Small cell self-validation and provisioning without using backhaul
First Claim
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1. A small cell comprising:
- a non-transitory memory device storing a plurality of processor-executable instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the processor-executable instructions, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes the processor to;
attach, in response to power-up of the small cell, to an available macrocell of a cellular telecommunications network;
discover, via direct device-to-device (D2D) communications, other small cells that are associated with a small cell cluster in which the small cell is a member;
obtain provisioning data, for the small cell, from a server operated by an operator of the cellular telecommunications network, the provisioning data being obtained;
indirectly from the server, via the D2D communications with one of the other small cells that are associated with the small cell cluster, when the small cell is unable to attach to an available macrocell and at least one other small cell, associated with the small cell cluster, is able to attach to the macrocell, andfrom the server and via the macrocell, when the small cell is able to attach to the macrocell;
install the provisioning data to provision the small cell; and
operate the small cell, to provide communication services, to one or more mobile devices, using a backhaul link that is different from a communication link corresponding to the attachment to the available macrocell and to the D2D communications.
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Abstract
Small cell provisioning and validation may be performed, for small cells, in a small cell cluster, based on wireless cellular network connections (i.e., without requiring the use of a backhaul connection). In some implementations, the small cells may communicate with one another using direct Device-to-Device (D2D) communications. The D2D communications may be used to further enhance the network connectivity (i.e., to the cellular network and the OAM server) and to transmit test traffic during performance of the validation functions.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A small cell comprising:
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a non-transitory memory device storing a plurality of processor-executable instructions; and a processor configured to execute the processor-executable instructions, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes the processor to; attach, in response to power-up of the small cell, to an available macrocell of a cellular telecommunications network; discover, via direct device-to-device (D2D) communications, other small cells that are associated with a small cell cluster in which the small cell is a member; obtain provisioning data, for the small cell, from a server operated by an operator of the cellular telecommunications network, the provisioning data being obtained; indirectly from the server, via the D2D communications with one of the other small cells that are associated with the small cell cluster, when the small cell is unable to attach to an available macrocell and at least one other small cell, associated with the small cell cluster, is able to attach to the macrocell, and from the server and via the macrocell, when the small cell is able to attach to the macrocell; install the provisioning data to provision the small cell; and operate the small cell, to provide communication services, to one or more mobile devices, using a backhaul link that is different from a communication link corresponding to the attachment to the available macrocell and to the D2D communications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, implemented by a small cell, comprising:
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attaching, in response to power-up of the small cell, to an available macrocell of a cellular telecommunications network; discovering, via direct device-to-device (D2D) communications, other small cells that are associated with a small cell cluster in which the small cell is a member; obtaining provisioning data, for the small cell, from a server operated by an operator of the cellular telecommunications network, the provisioning data being obtained; indirectly from the server, via the D2D communications with one of the other small cells that are associated with the small cell cluster, when the small cell is unable to attach to an available macrocell and at least one other small cell, associated with the small cell cluster, is able to attach to the macrocell, and from the server and via the macrocell, when the small cell is able to attach to the macrocell; installing the provisioning data to provision the small cell; and operating the small cell, to provide communication services, to one or more mobile devices, using a backhaul link that is different from a communication link corresponding to the attachment to the available macrocell and to the D2D communications. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A small cell device comprising:
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an interface to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) operator network; a non-transitory memory device storing a plurality of processor-executable instructions; and a processor configured to execute the processor-executable instructions, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes the processor to; attach, in response to power-up of the small cell, to an available macrocell of a telecommunications network; discover, via direct device-to-device (D2D) communications, other small cells that are associated with a small cell cluster in which the small cell is a member; provision the small cell based on provisioning data received from a server operated by an operator of the telecommunications network, the provisioning data being obtained indirectly from the server via one or more of the other small cells that are associated with the small cell cluster; operate the small cell, to provide communication services, to one or more mobile devices, using a backhaul link implemented via the ISP network; and perform self-validation of the small cell by receiving test traffic via the macrocell of the telecommunications network or via D2D communications. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification