Small cell network architecture for servicing multiple network operators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10499388-B2
Application number	US-201815946556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2018
Priority date	Jul 11, 2013
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

Systems are provided for managing a small cell telecommunication system servicing multiple network operators. In one aspect, a small cell telecommunication system can include management sub-system including a controller, multiple baseband processing units in communication with the controller, a transport module, and multiple remote antenna units. The controller can communicate with multiple core networks. Each core network is operated by a separate network operator for providing telecommunication services to terminal devices. Each of the baseband processing units can process data plane data and control plane data from at least one respective core network. The transport module can communicate signals between the baseband processing units and the remote antenna units of the small cell network. The management sub-system can provide a respective amount of capacity via the small cell network for each core network based on a respective subset of the baseband processing units assigned to the core network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A management sub-system for managing a small cell network servicing a plurality of network operators the system comprising:
a controller in communication with a plurality of core networks, wherein each of the plurality of core networks is operated by a separate network operator providing telecommunication services to terminal devices; and
a plurality of baseband processing units in communication with the controller, wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is configured to process data from at least one respective core network of the plurality of core networks for distribution via a plurality of remote antenna units of the small cell network;
wherein the plurality of remote antenna units are remotely located from the plurality of baseband processing units;
wherein at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units is remotely located from at least one other remote antenna unit;
wherein the management sub-system is configured for providing a respective amount of capacity via the small cell network for each core network of the plurality of core networks based on a respective subset of the plurality of baseband processing units assigned to the core network; and
wherein the controller is configured to provide, independently for each network operator, (a) small cell and macro cell handover management and (b) small cell and macro cell interference management.

2. The management sub-system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to allocate radio resources provided by the small cell network among the plurality of network operators.

3. The management sub-system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to allocate the radio resources by:
determining, for each of the plurality of network operators, a respective number of terminal devices communicating with a respective core network of the network operator via the small cell network; and
allocating a respective portion of the radio resources to each network operator based on the respective number of terminal devices.

4. The management sub-system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to minimize interference between signals communicated from the plurality of core networks to the plurality of remote antenna units.

5. The management sub-system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to communicate signals between at least one data network other than the plurality of core networks and at least one of the terminal devices.

6. The management sub-system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to automatically integrate additional remote antenna units into the small cell network.

7. The management sub-system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to automatically reduce impacts from the failure of at least one component of the small cell network.

8. The management sub-system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is further configured to provide media access control for the respective core network.

9. The management sub-system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is further configured to provide radio resource control for the respective core network.

10. The management sub-system of claim 1 , further comprising a combiner and backplane system in communication with the plurality of baseband processing units and the controller, wherein the combiner and backplane system configured to communicate signals between the plurality of baseband processing units and the plurality of remote antenna units of the small cell network; and
wherein the controller is further configured to coordinate communication of signals from different core networks by the combiner and backplane system to a common cell serviced by at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units.

11. A small cell network for servicing a plurality of network operators, the small cell network comprising:
a management sub-system comprising:
a controller in communication with a plurality of core networks, wherein each of the plurality of core networks is operated by a separate network operator providing telecommunication services to terminal devices,
wherein the controller is configured to provide, independently for each network operator, (a) small cell and macro cell handover management and (b) small cell and macro cell interference management,
a plurality of baseband processing units in communication with the controller, wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is configured to process data from at least one respective core network of the plurality of core networks for distribution via a plurality of remote antenna units of the small cell network, wherein the management sub-system is configured for providing a respective amount of capacity via the small cell network for each core network of the plurality of core networks based on a respective subset of the plurality of baseband processing units assigned to the core network, and
a combiner and backplane system in communication with the plurality of baseband processing units, wherein the combiner and backplane system is configured to communicate signals between the plurality of baseband processing units and a plurality of remote antenna units;

the plurality of remote antenna units;
wherein the plurality of remote antenna units are remotely located from the plurality of baseband processing units; and
wherein at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units is remotely located from at least one other remote antenna unit.

12. The small cell network of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to allocate radio resources provided by the small cell network among the plurality of network operators.

13. The small cell network of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to allocate the radio resources by:
determining, for each of the plurality of network operators, a respective number of terminal devices communicating with a respective core network of the network operator via the plurality of remote antenna unit; and
allocating a respective portion of the radio resources to each network operator based on the respective number of terminal devices.

14. The small cell network of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to minimize interference between signals communicated from the plurality of core networks to the plurality of remote antenna units.

15. The small cell network of claim 11 , wherein the controller is in communication with the combiner and backplane system via a control link bypassing the plurality of baseband processing units, wherein the controller is further configured to:
generate control signals for coordinating communication of signals by the combiner and backplane system from different core networks to a common cell serviced by at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units; and
provide the control signals to the combiner and backplane system via the control link.

16. The small cell network of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to communicate signals between at least one data network other than the plurality of core networks and at least one of the terminal devices.

17. The small cell network of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to automatically integrate additional remote antenna units.

18. The small cell network of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to automatically reduce impacts from the failure of at least one component of the small cell network.

19.

Assignees

• Andrew Wireless Systems Gmbh

Inventors

• Tarlazzi Luigi

Classifications

• H04W72/541

  using the level of interference · CPC title

• H04W72/29 Primary

  between an access point and the access point controlling device · CPC title

• H04W72/51

  based on terminal or device properties · CPC title

• H04W84/045

  using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B · CPC title

• H04W16/14

  Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks} · CPC title