System and method for virtual radio cell

• US 10,098,004 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ahmavaara, Kalle, Nama, Hithesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US15/606,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20170347272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

In particular, systems and methods according to present principles configure physical eNodeB to have multiple virtual eNodeBs, where each virtual eNodeBs corresponds to a particular PLMN. Thus, each PLMN has its own virtual eNodeB which is hosted on a common shared physical eNodeB.

Claims

1. A radio access network node operable within a shared radio access network, the radio access network including at least one radio cell and providing access to multiple mobile networks, comprising:

a. a radio cell comprising a physical node configured to support a plurality of virtual nodes, the radio cell configured to broadcast data corresponding to a radio access service provided via the radio cell;

b. wherein the radio cell is further configured to broadcast a plurality of network identifiers of respective multiple mobile networks corresponding to at least the plurality of virtual nodes; and

c. wherein the radio cell is further configured to broadcast a mobile network specific parameter applicable only for accessing a specific mobile network, the accessing by user equipment associated with the specific mobile network, wherein the mobile network specific parameter includes at least one of the group consisting of;

a tracking area code, a cell identifier, and a cell barred indication.

2. The radio access network node of claim 1, wherein the radio cell supports access technologies corresponding to one or more of the group consisting of:

MulteFire, Long Term Evolution (LTE), and 5G.

3. The radio access network node of claim 1, wherein the specific mobile network is selected from one or more of the group consisting of:

public land mobile networks (PLMNs) and Neutral Host Networks (NHNs).

4. The radio access network node of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network identifiers correspond to PLMN identifiers.

5. The radio access network node of claim 1, wherein the mobile network specific parameter includes mobile network specific identifiers associated with the radio cell.

6. The radio access network node of claim 1, wherein the mobile network specific parameter includes at least one of the group consisting of:

a closed subscriber group indication and a closed subscriber group identifier.

7. The radio access network node of claim 1, wherein a radio access network node operating the radio cell is configured to apply the mobile network specific parameter in communications with each of the respective multiple mobile networks.

8. The radio access network node of claim 1, wherein the radio cell is a member of a plurality of radio cells controlled by an eNodeB, and wherein first and second radio cells each receive respective first and second sets of lists of network specific parameters to service multiple mobile networks associated therewith, and wherein the first and second sets are different.

9. The radio access network node of claim 8, wherein the first and second sets are associated with different PLMNs.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing the radio access network node of claim 1 to perform the steps of broadcasting the data, broadcasting the plurality of network identifiers, and broadcasting the mobile network specific parameter.

11. A mobile device operable to communicate with a specific mobile network via a shared radio access network, the mobile device programmed to perform the following steps:

a. receiving broadcast information from a radio cell belonging to a shared radio access network;

b. detecting a network identifier and mobile network specific broadcast parameters within the broadcast information associated with a selected mobile network, wherein the mobile network specific broadcast parameters include one or more of the group consisting of;

a tracking area code, a cell identifier, and a cell barred indication; and

c. applying the detected mobile network specific broadcast parameters, whereby communication is enabled with the selected mobile network via the shared radio access network.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the applying includes configuring the mobile device according to the detected mobile network specific broadcast parameters.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the mobile device supports access technologies corresponding to one or more of the group consisting of:

MulteFire, Long Term Evolution (LTE), and 5G.

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the radio cell supports access technologies corresponding to one or more of the group consisting of MulteFire, LTE, and 5G.

15. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the mobile network is selected from one or more of the group consisting of:

public land mobile networks (PLMNs) and Neutral Host Networks (NHNs).

16. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the mobile network specific broadcast parameters include a plurality of mobile network specific identifiers associated with the radio cell.

17. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein a radio access network node operating the radio cell is configured to apply the mobile network specific broadcast parameters in communications with multiple mobile networks.