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:
 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 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 at least one transmit point associated with a first cell identifier (ID); and   changing an association of the first transmit point from a 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.   
     
     
       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:
 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 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); and   change an association of the first transmit point from a 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.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the network conditions include load distribution, and the at least one processing unit is configured 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 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 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:
 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); and   change an association of the transmit point from a 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,   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 comprising:
 receiving, by an apparatus, first control information in a first downlink transmission over a broadcast common control channel transmitted from a first subset of base stations, the first subset of base stations being from a set of base stations in a hyper cell of a cellular network, wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), the set of base stations in the hyper cell have no bind with the cell IDs separately, and the set of base stations in the hyper cell share a same hyper cell identifier (ID);   decoding, by the apparatus, the first control information in accordance with a first reference signal, wherein the first reference signal is tied to the same hyper cell ID;   receiving, by the apparatus, second control information in a second downlink transmission over a user equipment (UE)-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations, the second subset of base stations being from the set of base stations sharing the same hyper cell ID; and   decoding, by the apparatus, the second control information in accordance with a second reference signal, wherein the second reference signal is associated with a UE ID that is specific to the apparatus and not tied to the second subset of base stations from the set of base stations sharing the same hyper cell ID.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, the receiving the second control information comprising:
 receiving, by the apparatus, the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations that are transparent to the apparatus.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
 receiving, by the apparatus, data over a UE-specific virtual data channel transmitted from a third subset of base stations, the third subset of base stations being different from the second subset of base stations.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 10, the receiving the second control information comprising:
 receiving, by the apparatus, the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations selected from the set of base stations based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 10, the receiving the second control information comprising:
 receiving, by the apparatus, the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations using a control scrambling sequence, the control scrambling sequence being created in accordance with the UE ID.   
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 transmitting, by a base station to a user equipment (UE), first control information in a first downlink transmission over a broadcast common control channel transmitted from a first subset of base stations including the base station, the first subset of base stations being from a set of base stations in a hyper cell of a cellular network, wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), the set of base stations in the hyper cell have no bind with the cell IDs separately, the set of base stations in the hyper cell share a same hyper cell identifier (ID), the first control information is decoded in accordance with a first reference signal, and the first reference signal is tied to the same hyper cell ID; and   transmitting, by the base station to the UE, second control information in a second downlink transmission over a UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations, the second subset of base stations being from the set of base stations sharing the same hyper cell ID, wherein the second control information is decoded in accordance with a second reference signal, and wherein the second reference signal is associated with a UE ID that is specific to the UE and not tied to the second subset of base stations from the set of base stations sharing the same hyper cell ID.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, the transmitting the second control information comprising:
 transmitting, by the base station to the UE, the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations that are transparent to the UE.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
 transmitting, by the base station, data over a UE-specific virtual data channel transmitted from a third subset of base stations, the third subset of base stations being different from the second subset of base stations.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 15, the transmitting the second control information comprising:
 transmitting, by the base station to the UE, the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations selected from the set of base stations based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 15, the transmitting the second control information comprising:
 transmitting, by the base station to the UE, the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations using a control scrambling sequence, the control scrambling sequence being created in accordance with the UE ID.   
     
     
       20. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming, the programming including instructions for execution by the at least one processor to perform operations of:
 receiving first control information in a first downlink transmission over a broadcast common control channel transmitted from a first subset of base stations, the first subset of base stations being from a set of base stations in a hyper cell of a cellular network, wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), the set of base stations in the hyper cell have no bind with the cell IDs separately, and the set of base stations in the hyper cell share a same hyper cell identifier (ID); 
 decoding the first control information in accordance with a first reference signal, wherein the first reference signal is tied to the same hyper cell ID; 
 receiving second control information in a second downlink transmission over a user equipment (UE)-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations, the second subset of base stations being from the set of base stations sharing the same hyper cell ID; and 
 decoding the second control information in accordance with a second reference signal, wherein the second reference signal is associated with a UE ID that is specific to the apparatus and not tied to the second subset of base stations from the set of base stations sharing the same hyper cell ID. 
   
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 20, the receiving the second control information comprising:
 receiving the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations that are transparent to the apparatus.   
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 20, the operations further comprising:
 receiving data over a UE-specific virtual data channel transmitted from a third subset of base stations, the third subset of base stations being different from the second subset of base stations.   
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 20, the receiving the second control information comprising:
 receiving the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations selected from the set of base stations based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 20, the receiving the second control information comprising:
 receiving the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations using a control scrambling sequence, the control scrambling sequence being created in accordance with the UE ID.   
     
     
       25. A base station comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming, the programming including instructions for execution by the at least one processor to perform operations of:
 transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), first control information in a first downlink transmission over a broadcast common control channel transmitted from a first subset of base stations including the base station, the first subset of base stations being from a set of base stations in a hyper cell of a cellular network, wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), the set of base stations in the hyper cell have no bind with the cell IDs separately, the set of base stations in the hyper cell share a same hyper cell identifier (ID), the first control information is decoded in accordance with a first reference signal, and the first reference signal is tied to the same hyper cell ID; and 
 transmitting, to the UE, second control information in a second downlink transmission over a UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations, the second subset of base stations being from the set of base stations sharing the same hyper cell ID, wherein the second control information is decoded in accordance with a second reference signal, and wherein the second reference signal is associated with a UE ID that is specific to the UE and not tied to the second subset of base stations from the set of base stations sharing the same hyper cell ID. 
   
     
     
       26. The base station of claim 25, the transmitting the second control information comprising:
 transmitting, to the UE, the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations that are transparent to the UE.   
     
     
       27. The base station of claim 25, the operations further comprising:
 transmitting data over a UE-specific virtual data channel transmitted from a third subset of base stations, the third subset of base stations being different from the second subset of base stations.   
     
     
       28. The base station of claim 25, the transmitting the second control information comprising:
 transmitting, to the UE, the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations selected from the set of base stations based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network.   
     
     
       29. The base station of claim 25, the transmitting the second control information comprising:
 transmitting, to the UE, the second control information in the second downlink transmission over the UE-specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from the second subset of base stations using a control scrambling sequence, the control scrambling sequence being created in accordance with the UE ID.