Enterprise Level Management in a Multi-Femtocell Network

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for enterprise level management in a multi-femtocell network are provided. In this regard, one or more endpoint devices may receive traffic management information from a hybrid network controller for enabling handoff of calls and/or communication sessions among femtocells and/or access points. The received traffic management information may comprise set-up instructions, handoff instructions, transmit power, neighbor list information, signal quality thresholds, frequency assignments, transmission time, code assignments and/or antenna pattern assignments. The endpoint device may control handoffs between a communication device external to the communication system and the femtocells, access points and/or end-point devices.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A hybrid network controller, comprising:
 a memory that stores operating parameters for the hybrid network controller; and   a processor configured to:
 manage, based on the operating parameters, communications among one or more of: a plurality of endpoint devices, a plurality of femtocells, or a plurality of access points (APs); and 
 communicate one or more control parameters to the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality APs to manage the communications. 
   
     
     
         22 . The hybrid network controller of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to communicate traffic management information to an endpoint device from among the plurality of endpoint devices to manage handoffs between and/or among one or more of: the plurality of femtocells and/or the plurality of APs. 
     
     
         23 . The hybrid network controller of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive network status information from the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality of APs; and   determine a handoff candidate based on the received network status information.   
     
     
         24 . The hybrid network controller of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage handoffs between the plurality of femtocells and the plurality of APs. 
     
     
         25 . The hybrid network controller of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is further configured to manage handoffs among the plurality of femtocells or among the plurality of APs. 
     
     
         26 . The hybrid network controller of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to assign the plurality of femtocells and/or the plurality of APs to handle communications for the plurality of endpoint devices. 
     
     
         27 . The hybrid network controller of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive network operating conditions from the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality of APs; and   determine, based on the network operating conditions, traffic management information for the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality of APs.   
     
     
         28 . The hybrid network controller of  claim 27 , wherein the traffic management information comprises instructions indicating when an endpoint device from among the plurality of endpoint devices should handoff to a femtocell from among the plurality of femtocells or an AP from among the plurality of APs. 
     
     
         29 . A method, comprising:
 storing operating parameters for a hybrid network controller in a memory;   managing, based on the operating parameters, communications among one of more of: a plurality of endpoint devices, a plurality of femtocells, or a plurality of access points (APs); and   communicating one or more control parameters to the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, and the plurality of APs to manage the communications.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising:
 communicating traffic management information to an endpoint device from among the plurality of endpoint devices to manage handoffs between and/or among one or more of: the plurality of femtocells and/or the plurality of APs. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 receiving network status information from the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality of APs; and   determining a handoff candidate based on the received network status information.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 assigning the plurality of femtocells and/or the plurality of APs to handle communications for the plurality of endpoint devices.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 receiving network operating conditions from the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality of APs; and   determining traffic management information for the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality of APs based on the network operating conditions.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the traffic management information comprises instructions indicating when an endpoint device from among the plurality of endpoint devices should handoff to a femtocell from among the plurality of femtocells or an AP from among the plurality of APs. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a method, the method comprising:
 storing operating parameters for a hybrid network controller in a memory;   managing, based on the operating parameters, communications among one of more of: a plurality of endpoint devices, a plurality of femtocells, or a plurality of access points (APs); and   communicating one or more control parameters to the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, and the plurality of APs to manage the communications.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the method further comprises communicating traffic management information to an endpoint device from among the plurality of endpoint devise to manage handoffs between and/or among one or more of the plurality of femtocells and/or the plurality of APs. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the traffic management information comprises instructions indicating when an endpoint device from among the plurality of endpoint devices should handoff to a femtocell from among the plurality of femtocells or an AP from among the plurality of APs. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving network status information from the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality of APs; and   determining handoff candidates based on the received network status information.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the method further comprises assigning the plurality of femtocells and/or the plurality of APs to handle communications for the plurality of endpoint devices. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving network operating conditions from the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality of APs; and   determining, based on the network operating conditions, traffic management information for the one or more of: the plurality of endpoint devices, the plurality of femtocells, or the plurality of APs.