Heterogeneous Self-Organizing Network for Access and Backhaul

Abstract

This application discloses methods for creating self-organizing networks implemented on heterogeneous mesh networks. The self-organizing networks can include a computing cloud component coupled to the heterogeneous mesh network. In the methods and computer-readable mediums disclosed herein, a processor determines if a user equipment (UE) should hand over its service from a base station to a multi-radio access technology (RAT) node, based on heuristics including one or more of: a distance traveled over a time T1, an average speed over a time T2, a destination stored in internal memory within the UE, a speed limit measurement for a nearby road, a possible direction in which the UE could travel, a signal strength measurement for a servicing base station, and a signal strength measurement for the multi-RAT node. A position profile may be used to predict a future location of the UE.

1 . A computer implemented method of virtualization comprising the steps of:
 pooling a first radio resource of a first multi-RAT node with a second radio resource of a second multi-RAT node wherein the first and second multi-RAT nodes are communicatively coupled so as to form a mesh network;   maintaining a connection to an upstream network device; and   managing the pooled resources so that the upstream network device interfaces with the pooled resources as a single base station.   
     
     
         2 . The computer implemented method of virtualization of  claim 1  further comprising storing anchor data in a memory device. 
     
     
         3 . The computer implemented method of virtualization of  claim 1  further comprising choosing the first radio resource or the second radio resource from the pooled resources to perform a communication task based on an environmental condition. 
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method of virtualization of  claim 1  further comprising handing off a data transmission from the first radio resource to the second radio resource. 
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method of virtualization of  claim 3  wherein the handing off of a data transmission from a first radio resource to a second radio resource is based upon an environmental condition. 
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method of virtualization of  claim 1  wherein the managing the pooled resources further comprises allocating a radio bearer by analyzing a quality of service value, a radio resource utilization value, or a data priority metric. 
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 dynamically inspecting a data packet; 
 determining a data type of the data packet; and 
 choosing the first or second radio resource based on the data type. 
 
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising caching content on a local content server based on a characteristic of datatraffic within the network. 
     
     
         9 . A computer implemented method of paging a user equipment (UE) within a heterogeneous multi-RAT mesh network comprising the steps of:
 receiving a location request for a UE from a first network;   using a network attachment information for a second network to locate the UE; and   sending a paging message to the UE based on the network attachment information for the second network.   
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 9  wherein the second network is a Wi-Fi network and the network attachment information is Wi-Finetwork attachment information.