Method and system for dynamic cell configuration

Abstract

An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network is disclosed. During operation, the apparatus collects data regarding network conditions of the cellular network. In accordance with the collected network condition data, the apparatus changes an association of a transmit point from a second cell ID of a second hyper cell to a first cell ID of a first hyper cell. Virtual data channels, broadcast common control channel and virtual dedicated control channel, transmit point optimization, UE-centric channel sounding and measurement, and single frequency network synchronization are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network, the method comprising:
 communicating, by a second hyper cell, with a user equipment (UE), the second hyper cell including at least one transmit point associated with a second cell identifier (ID); 
 collecting data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, the cellular network utilizing a wireless protocol; 
 in accordance with the collected data, determining that a first transmit point associated with a the second hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol is to be added to a first hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol, wherein the first hyper cell includes including at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (ID) ID; and 
 changing an association of the first transmit point from a the second cell ID to the first cell ID, wherein at least one transmit point of the second hyper cell is associated with the second cell ID; and 
 communicating, by the first hyper cell, with the UE. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network conditions include load distribution, and wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and 
 changing cell IDs of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network conditions include UE distribution across the network, and wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that a concentration of user equipments (UEs) serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and 
 changing cell IDs of one or more transmit points to the cell ID of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and 
 turning off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs. 
 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:
 a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions; and 
 a processor in communication with the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, wherein the processor executes the instructions to:
 cause a second hyper cell to communicate with a user equipment (UE), the second hyper cell including at least one transmit point associated with a second cell identifier (ID); 
 at least one collector configured to collect data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, the cellular network configured to utilize a wireless protocol; 
 at least one processing unit configured to: 
 determine that a first transmit point associated with a the second hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol is to be added to a first hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol in accordance with the collected data, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (ID) ID; and 
 change an association of the first transmit point from a the second cell ID to the first cell ID, wherein at least one transmit point of the second hyper cell is associated with the second cell ID; and 
 cause the first hyper cell to communicate with the UE. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the network conditions include load distribution, and the at least one processing unit is configured processor executes the instructions to:
 determine that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and 
 change cell IDs of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the network conditions include user equipment (UE) distribution across the network, and the at least one processing unit is configured processor executes the instructions to:
 determine that a concentration of UEs serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and 
 change cell IDs of one or more transmit points to the cell ID of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one processing unit is configured processor executes the instructions to:
 determine that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and 
 turn off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs. 
 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:
 a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions; and 
 a processor in communication with the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, wherein the processor executes the instructions to:
 cause a second hyper cell to communicate with a user equipment (UE), the second hyper cell including at least one transmit point associated with a second cell identifier (ID); 
 at least one collector configured to collect data regarding network conditions of the cellular network; 
 at least one processing unit configured to: 
 determine that a transmit point is to be added to a first hyper cell in accordance with the collected data, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (ID) ID; and 
 change an association of the transmit point from a the second cell ID to the first cell ID, wherein at least one transmit point of a second hyper cell is associated with the second cell ID,; and 
 cause the first hyper cell to communicate with the UE; 
 wherein the apparatus is a base station controlling one or more remote radio heads and wherein the base station is adapted to dynamically change one or more cell identifier (ID) in response to changing network conditions, wherein: 
 the base station is connected to each of the one or more remote radio heads via a communication line; and 
 the one or more remote radio heads are adapted to receive and transmit radio frequency signals, and wherein the transmit point is a remote radio head. 
 
 
     
     
       10. A method for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network utilizing a wireless protocol, the method comprising:
 communicating, by a second hyper cell, with a user equipment (UE), the second hyper cell including at least one transmit point associated with a second cell identifier (ID);   determining that a first transmit point associated with the second hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol is to be added to a first hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol in accordance with data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, the first hyper cell including at least one transmit point associated with a first cell ID;   changing an association of the first transmit point from the second cell ID to the first cell ID; and   communicating, by the first hyper cell, with the UE.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, wherein the network conditions include load distribution, and wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and   changing cell IDs of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 10, wherein the network conditions include UE distribution across the cellular network, and wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that a concentration of user equipments (UEs) serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and   changing cell IDs of one or more transmit points to the cell ID of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
 determining that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and   turning off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus for adapting hyper cells in response to changing conditions of a cellular network configured to utilize a wireless protocol, the apparatus comprising:
 a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions; and   a processor in communication with the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, wherein the processor executes the instructions to:
 cause a second hyper cell to communicate with a user equipment (UE), the second hyper cell including at least one transmit point associated with a second cell identifier (ID); 
 determine that a first transmit point associated with the second hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol is to be added to a first hyper cell utilizing the wireless protocol in accordance with data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, wherein the first hyper cell includes at least one transmit point associated with a first cell ID; 
 change an association of the first transmit point from the second cell ID to the first cell ID; and 
 cause the first hyper cell to communicate with the UE. 
   
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the network conditions include load distribution, and the processor executes the instructions to:
 determine that a traffic load of a portion of the cellular network exceeds a predetermined threshold; and   change cell IDs of one or more transmit points transmitting to the portion of the cellular network.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the network conditions include user equipment (UE) distribution across the cellular network, and the processor executes the instructions to:
 determine that a concentration of UEs serviced by the cellular network at a boundary of the first hyper cell is above a predetermined threshold; and   change cell IDs of one or more transmit points to the cell ID of the first hyper cell, wherein the one or more transmit points transmit to the boundary of the first hyper cell.   
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor executes the instructions to:
 determine that a second transmit point serves less than a threshold number of UEs; and   turn off the second transmit point in response to determining that the second transmit point is serving less than the threshold number of UEs.