Enterprise Level Management in a Multi-Femtocell Network

• US 20110019639A1
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ilyadis, Nicholas, Seshadri, Nambirajan, Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0016 Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/005 involving radio access media independent information, e.g. MIH [Media independent Hand-off]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0058 Transmission of hand-off measurement information, e.g. measurement reports
• 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 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for enterprise level management in a multi-femtocell network are provided. In this regard, one or more endpoint devices may receive traffic management information from a hybrid network controller for enabling handoff of calls and/or communication sessions among femtocells and/or access points. The received traffic management information may comprise set-up instructions, handoff instructions, transmit power, neighbor list information, signal quality thresholds, frequency assignments, transmission time, code assignments and/or antenna pattern assignments. The endpoint device may control handoffs between a communication device external to the communication system and the femtocells, access points and/or end-point devices.

Claims

1. A method for communication, the method comprising

in a communication system comprising a hybrid network controller and one or more femtocells, one or more access points, and one or more endpoint devices:

receiving by said one or more endpoint devices, traffic management information for enabling handoff of a communication session between and/or among said one or more femtocells and/or said one or more access points; and

enabling said handoff of said communication session by said one or more endpoint devices based on said received traffic management information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said received traffic management information comprises one or more of set-up instructions, handoff instructions, transmit power, neighbor list information, traffic load balancing, signal quality thresholds, bandwidth requirements, frequency assignments, transmission time, code assignments and/or antenna pattern assignments.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising wirelessly receiving said traffic management information from said hybrid network controller utilizing one or more wireless connections.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising controlling by said one or more endpoint devices, handoffs between and/or among a communication device external to said communication system and said one or more femtocells, said one or more access points and/or said one or more end-point devices.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising monitoring and/or analyzing by said one or more endpoint devices, status and/or operating conditions of said one or more femtocells, said one or more access points and/or said one or more end-point devices.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said status and/or operating conditions comprises one or more of received signal strength, interference levels, signal to noise ratio, signal path delay, power consumption, bandwidth usage and/or radio resource availability.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising allocating and/or assigning by said one or more endpoint devices, said one or more femtocells and/or said one or more access points to handle said enabled handoff.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising allocating and/or assigning by said one or more endpoint devices, one or more time slots for said enabled handoff, based on said received traffic management information.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising allocating and/or assigning by said one or more endpoint devices, one or more codes for said enabled handoff, based on said received traffic management information.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising allocating and/or assigning by said one or more endpoint devices, one or more antenna patterns for said enabled handoff, based on said received traffic management information.

11. A system for communication, the system comprising:

in a communication system comprising one or more femtocells, one or more access points, and one or more endpoint devices, one or more processors and/or circuits for use in said one or more endpoint devices, said one or more processors and/or circuits being operable to;

receive from said hybrid network controller, traffic management information for enabling handoff of a communication session between and/or among said one or more femtocells and/or said one or more access points; and

enable said handoff of said communication session based on said received traffic management information.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said received traffic management information comprises one or more of set-up instructions, handoff instructions, transmit power, neighbor list information, traffic load balancing, signal quality thresholds, bandwidth requirements, frequency assignments, transmission time, code assignments and/or antenna pattern assignments.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to wirelessly receive said traffic management information from said hybrid network controller utilizing one or more wireless connections.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to control handoffs between and/or among a communication device external to said communication system and said one or more femtocells, said one or more access points and/or said one or more end-point devices.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to monitor and/or analyze status and/or operating conditions of said one or more femtocells, said one or more access points and/or said one or more endpoint devices.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said status and/or operating conditions comprises one or more of received signal strength, interference levels, signal to noise ratio, signal path delay, power consumption, bandwidth usage and/or radio resource availability.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to allocate and/or assign said one or more femtocells, said one or more access points and/or said one or more endpoint devices to handle said enabled handoff.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to allocate and/or assign one or more time slots for said enabled handoff, based on said received traffic management information

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to allocate and/or assign one or more codes for said enabled handoff, based on said received traffic management information.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to allocate and/or assign one or more antenna patterns for said enabled handoff, based on said received traffic management information.