Network selection in a heterogeneous network
A technology for a user equipment (UE) in a multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) heterogeneous network (HetNet) that is operable to receive node-selection pricing information from a plurality of nodes in the multi-RAT HetNet. Effective normalized rate can be determined for the plurality of nodes in the multi-RAT HetNet using the node-selection pricing information. A node can be selected to communicate with in the multi-RAT HetNet to maximize a selected preference based on the effective normalized rate.
1. A user equipment (UE) is configured to select a node in a multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) heterogeneous network (HetNet), the UE having computer circuitry configured to:
receive node-selection pricing information from a plurality of nodes in the multi-RAT HetNet;
determine an effective normalized rate for the plurality of nodes in the multi-RAT HetNet using the node-selection pricing information, wherein the effective normalized rate is represented by:
R
eff
=
R
(
SNR
)
Price
,
where R eff is the effective normalized rate, R(SNR) is a function of a signal to noise ratio (SNR), and Price represents the node-selection pricing information; and
select a node to communicate with in the multi-RAT HetNet to maximize a selected preference based on the effective normalized rate.
2. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the selected preference is one of an effective data rate, a delay, a power level, a throughput, a quality of service, a power efficiency, a data transmission rate for the UE to communicate with the selected node in the multi-RAT HetNet.
3. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the selected preference is computed as a function of the node-selection pricing information.
4. The computer circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the selected preference is an effective utility that is represented by:
U eff =f(U user , U operator , Network price), where U eff is the effective utility, u user is a utility to a user, u operator is a utility to an operator, and Network Price is the node-selection pricing information.
5. A method for a user equipment (UE) selecting a heterogeneous network (HetNet) node in a multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) HetNet, the method comprising:
receiving node-selection pricing information from a plurality of nodes in the multi-RAT HetNet;
determining an effective normalized rate for the plurality of nodes using the node-selection pricing information, wherein the effective normalized rate is represented by:
R
eff
=
R
(
SNR
)
Price
,
where R eff is the effective normalized rate, R(SNR) is a function of a signal to noise ratio (SNR), and Price represents the node-selection pricing information; and
selecting a node in the multi-RAT HetNet using the node-selection pricing information to maximize a selected preference relative to the effective normalized rate.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising combining the effective normalized rate with a UE preference, a UE utility, or an operator preference to select the node in the multi-RAT HetNet.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising maximizing the selected preference by selecting a highest effective normalized data transmission or data reception rate.
8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising initiating a node association with the selected node in the multi-RAT HetNet.
9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving the node-selection pricing information from a single radio access technology (RAT) in the multi-RAT HetNet.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the node-selection pricing information from the single RAT in the multi-RAT HetNet is determined using a node range extension scheme.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the effective normalized rate is represented by R(SNR origial )=PowerOffsetdB price/(1-Price), where R(SNR original ) is the effective normalized rate, PowerOffsetdB represents a power offset value in decibels, and Price is the node-selection pricing information.
12. The method of claim 5 , further comprising forming a connection between the UE and one of a plurality of nodes in the multi-RAT HetNet by:
determining an optimal node for association by rank ordering the normalized effective rates associated with each node; and
forming the connection with the one of the plurality of nodes based on the rank ordering.