Controlling wireless device communication with access nodes

Abstract

When a first loading of a first access node is determined to meet a loading criteria, a handover criteria is decreased for a second access node comprising a coverage area at least a portion of which is within a coverage area of the first access node. A handover is performed of at least one of a plurality of wireless devices from the first access node to the second access node when a signal level of the second access node received at the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices meets the decreased handover criteria. Changes are determined in the first loading and in a throughput provided to the at least one of the wireless devices, and the handover criteria for the second access node is adjusted based on the changes in the first loading and the throughput provided to the at least one wireless device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling wireless device communication with access nodes, comprising:
 determining that a first loading of a first access node in communication with a plurality of wireless devices in a first coverage area meets a loading criteria; 
 decreasing a handover criteria for a second access node, wherein the second access node comprises a second coverage area that overlaps at least a portion of the first coverage area; 
 performing a handover of at least one of the plurality of wireless devices to the second access node when a signal level of the second access node received at the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices meets the decreased handover criteria; 
 determining a change in the first loading and a change in a throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; 
 determining a change in a periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and 
 adjusting the decreased handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a change in a latency of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and 
 adjusting the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the latency of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a change in a data loss rate of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and 
 adjusting the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the a change in the data loss rate. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a communication session of the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices is terminated when the handover is performed of at least one of the plurality of wireless devices to the second access node; and 
 adjusting the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading and whether the communication session is terminated. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an application requirement of an application running on the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; 
 determining a weighting factor based on the determined application requirement and applying the weighting factor to the determined change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and 
 adjusting the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the weighted change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining location characteristics of the second access node relative to the first access node; 
 adjusting a handover criteria for a third access node based on the adjusted handover criteria for the second access node when the third access node comprises location characteristics relative to the first access node which are substantially similar to the location characteristics of the second access node. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a change in a second loading of the second access node; and 
 adjusting the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the change in the second loading, the change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing node is further configured to:
 determine a change in a latency of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and 
 adjust the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the latency of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices. 
 
     
     
       9. A system of controlling wireless device communication with access nodes, comprising:
 a processing node, configured to
 determine that a first loading of a first access node in communication with a plurality of wireless devices in a first coverage area meets a loading criteria; 
 decrease a handover criteria for a second access node, wherein the second access node comprises a second coverage area that overlaps at least a portion of the first coverage area; 
 perform a handover of at least one of the plurality of wireless devices to the second access node when a signal level of the second access node received at the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices meets the decreased handover criteria; 
 determine a change in the first loading and a change in a throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; 
 determine a change in a periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and 
 adjust the decreased handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing node is further configured to:
 determine a change in a data loss rate of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and 
 adjust the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the a change in the data loss rate. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing node is further configured to:
 determine that a communication session of the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices is terminated when the handover is performed of at least one of the plurality of wireless devices to the second access node; and 
 adjust the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading and whether the communication session is terminated. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing node is further configured to:
 determine an application requirement of an application running on the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; 
 determine a weighting factor based on the determined application requirement and applying the weighting factor to the determined change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and 
 adjust the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the weighted change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing node is further configured to:
 determine location characteristics of the second access node relative to the first access node; 
 adjust a handover criteria for a third access node based on the adjusted handover criteria for the second access node when the third access node comprises location characteristics relative to the first access node which are substantially similar to the location characteristics of the second access node. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing node is further configured to:
 determine a change in a second loading of the second access node; and 
 adjusting the handover criteria for the second access node based on the change in the first loading, the change in the second loading, the change in the throughput provided to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices, and the change in the periodicity of data sent to the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices.