Multi-operator core network shared small cell deployment in a non-multi-operator macro network environment

• US 9,282,465 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grayson, Mark, Bosch, Hendrikus G. P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US14/305,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20150365829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 455/454, 455/436, 455/406, 455/442
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 between access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method provided in one embodiment includes receiving a resource list including a first core network identifier identifying a first core network, at least a first resource identifier identifying a first subset of network resources from a plurality of network resources associated with the first core network, and a first priority value associated with each of the identified resources of the first core network. The method further includes receiving a first device identifier associated with a first user equipment, determining whether a portion of the first device identifier matches the first core network identifier, and modifying the resource list to include at least a second resource identifier identifying a second subset of the network resources from the plurality of network resources associated with the first core network when the portion of the first device identifier is determined to match the first core network identifier.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a resource list at a first network element, the resource list including a first core network identifier identifying a first core network, at least a first resource identifier identifying a first subset of network resources from a plurality of network resources associated with the first core network, and a first priority value associated with each of the identified resources of the first core network;

receiving a first device identifier associated with a first user equipment;

determining whether a portion of the first device identifier matches the first core network identifier;

modifying the resource list to include at least a second resource identifier identifying a second subset of the network resources from the plurality of network resources associated with the first core network when the portion of the first device identifier is determined to match the first core network identifier, wherein the resource list further includes a second core network identifier identifying a second core network, at least a third resource identifier identifying a third subset of network resources from a plurality of network resources associated with the second core network, and a second priority value associated with each of the identified resources of the second core network;

receiving a second device identifier associated with a second user equipment; and

determining whether a portion of the second device identifier matches the second core network identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a size of the resource list is greater than a predetermined value; and

removing at least one of the second resource identifiers having a lowest first priority value from among the remaining resource identifiers when the size of the resource list is greater than the predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first user equipment has moved out of coverage of the first network element; and

removing a portion of the second resource identifiers identifying the second subset from the resource list when the first user equipment is determined to have moved out of coverage of the first network element.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting the resource list to the first user equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment is associated with the first core network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the resource list to include at least a fourth resource identifier identifying a fourth subset of the network resources from the plurality of network resources associated with the second core network when the portion of the second device identifier is determined to match the second core network identifier.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second user equipment is associated with the second core network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource list is an inter-frequency neighbor list.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first core network identifier includes a mobile country code (MCC)/mobile network code (MNC).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network resources associated with the first core network includes one or more of an absolute radio-frequency channel number (ARFCN) and a primary scrambling code (PSC).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device identifier includes an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) associated with the first user equipment.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first subset of network resources is greater than the second subset of network resources.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network element includes a small cell access point.

14. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving a resource list at a first network element, the resource list including a first core network identifier identifying a first core network, at least a first resource identifier identifying a first subset of network resources from a plurality of network resources associated with the first core network, and a first priority value associated with each of the identified resources of the first core network;

receiving a first device identifier associated with a first user equipment;

determining whether a portion of the first device identifier matches the first core network identifier;

modifying the resource list to include at least a second resource identifier identifying a second subset of the network resources from the plurality of network resources associated with the first core network when the portion of the first device identifier is determined to match the first core network identifier, wherein the resource list further includes a second core network identifier identifying a second core network, at least a third resource identifier identifying a third subset of network resources from a plurality of network resources associated with the second core network, and a second priority value associated with each of the identified resources of the second core network;

receiving a second device identifier associated with a second user equipment; and

determining whether a portion of the second device identifier matches the second core network identifier.

15. The logic of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether a size of the resource list is greater than a predetermined value; and

removing at least one of the second resource identifiers having a lowest first priority value from among the remaining resource identifiers when the size of the resource list is greater than the predetermined value.

16. The logic of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the first user equipment has moved out of coverage of the first network element; and

removing a portion of the second resource identifiers identifying the second subset from the resource list when the first user equipment is determined to have moved out of coverage of the first network element.

17. The logic of claim 14, wherein the operations further include broadcasting the resource list to the first user equipment.

18. The logic of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

modifying the resource list to include at least a fourth resource identifier identifying a fourth subset of the network resources from the plurality of network resources associated with the second core network when the portion of the second device identifier is determined to match the second core network identifier.

19. The logic of claim 14, wherein the resource list is an inter-frequency neighbor list.

20. A network element, comprising:

a memory element configured to store electronic code;

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the electronic code; and

a module coupled to the memory element and the processor, wherein the network element is configured for;

receiving a resource list at a first network element, the resource list including a first core network identifier identifying a first core network, at least a first resource identifier identifying a first subset of network resources from a plurality of network resources associated with the first core network, and a first priority value associated with each of the identified resources of the first core network;

receiving a first device identifier associated with a first user equipment;

determining whether a portion of the first device identifier matches the first core network identifier;

modifying the resource list to include at least a second resource identifier identifying a second subset of the network resources from the plurality of network resources associated with the first core network when the portion of the first device identifier is determined to match the first core network identifier, wherein the resource list further includes a second core network identifier identifying a second core network, at least a third resource identifier identifying a third subset of network resources from a plurality of network resources associated with the second core network, and a second priority value associated with each of the identified resources of the second core network;

receiving a second device identifier associated with a second user equipment; and

determining whether a portion of the second device identifier matches the second core network identifier.

21. The network element of claim 20, wherein the network element is further configured to:

determine whether a size of the resource list is greater than a predetermined value; and

remove at least one of the second resource identifiers having a lowest first priority value from among the remaining resource identifiers when the size of the resource list is greater than the predetermined value.

22. The network element of claim 20, wherein the network element is further configured to:

determine whether the first user equipment has moved out of coverage of the first network element; and

remove a portion of the second resource identifiers identifying the second subset from the resource list when the first user equipment is determined to have moved out of coverage of the first network element.

23. The network element of claim 20, wherein the network element is further configured to broadcast the resource list to the first user equipment.

24. The network element of claim 20, wherein the network element is further configured to:

modify the resource list to include at least a fourth resource identifier identifying a fourth subset of the network resources from the plurality of network resources associated with the second core network when the portion of the second device identifier is determined to match the second core network identifier.

25. The network element of claim 20, wherein the resource list is an inter-frequency neighbor list.