System and method to establish and maintain cell clusters

• US 9,648,503 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Lili, Gao, Chunyan, Han, Jing, Hong, Wei, Wang, Haiming
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aung, Sai
• Application Number:
  US14/758,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20150341799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0073 Allocation arrangements that take into account other cell interferences for intercell interference mitigation or co-ordination in orthogonal multiplex systems H04J11/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A wireless communication method of establishing and maintaining a cell cluster comprising at least one cell configured to communicate with at least one UE (User Equipment), comprising detecting a broadcast beacon signal. The method further comprises, in response to an absence of the broadcast beacon signal, assuming the role of a cluster head of a cluster having a specific intra-cell identifier, and broadcasting a beacon signal. In response to detecting the broadcast beacon signal and an absence of an intra-cell identifier, continuing to transmit and receive using a prior duplex communication configuration. Further, in response to detecting the broadcast beacon signal and a presence of the intra-cell identifier, joining the cell identified by the detected intra-cell identifier, and setting its intra-cell identifier based on the detected intra-cell identifier.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method of establishing and maintaining a cell cluster comprising at least one cell configured to communicate with at least one UE (User Equipment), comprising:

detecting a broadcast beacon signal;

in response of an absence of the broadcast beacon signal, assuming the role of a cluster head of a cluster having a specific intra-cell identifier, and broadcasting a beacon signal;

in response to detecting the broadcast beacon signal and an absence of an intra-cell identifier, continuing to transmit and receive using a prior duplex communication configuration; and

in response to detecting the broadcast beacon signal and a presence of the intra-cell identifier, joining the cell identified by the detected intra-cell identifier, and setting its intra-cell identifier based on the detected intra-cell identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein continuing to transmit and receive using a prior duplex communication configuration comprises communicating using an existing Time Division Duplex (TDD) configuration for uplink and downlink transmissions.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a second cell should assume the role of a cluster head based on a set of predetermined rules;

transmitting a Cluster Head (CH) Adjustment Information Signal to the second cell to initiate a transition to the second cell as the new cluster head;

receiving a CH Adjustment ACK Signal from the second cell indicating assumption of the new cluster head role; and

receiving a broadcast beacon signal from the new cluster head.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein determining that a second cell should assume the cluster head role further comprises making the determination based on a comparison between the current cluster head and the second cell.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein determining that a second cell should assume the cluster head role further comprises making the determination based on a comparison of a branch weight between the current cluster head and the second cell.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein determining that a second cell should assume the cluster head role further comprises making the determination based on a comparison of a branch weight of the current cluster head being less than a predetermined threshold.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a cell should assume the role of a cluster head based on its branch weight exceeding a predetermined threshold;

transmitting an Invoke Indication signal to a root cell to initiate a CH Adjustment process;

receiving a CH Adjustment Information signal from the root cell;

transmitting a CH Adjustment ACK signal to the root cell; and

beginning periodic broadcast of at least one of a beacon signal and a TDD configuration notification.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an absence of the beacon signal transmitted by a current cluster head for a predetermined time period;

transmitting a CH Election signal in response to the absence of the beacon signal indicating an intention to compete to assume the role of cluster head;

assuming the role of the cluster head and beginning periodic broadcast of at least one of a beacon signal and a Time Division Duplex (TDD) configuration notification.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising resolving collision among cluster members in the cluster.

10. A wireless communication network node, comprising:

an antenna;

at least one radio transmitter and receiver;

at least one processor providing resource management and logical control functions, configured to;

detect a broadcast beacon signal;

in response of an absence of the broadcast beacon signal, assume the role of a cluster head of a cluster having a specific intra-cell identifier, and broadcast a beacon signal;

in response to detecting the broadcast beacon signal and an absence of an intra-cell identifier, continue to transmit and receive using a prior duplex communication configuration; and

in response to detecting the broadcast beacon signal and a presence of the intra-cell identifier, join the cell identified by the detected intra-cell identifier, and set its intra-cell identifier based on the detected intra-cell identifier.

11. The wireless communication network node of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit and receive using a prior duplex communication configuration comprises communicating using an existing Time Division Duplex (TDD) configuration for uplink and downlink transmissions.

12. The wireless communication network node of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is configured to further:

determine that a second cell should assume the role of a cluster head based on a set of predetermined rules;

transmit a Cluster Head (CH) Adjustment Information Signal to the second cell to initiate a transition to the second cell as the new cluster head;

receive a CH Adjustment ACK Signal from the second cell indicating assumption of the new cluster head role; and

receive a broadcast beacon signal from the new cluster head.

13. The wireless communication network node of claim 10, wherein the at least processor is configured to make a determination based on a comparison between the current cluster head and the second cell.

14. The wireless communication network node of claim 10, wherein the at least processor is configured to make the determination based on a comparison of a branch weight between the current cluster head and the second cell.

15. The wireless communication network node of claim 10, wherein the at least processor is configured to make the determination based on a comparison of a branch weight of the current cluster head being less than a predetermined threshold.

16. The wireless communication network node of claim 10, wherein the at least processor is further configured to:

determine that a cell should assume the role of a cluster head based on its branch weight exceeding a predetermined threshold;

transmit an Invoke Indication signal to a root cell to initiate a CH Adjustment process;

receive a CH Adjustment Information signal from the root cell;

transmit a CH Adjustment ACK signal to the root cell; and

begin periodic broadcast of at least one of a beacon signal and a Time Division Duplex (TDD) configuration notification.

17. The wireless communication network node of claim 10, wherein the at least processor is configured to:

detect an absence of the beacon signal transmitted by a current cluster head for a predetermined time period;

transmit a Cluster Head (CH) Election signal in response to the absence of the beacon signal indicating an intention to compete to assume the role of cluster head;

assume the role of the cluster head and beginning periodic broadcast of at least one of a beacon signal and a Time Division Duplex (TDD) configuration notification.

18. The wireless communication network node of claim 17, wherein the at least processor is configured to resolve collision among cluster members in the cluster.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed on a communication network node causes it to perform the steps of:

detecting a broadcast beacon signal;

in response of an absence of the broadcast beacon signal, assuming the role of a cluster head of a cluster having a specific intra-cell identifier, and broadcasting a beacon signal;

in response to detecting the broadcast beacon signal and an absence of an intra-cell identifier, continuing to transmit and receive using a prior duplex communication configuration; and

in response to detecting the broadcast beacon signal and a presence of the intra-cell identifier, joining the cell identified by the detected intra-cell identifier, and setting its intra-cell identifier based on the detected intra-cell identifier.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising a set of instructions, which, when executed on a communication network node causes it to perform the step of communicating using an existing Time Division Duplex (TDD) configuration for uplink and downlink transmissions.