Long term evolution architecture and mobility
First Claim
1. A method of implementing a local radio access network (RAN), comprising:
- aggregating, with an aggregation node, communications interfaces between a plurality of radio nodes and a packet core network through the aggregation node, each respective one of the plurality of radio nodes communicatively coupled to the aggregation node and to user equipment (UE) devices associated with the respective one of the plurality of radio nodes;
controlling, with the aggregation node, mobility of the UE devices associated with the plurality of radio nodes; and
acting, with the aggregation node, as a virtual enhanced NodeB (eNB) to the packet core network, thereby hiding the aggregated communications interfaces from the packet core network, wherein the virtual enhanced eNB is connected to the packet core network via a single user plane interface and a single control plane interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A services node (SN) is provided that functions as a local, premise-based gateway that anchors and aggregates a group of radio nodes (RNs). Accordingly, the SN absorbs the functionalities of conventional mobility management entities (MMEs), as well as serving and packet data network gateways, where the SN appears as a single virtual eNB to a macrocellular core network. As a result, complexity associated with aggregating and controlling a large number of RNs (performed by the SN) is hidden from the core network. Additionally, micro-mobility between individual RNs controlled by an SN is completely handled at a local enterprise gateway level, thus significantly reducing mobility-related signaling from impacting an MME pool in the code network. Moreover local data offloading is made possible via the SN.
59 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of implementing a local radio access network (RAN), comprising:
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aggregating, with an aggregation node, communications interfaces between a plurality of radio nodes and a packet core network through the aggregation node, each respective one of the plurality of radio nodes communicatively coupled to the aggregation node and to user equipment (UE) devices associated with the respective one of the plurality of radio nodes; controlling, with the aggregation node, mobility of the UE devices associated with the plurality of radio nodes; and acting, with the aggregation node, as a virtual enhanced NodeB (eNB) to the packet core network, thereby hiding the aggregated communications interfaces from the packet core network, wherein the virtual enhanced eNB is connected to the packet core network via a single user plane interface and a single control plane interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer program product, embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:
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computer code for causing an aggregation node to aggregate communications interfaces between a plurality of radio nodes and a packet core network through the aggregation node, each respective one of the plurality of radio nodes communicatively coupled to the aggregation node and to user equipment (UE) devices associated with the respective one of the plurality of radio nodes; computer code for causing the aggregation node to control mobility of the UE devices associated with the plurality of radio nodes; and computer code for causing the aggregation node to act as a virtual enhanced NodeB (eNB) to the packet core network, thereby hiding the aggregated communications interfaces from the packet core network, wherein the virtual enhanced eNB is connected to the packet core network via a single user plane interface and a single control plane interface.
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14. A system, comprising:
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a local radio access network (RAN) comprising a plurality of radio nodes; and a packet core network communicatively connected to the plurality of radio nodes via a service node (SN) comprising at least an SN mobility entity, the SN being configured to; aggregate communications interfaces between the plurality of radio nodes and the packet core network, each respective one of the plurality of radio nodes communicatively coupled to the aggregation node and to user equipment (UE) devices associated with the respective one of the plurality of radio nodes; control mobility of the UE devices associated with at least one of the plurality of radio nodes; and act as a virtual enhanced NodeB (eNB) to the packet core network, thereby hiding the aggregated communications interfaces from the packet core network, wherein the virtual enhanced eNB is connected to the packet core network via a single user plane interface and a single control plane interface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification