Small cells implementing multiple air interfaces
View Patent ↗A communication networks including a plurality of small cell providing air interface infrastructure functionality is provided. Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of inter-small cell communication in accordance multiple air interfaces supported within individual small cells. Additionally, aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of intra-small cell communication in accordance with communication networks implementing multiple small cells. In other aspects, small cells coordinate handovers through the use of a controller, or by leveraging wireless connections created between the small cells. In further aspects, the small cells enable the utilization of multiple air interface standards within a small cell.
1. A heterogeneous network comprising:
a user equipment (UE) configured to communicate in accordance with a longer range air interface standard corresponding to a long term evolution (LTE) air interface standard and a shorter range air interface standard corresponding to an IEEE 802.11 air interface standard;
one or more macro cells, wherein each macro cell is configured to wirelessly communicate with the UE in accordance with the longer range air interface standard; and
one or more small cells, wherein each small cell is configured to wirelessly communicate with the UE in accordance with the longer range air interface standard and the shorter range air interface standard;
wherein at least one of the small cells includes a home agent node and a foreign agent node for communications in accordance with each of the longer range and the shorter range air interface standards;
wherein the at least one small cell is configured to implement intra small cell handovers between communications with the UE within the respective cell by utilizing a communication tunnel between the home agent node of the respective cell for the longer range air interface standard and the foreign agent node of the respective cell for the shorter range air interface standard; and
wherein communications between the one or more small cells and a core network are independent of the utilization of the longer or shorter range air interface standard between the small cell and the UE.
2. The network as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more small cells are configured to implement handovers with one of the macro cells.
3. The network as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more small cells comprise a plurality of small cells and are each configured to implement handovers with other small cells.
4. The network as recited in claim 1 wherein communications initiated in accordance with the shorter range air interface standard utilize a communication channel between the home agent for the shorter range air interface standard and the foreign agent node for the shorter range air interface standard.
5. The network as recited in claim 4 , wherein the one or more small cells are configured to implement intra cell handovers between communications with the UE within the respective cell by utilizing a communication tunnel between the home agent node of the respective cell for the shorter range interface standard and the foreign agent node of the respective cell for the longer range air interface standard.
6. A method for managing communications with a user equipment (UE), comprising:
causing, by the UE, establishment of communications with one or more macro cells, in accordance with a first air interface standard comprising a long term evolution (LTE) air interface standard;
causing, by the UE, establishment of communications with one or more small cells, in accordance with the first air interface standard and a second air interface standard comprising an IEEE 802.11 air interface standard;
causing, by the UE, establishment of communications with a first node corresponding to the first air interface standard, wherein the first node corresponds to a home agent node for the first air interface standard; and
causing, by the UE establishment of communications with a second node corresponding to the second air interface standard, wherein the second node corresponds to a foreign agent node for the second air interface standard;
wherein the first and second node correspond to a single small cell of the one or more small cells and wherein communications between the UE and the first and second node of the single small cell are handed off in an intra small cell handover based on a communication tunnel between the first and second nodes of the single small cell, and wherein communications between the single small cell and a core network are independent of the utilization of the first and second air interfaces standard between the single small cell and the UE.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein communications initiated in accordance with the first air interface standard utilize a communication channel between the home agent for the first range air interface standard and a foreign agent node for the first air interface standard.
8. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein communications initiated in accordance with the second air interface standard utilize a communication channel between a home agent for the second range air interface standard and the foreign agent node for the second air interface standard.
9. An apparatus comprising a user equipment (UE) and including:
a first radio component configured to facilitate communication in accordance with a first air interface standard comprising a long term evolution (LTE) air interface standard with one or more macro cells and one or more small cells, including a foreign agent node on a small cell corresponding to the first air interface standard;
a second radio component configured to facilitate communication in accordance with a second air interface standard comprising to an IEEE 802.11 air interface standard with the one or more small cells, including a foreign agent node on the small cell corresponding to the second air interface standard;
wherein the small cell is configured to implement intra small cell handovers by utilizing a communication tunnel between at least one of:
a home agent node for the first air interface standard and the foreign agent node for the second air interface standard; or
a home agent node for the second air interface standard and the foreign agent node for the first air interface standard; and
wherein communications between the small cell and a core network are independent of the utilization of the first and second air interfaces standard between the small cell and the UE.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 further comprising a third radio component configured to communicate in accordance with a third air interface standard.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein the communication tunnel corresponds to a mobile IP communication tunnel.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is associated with a network address by the core network independent of a current air interface standard being utilized by the apparatus and the small cell.