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:
 distinguishing, by a user equipment (UE), a UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from a subset of base stations based on a UE identifier (ID) associated with a data transmission,   wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are selected from a plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell in a cellular network,   wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), and the plurality of base stations in the first hyper cell share a first common cell ID; and   receiving, by the UE, the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from the subset of base stations,   wherein a pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual data channel is associated with the UE ID, and the subset of base stations transmitting the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel are transparent to the UE.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are dynamically selected based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
 receiving, by the UE, a control information transmission in a UE specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations, the second subset of base stations being different from the subset of base stations.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein a second pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel is associated with the UE ID, and the second subset of base stations transmitting the control information transmission in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel are transparent to the UE. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 10, wherein the cellular network further comprises a second hyper cell, wherein a second plurality of base stations in the second hyper cell share a second common cell ID, wherein a base station is selected from the second plurality of base stations of the second hyper cell based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, wherein the selected based station is removed from the second hyper cell and added to the first hyper cell to change a first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and a second serving coverage of the second hyper cell. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 10, the pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual data channel being associated with the UE ID and an assigned UE index. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 10, wherein the cellular network further comprises a second hyper cell, and the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell share at least one common base station. 
     
     
       17. A user equipment (UE) 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:
 distinguishing a UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from a subset of base stations based on a UE identifier (ID) associated with a data transmission, 
 wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are selected from a plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell in a cellular network, 
 wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), and the plurality of base stations in the first hyper cell share a first common cell ID; and 
 receiving the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from the subset of base stations, 
 wherein a pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual data channel is associated with the UE ID, and the subset of base stations transmitting the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel are transparent to the UE. 
   
     
     
       18. The UE of claim 17, wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are dynamically selected based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network. 
     
     
       19. The UE of claim 17, the operations further comprising:
 receiving a control information transmission in a UE specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations, the second subset of base stations being different from the subset of base stations.   
     
     
       20. The UE of claim 19, wherein a second pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel is associated with the UE ID, and the second subset of base stations transmitting the control information transmission in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel are transparent to the UE. 
     
     
       21. The UE of claim 17, wherein the cellular network further comprises a second hyper cell, wherein a second plurality of base stations in the second hyper cell share a second common cell ID, wherein a base station is selected from the second plurality of base stations of the second hyper cell based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, wherein the selected based station is removed from the second hyper cell and added to the first hyper cell to change a first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and a second serving coverage of the second hyper cell. 
     
     
       22. The UE of claim 17, the pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual data channel being associated with the UE ID and an assigned UE index. 
     
     
       23. The UE of claim 17, wherein the cellular network further comprises a second hyper cell, and the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell share at least one common base station. 
     
     
       24. A method comprising:
 transmitting, by a first base station to a user equipment (UE), data transmission in a UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from a subset of base stations including the first base station,   wherein the UE distinguishes the UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from the subset of base stations based on a UE identifier (ID) associated with the data transmission,   wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are selected from a plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell in a cellular network,   wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), and the plurality of base stations in the first hyper cell share a first common cell ID, and   wherein a pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual data channel is associated with the UE ID, and the subset of base stations transmitting the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel are transparent to the UE.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24, wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are dynamically selected based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:
 transmitting, by the first base station to the UE, a control information transmission in a UE specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations, the second subset of base stations being different from the subset of base stations.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, wherein a second pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel is associated with the UE ID, and the second subset of base stations transmitting the control information transmission in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel are transparent to the UE. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 24, wherein the cellular network further comprises a second hyper cell, wherein a second plurality of base stations in the second hyper cell share a second common cell ID, wherein a second base station is selected from the second plurality of base stations of the second hyper cell based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, wherein the selected second based station is removed from the second hyper cell and added to the first hyper cell to change a first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and a second serving coverage of the second hyper cell. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 24, the pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual data channel being associated with the UE ID and an assigned UE index. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 24, wherein the cellular network further comprises a second hyper cell, and the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell share at least one common base station. 
     
     
       31. A first 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), data transmission in a UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from a subset of base stations including the first base station, 
 wherein the UE distinguishes the UE specific virtual data channel transmitted from the subset of base stations based on a UE identifier (ID) associated with the data transmission, 
 wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are selected from a plurality of base stations of a first hyper cell in a cellular network, 
 wherein a physical topology of the cellular network is disassociated with cell identifiers (IDs), and the plurality of base stations in the first hyper cell share a first common cell ID, and 
 wherein a pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual data channel is associated with the UE ID, and the subset of base stations transmitting the data transmission in the UE specific virtual data channel are transparent to the UE. 
   
     
     
       32. The first base station of claim 31, wherein the subset of base stations transmitting in the UE specific virtual data channel are dynamically selected based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network. 
     
     
       33. The first base station of claim 31, the operations further comprising:
 transmitting, to the UE, a control information transmission in a UE specific virtual dedicated control channel transmitted from a second subset of base stations selected from the plurality of base stations, the second subset of base stations being different from the subset of base stations.   
     
     
       34. The first base station of claim 33, wherein a second pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel is associated with the UE ID, and the second subset of base stations transmitting the control information transmission in the UE specific virtual dedicated control channel are transparent to the UE. 
     
     
       35. The first base station of claim 31, wherein the cellular network further comprises a second hyper cell, wherein a second plurality of base stations in the second hyper cell share a second common cell ID, wherein a second base station is selected from the second plurality of base stations of the second hyper cell based on data regarding network conditions of the cellular network, wherein the selected second based station is removed from the second hyper cell and added to the first hyper cell to change a first serving coverage of the first hyper cell and a second serving coverage of the second hyper cell. 
     
     
       36. The first base station of claim 31, the pilot sequence in the UE specific virtual data channel being associated with the UE ID and an assigned UE index. 
     
     
       37. The first base station of claim 31, wherein the cellular network further comprises a second hyper cell, and the first hyper cell and the second hyper cell share at least one common base station.