Topology discovery and management and son orchestration
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are disclosed for managing an aggregated self-organizing network (A-SON). In such, a plurality of small cells is grouped into clusters using available topology information. In one implementation, a subset of clusters is assigned to groups of a first type, such that the clusters within a group of the first type have minimal RF connectivity. For example, scanning or updating of RF parameters may then be coordinated such that adjacent clusters do not scan or update simultaneously but clusters within groups of the first type do have at least partially overlapping scans or updates. Similarly, subsets of clusters may be assigned to first and second groups of a second type, such that the clusters within a first group of the second type have sufficient coverage to provide RF connectivity to clusters within the second group, if the second group encounters a service interruption. Other benefits are also described.
1. A gateway through which a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) communicate with a packet core network, comprising:
a plurality of access controller circuits to which at least one RAN is assigned, each of the plurality of access controller circuits being configured to control the at least one RAN assigned thereto;
a core network aggregator circuit configured as a single interface for all communication between the plurality of access controller circuits and the packet core network; and
a cluster manager circuit configured to:
assign radio nodes (RNs) to the plurality of access controller circuits;
transfer RN assignments from one access controller circuit to a different access controller circuit under specified circumstances;
assign a subset of clusters to groups of a first type, such that clusters within a group of the first type have minimal radio frequency (RF) connectivity; and
coordinate scanning or updating of RF parameters such that adjacent clusters do not scan or update simultaneously but clusters within the groups of the first type do have at least partially overlapping scans or updates.
2. The gateway of claim 1 , wherein the cluster manager circuit is further configured to assign a subset of clusters to first and second groups of a second type, such that clusters within the first group of the second type have coverage to provide RF connectivity to clusters within the second group, if the second group encounters a service interruption.
3. The gateway of claim 2 , wherein the cluster manager circuit is further configured to cause a plurality of radio nodes associated with respective small cells to select a plurality of respective unlicensed carrier channels for their operation in addition to licensed carrier channels.
4. The gateway of claim 3 , wherein the cluster manager circuit is further configured to coordinate the selection of the plurality of respective unlicensed carrier channels to ensure that boundary small cells in neighboring clusters do not use a same channel.
5. The gateway of claim 2 , wherein the minimal RF connectivity corresponds to a situation such that a user equipment (UE) at an edge of one radio node cannot detect a second radio node.
6. The gateway of claim 1 , wherein the cluster manager circuit is further configured to cause a plurality of radio nodes associated with respective small cells to select a plurality of respective unlicensed carrier channels for their operation in addition to licensed carrier channels.
7. The gateway of claim 6 , wherein the cluster manager circuit is further configured to coordinate the selection of the plurality of respective unlicensed carrier channels to ensure that boundary small cells in neighboring clusters do not use a same channel.
8. The gateway of claim 7 , wherein the minimal RF connectivity corresponds to a situation such that a user equipment (UE) at an edge of one radio node cannot detect a second radio node.
9. The gateway of claim 6 , wherein the minimal RF connectivity corresponds to a situation such that a user equipment (UE) at an edge of one radio node cannot detect a second radio node.
10. The gateway of claim 1 , wherein the minimal RF connectivity corresponds to a situation such that a user equipment (UE) at an edge of one radio node cannot detect a second radio node.
11. A gateway through which a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) communicate with a packet core network, comprising:
a plurality of access controller circuits to which at least one RAN is assigned, each of the plurality of access controller circuits being configured to control the at least one RAN assigned thereto;
a core network aggregator circuit configured as a single interface for all communication between the plurality of access controller circuits and the packet core network; and
a cluster manager circuit configured to:
assign radio nodes (RNs) to the plurality of access controller circuits;
transfer RN assignments from one access controller circuit to a different access controller circuit under specified circumstances;
assign a subset of clusters to groups of a first type, such that clusters within a group of the first type have minimal radio frequency (RF) connectivity;
coordinate scanning or updating of RF parameters such that clusters within the groups of the first type have at least partially overlapping scans or updates; and
assign a subset of clusters to first and second groups of a second type, such that clusters within the first group of the second type have coverage to provide RF connectivity to clusters within the second group, if the second group encounters a service interruption.
12. The gateway of claim 11 , wherein the cluster manager circuit is further configured to cause a plurality of radio nodes associated with respective small cells to select a plurality of respective unlicensed carrier channels for their operation in addition to licensed carrier channels.
13. The gateway of claim 12 , wherein the cluster manager circuit is further configured to coordinate the selection of the plurality of respective unlicensed carrier channels to ensure that boundary small cells in neighboring clusters do not use a same channel.
14. The gateway of claim 13 , wherein the minimal RF connectivity corresponds to a situation such that a user equipment (UE) at an edge of one radio node cannot detect a second radio node.
15. The gateway of claim 12 , wherein the minimal RF connectivity corresponds to a situation such that a user equipment (UE) at an edge of one radio node cannot detect a second radio node.
16. The gateway of claim 11 , wherein the minimal RF connectivity corresponds to a situation such that a user equipment (UE) at an edge of one radio node cannot detect a second radio node.