobility management entity device.