Enhancement of a cell reselection parameter in heterogeneous networks

• US 10,536,880 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2018
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cui, Zhi, Lei, Hongyan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau Ba
• Application Number:
  US16/159,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20190045403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0016 Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00837 Determination of triggering parameters for hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A cell reselection procedure in heterogeneous networks is enhanced based on utilization of per category cell reselection parameters. In one aspect, a serving access point can categorize a set of neighbor access points based on cell-type and/or cell-profile data of a set of neighbor access points. Further, the serving access point can determine cell reselection parameters for the different categories. As an example, offset data (Qoffset) can be determined for the different categories. The per category cell reselection parameters can be transmitted to user equipment coupled to the serving access point to facilitate cell reselection. In one example, the per category cell reselection parameters reduce operational costs associated with processing and transmission of system parameters.

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;

determining parameter data indicative of a first common parameter associated with first access point devices that are determined to belong to a first common category and a second common parameter associated with second access point devices that are determined to belong to a second common category, and

facilitating a transmission of data signals indicative of the parameter data to a user equipment to facilitate cell reselection associated with the user equipment, wherein the first common parameter and the second common parameter are employable to bias a ranking of the first access point devices and the second access point devices, respectively, and wherein the ranking is to be employed to select an access point device, from the first access point devices and the second access point devices, to which the user equipment is to initiate a connection to facilitate the cell reselection.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first common category is associated with a common cell type associated with the first access point devices.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the common cell type comprises a metro cell type.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

based on cell-type data received from the first access point devices, determining that the first access point devices belong to the first common category.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving the cell-type data via a communication link that employs an access point-to-access point signaling protocol.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the cell-type data represents a capability of one of the first access point devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter data is determined based on defined policy data received from a network device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter data is determined based on network traffic data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter data is determined based on network congestion data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating the transmission in response to determining an occurrence of an event.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating the transmission via a broadcast message.

12. A method, comprising:

determining, by a system comprising a processor, parameter data indicative of a first common parameter associated with first access point devices that are determined to belong to a first common category and a second common parameter associated with second access point devices that are determined to belong to a second common category, and

facilitating, by the system, a transmission of data signals indicative of the parameter data to a user equipment to facilitate cell reselection associated with the user equipment, wherein the first common parameter and the second common parameter are employable to bias rankings of the first access point devices and the second access point devices, respectively, and wherein the rankings are to be employed to select an access point device, from the first access point devices and the second access point devices, to which the user equipment is to initiate a connection to facilitate the cell reselection.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining the parameter data comprises determining the parameter data based on defined policy data received from a network device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining the parameter data comprises determining the parameter data based on network traffic data.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining the parameter data comprises determining the parameter data based on network congestion data.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the facilitating the transmission comprises facilitating the transmission in response to determining an occurrence of an event.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the facilitating the transmission comprises facilitating the transmission via a broadcast message.

18. A machine-readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

determining parameter data indicative of a first common parameter associated with first access point devices that are determined to belong to a first common category and a second common parameter associated with second access point devices that are determined to belong to a second common category, and

directing, to a user equipment, data signals indicative of the parameter data to facilitate cell reselection associated with the user equipment, wherein the first common parameter and the second common parameter are employable to bias a ranking of the first access point devices and the second access point devices, respectively, and wherein a result of the ranking is to be employed to select an access point device, from the first access point devices and the second access point devices, to which the user equipment is to initiate a connection to facilitate the cell reselection.

19. The machine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the parameter data is determined based on defined policy data received from a network device.

20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the first common category comprises a metro cell category and the second common category comprises a macro cell category.