Apparatus for Clustering Cells Using Neighbor Relations

Abstract

An apparatus operable in a communication system is described. The apparatus includes means for receiving a neighbor relation message from another apparatus. The apparatus also includes means for generating cluster information based on the neighbor relation message. The apparatus further includes means for transmitting the cluster information to the other apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus operable in a communication system, comprising:
 means for receiving cell information;   means for generating a neighbor relation table based on the cell information; and   means for transmitting neighbor information based on the neighbor relation table to another apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting neighbor information comprises transmitting one or more neighbor relation messages. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for receiving cluster information from the other apparatus; and   means for communicating based on the cluster information.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein communicating based on the cluster information comprises communicating with one or more base stations based on the cluster information. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein communicating based on the cluster information comprises communicating with one or more wireless communication devices based on the cluster information. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for receiving other information; and   means for generating extended information in the neighbor relation table based on the other information.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the other information comprises communication condition information. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the other information comprises a wireless communication device identifier. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein generating extended information comprises generating a rank. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a base station and the other apparatus is a central unit. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for transmitting neighbor information comprises a central unit interface. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 circuitry configured to receive cell information, to generate a neighbor relation table based on the cell information, and to transmit neighbor information based on the neighbor relation table to another apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein transmitting neighbor information comprises transmitting one or more neighbor relation messages. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 circuitry configured to receive cluster information from the other apparatus, and to communicate based on the cluster information.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein communicating based on the cluster information comprises communicating with one or more base stations based on the cluster information. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein communicating based on the cluster information comprises communicating with one or more wireless communication devices based on the cluster information. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 circuitry configured to receive other information, and to generate extended information in the neighbor relation table based on the other information.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the other information comprises communication condition information. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the other information comprises a wireless communication device identifier. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein generating extended information comprises generating a rank. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is a base station and the other apparatus is a central unit. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the circuitry configured to transmit neighbor information comprises a central unit interface. 
     
     
         23 . A computer-program product operable in a communication system, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:
 code for causing an apparatus to receive cell information;   code for causing the apparatus to generate a neighbor relation table based on the cell information; and   code for causing the apparatus to transmit neighbor information based on the neighbor relation table to another apparatus.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-program product of  claim 23 , the instructions further comprising:
 code for causing the apparatus to receive cluster information from the other apparatus; and   code for causing the apparatus to communicate based on the cluster information.   
     
     
         25 . The computer-program product of  claim 23 , the instructions further comprising:
 code for causing the apparatus to receive other information; and   code for causing the apparatus to generate extended information in the neighbor relation table based on the other information.