Gateway Coordinating Multiple Small Cell Radio Access Networks

Abstract

A method of coordinating a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) includes aggregating, with a gateway, communications interfaces between a plurality of RANs and a packet core network through the gateway. A plurality of radio nodes (RNs) in each of the RANs is communicatively coupled to the gateway and to user equipment (UE) devices associated with the RNs in each of the RANs. The gateway also controls and coordinates mobility of the UE devices within and among the RANs. In addition, the gateway acts as a virtual enhanced NodeB (eNB) to the packet core network, thereby hiding the aggregated communications interfaces from the packet core network.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of managing an aggregated self-organizing network (A-SON), comprising:
 grouping a plurality of small cells into clusters using available topology information; and   assigning a subset of clusters to first and second groups of a second type, such that the clusters within a first group of the second type have sufficient coverage to provide RF connectivity to clusters within the second group, if the second group encounters a service interruption.   
     
     
         2 . A method of managing an aggregated self-organizing network (A-SON), the network operating at least partially with unlicensed spectrum, comprising:
 grouping a plurality of small cells into clusters using available topology information; and   causing a plurality of radio nodes associated with respective small cells to select a plurality of respective unlicensed carrier channels for their operation in addition to licensed carrier channels; and   coordinating the selection of the unlicensed carrier channels to ensure that boundary small cells in neighboring clusters do not use the same channel.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising coordinating the selection to ensure that directly neighboring clusters do not use the same channel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising coordinating the selection to ensure that the clusters do not use channels associated with Wi-Fi.