Traffic management in a hybrid femtocell/WLAN wireless enterprise network

• US 8,929,331 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• 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: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Seshadri, Nambirajan, Ilyadis, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH NGOC M
• Application Number:
  US12/470,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20100296487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/330, 370/338, 370/331, 370/332, 370/328, 370/310.2, 370/315, 455/436, 455/439, 455/442
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

A hybrid network controller may determine and/or communicate traffic management information for enabling setup and/or handoff of call and/or communication session among femtocells, access points and/or end-point devices. 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 hybrid network controller and/or an end-point device may control handoffs between a communication device external to the communication system and the femtocells, access points and/or end-point devices. Received signal strength, interference levels, SNR, signal path delay, power consumption, traffic loads, bandwidth usage and/or radio resource availability may be monitored and/or analyzed by the hybrid network controller. The hybrid network controller may assign time slots, codes, antenna patterns as well as a serving femtocell and/or AP for a set up and/or a handoff. The information may be communicated via wired, optical and/or wireless interfaces.

Claims

1. A method for communication in a communication system comprising a local sub-network having a hybrid network controller, a plurality of femtocells, an access point and an end-point device, comprising:

determining, by the hybrid network controller, traffic management information for enabling at least one of setup or handoff of a communication session among at least two femtocells of the plurality of femtocells, the access point, and the end-point device; and

communicating the determined traffic management information from the hybrid network controller, via the local sub-network, to the at least two femtocells, and the access point for enabling the setup or the handoff of the communication session.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic management information comprises at least one 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 or antenna pattern assignments.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

controlling by the hybrid network controller, handoffs among a communication device external to the communication system, at least one femtocell of the plurality of femtocells and at least one of the access point or the end-point device.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling handoffs by the end-point device among a communication device external to at least one femtocell of the plurality of femtocells, and the access point or the end-point device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of monitoring or analyzing by the hybrid network controller, status or operating conditions of the at least two femtocells, and at least one of the access point or the end-point device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the status or operating conditions comprises at least one of:

received signal strength, interference levels, signal to noise ratio, signal path delay, power consumption, bandwidth usage or radio resource availability.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of allocating or assigning, via the hybrid network controller, at least one femtocell of the plurality of femtocells or the access point to handle the enabled setup or handoff.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of allocating or assigning, via the hybrid network controller, at least one time slot for the enabled setup or handoff based on the traffic management information.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of allocating or assigning, via the hybrid network controller, a code for at least one of the enabled setup or handoff based on the traffic management information.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of allocating or assigning, via the hybrid network controller, at least one antenna pattern for at least one of the enabled setup or handoff based on the traffic management information.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the handoff information with the at least two femtocells and at least one of the access point or the end-point device via at least one wired or wireless interface.

12. A system for communication, comprising:

a local sub-network, having a hybrid network controller, a plurality of femtocells, an access point and an end-point device; and

a circuit for use in the hybrid network controller configured to;

determine traffic management information for enabling setup or handoff of a communication session among at least two femtocells of the plurality of femtocells, the access point and the end-point device, and

communicate the determined traffic management information, from the hybrid network controller, via the local sub-network, to the at least two femtocells, and the access point for enabling the handoff of the communication session.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the traffic management information comprises at least one 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 or antenna pattern assignments.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is further configured to control, by the hybrid network controller, handoffs among a communication device external to the communication system and at least one femtocell of the plurality of femtocells, the access point or the end-point device.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the end-point device is configured to control handoffs among a communication device external to the communication system, and at least one femtocell of the plurality of femtocells, the access point, or the end-point device.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is further configured to monitor or analyze status or operating conditions of the at least two femtocells and at least one of the access point or the end-point device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the status or operating conditions comprises at least one of:

received signal strength, interference levels, signal to noise ratio, signal path delay, power consumption, bandwidth usage or radio resource availability.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is further configured to allocate or assign at least one femtocell of the plurality of femtocells or the access point to handle the enabled setup or handoff.

19. The system according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is further configured to allocate or assign at least one time slot for the enabled setup or handoff based on the traffic management information.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is further configured to allocate or assign at least one code for the enabled setup or handoff based on the traffic management information.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is further configured to allocate or assign at least one antenna pattern for the enabled setup or handoff based on the traffic management information.

22. The system according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is further configured to communicate the traffic management information with the at least two femtocells and at least one of the access point or the end-point device, via at least one wired or wireless interface.

23. A method for communication in a communication system comprising a local sub-network having a hybrid network controller, a plurality of femtocells, an access point and an end-point device, comprising:

determining, by the hybrid network controller, traffic management information for enabling setup or handoff of a communication session among at least two femtocells of the plurality of femtocells, the access point, and the end-point device; and

communicating the determined traffic management information, via a wireless local area network to the at least two femtocells and the access point for enabling the setup or the handoff of the communication session.