Methods and systems for gsm spectrum refarming for lte small cells

Abstract

One embodiment of the method includes allocating, using a network management entity, at least one of a plurality of physical resource blocks (PRBs) of a first wireless access technology for utilization by a second wireless access technology. A spectrum of the first wireless access technology is embedded within a spectrum of the second wireless access technology. The method further includes communicating, using the network management entity, a message to a controller of the first wireless access technology identifying the PRBs not allocated for utilization by the second wireless access technology.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 allocating, using a network management entity, at least one of a plurality of physical resource blocks (PRBs) of a first wireless access technology for utilization by a second wireless access technology, a spectrum of the first wireless access technology being embedded within a spectrum of the second wireless access technology; and   communicating, using the network management entity, a message to a controller of the first wireless access technology identifying the PRBs not allocated for utilization by the second wireless access technology.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating a second message identifying the allocated PRBs to a controller of the second wireless access technology.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the allocating is based on cell identifications of only a subset of a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells providing coverage for a plurality of user devices operating based on the first wireless access technology. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 choosing the PRBs for utilization by the second wireless access technology such that the allocated PRBs do not include any one of a plurality of critical PRBs associated with the first wireless access technology, the plurality of critical PRBs being reserved for utilization by the first wireless access technology.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 communicating a second message identifying the plurality of critical PRBs to a controller of the second wireless access technology.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first wireless access technology is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology and the second wireless access technology is a Global System for Mobile (GSM) technology, and
 the plurality of critical PRBs include a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel (PHICH), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a broadcast channel and a synchronization channel.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a network management entity configured to
 allocate at least one of a plurality of physical resource blocks (PRBs) of a first wireless access technology for utilization by a second wireless access technology, a spectrum of the first wireless access technology being embedded within a spectrum of the second wireless access technology; and 
 communicate a message to a controller of the first wireless access technology identifying the PRBs not allocated for utilization by the second wireless access technology. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the network management entity is further configured to communicate a message identifying the allocated PRBs, a plurality of critical PRBs of the first wireless access technology and at least one guard region created around at least one cell of the first wireless access technology to a controller of the second wireless access technology. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first wireless access technology is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology and the second wireless access technology is a Global System for Mobile (GSM) technology, and
 the plurality of critical PRBs include a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel (PHICH), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a broadcast channel and a synchronization channel.