Abstract: A method is described for reducing interferences in a wireless network, by: identifying cells which experience more interference than others; identifying a group of PRBs that their transmissions are subjected to more interference than other concurrent transmissions; identifying UEs associated with the group of PRBs, and determining whether the location of the UEs is at the cells' edges; selecting a pair of UEs where one member is located at a first cell's edge and the other is located either (i) at a second cell, not included within a neighbors' list of the first cell, or (ii) at the core or remote edge of a second cell. In case (i), the second cell is introduced to the first cell neighbors' list, and in case (ii) the other UE is falsely defined as a UE located at the near second cell's edge. Then, ICIC procedure is invoked for that pair of UEs.

Abstract: A method is described for reducing interferences in a wireless network, by: identifying cells which experience more interference than others; identifying a group of PRBs that their transmissions are subjected to moire interference than other concurrent transmissions; identifying UEs associated with the group of PRBs, and determining whether the location of the UEs is at the cells' edges; selecting a pair of UEs where one member is located at a first cell's edge and the other is located either (i) at a second cell, not included within a neighbors' list of the first cell, or (ii) at the core or remote edge of a second cell. In case (i), the second cell is introduced to the first cell neighbors' list, and in case (ii) the other UE is falsely defined as a UE located at the near second cell's edge. Then, ICIC procedure is invoked for that pair of UEs.

Abstract: One example method for reducing load is provided that includes monitoring traffic load within at least two wireless cells by a central management entity associated with the cellular communication network; determining by the central management entity that at least one of the at least two wireless cells being monitored, should hand over at least one of the mobile devices being currently serviced by a base station associated with that at least one cell; determining by the central management entity to which of the other cells from among the at least two wireless cells being monitored, should the at least one of the mobile devices be handed over to; and notifying each of the base stations associated with the other cells from among the at least two wireless cells being monitored, to affect a change in their respective one or more operating parameters.

Abstract: A communication apparatus and method are provided for predicting effects of changes in at least one radio network parameter on a cellular network which comprises a processor which is adapted to: (a) select a source cell in a cellular network; (b) select from among a first plurality of cells being neighbors of that source cell, a second plurality of neighboring cells and define a reference cluster that includes the source cell and the second plurality of cells; and (c) use the reference cluster to predict the effects of carrying out one or more changes in at least one radio network parameter on at least one network performance indicator of the reference cluster, and based on that prediction, establishing an expected impact of the one or more changes in the at least one radio network parameter on a cellular network performance.

Abstract: One example method is provided for dynamic allocation of air interface resources in a cellular network comprising at least three wireless cells located within a geographical proximity of each other, the method comprising determining, by a central managing entity, one or more classification rules for classifying each of said plurality of mobile devices according to the one or more classification rules; providing, by the central management entity, to a group of base stations associated with the at least three cells, information that comprises: information that relates to the determined one or more classification rules; information that relates to semi-static allocation of blocks of air interface resources adapted for use by one or more specific members of the group of base stations.

Abstract: One example method for reducing load is provided that includes monitoring traffic load within at least two wireless cells by a central management entity associated with the cellular communication network; determining by the central management entity that at least one of the at least two wireless cells being monitored, should hand over at least one of the mobile devices being currently serviced by a base station associated with that at least one cell; determining by the central management entity to which of the other cells from among the at least two wireless cells being monitored, should the at least one of the mobile devices be handed over to; and notifying each of the base stations associated with the other cells from among the at least two wireless cells being monitored, to affect a change in their respective one or more operating parameters.

Abstract: A method for reducing load in a cellular communication network, within at least one cell that covers an area which overlaps an area that is at least partially covered by one or more Wi-Fi networks, comprises the steps of: (a) monitoring traffic load within the at least one cell; (b) providing information to a plurality of mobile stations operative in a cellular mode which are currently communicating via their respective at least one cell, to enable one or more of the plurality of mobile stations to switch to their Wi-Fi operating mode, wherein the plurality of mobile stations are capable of operating both in a cellular operating mode and in a Wi-Fi operating mode, and wherein said information indicates to the receiving mobile stations to perform a switch to its Wi-Fi operating mode; (c) for at least some of said plurality of mobile stations, switching their operation mode to Wi-Fi mode.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing load balance in cellular heterogeneous networks. The method comprises: providing a plurality of spectrum carriers for conveying communication signals to/from a macro cell. At least one of the carriers is a shared carrier for conveying communication signals to/from the macro cell and to/from at least one small cell located at the geographical vicinity of the macro cell, and wherein the shared carrier is characterized in that data is the only type of communication signals being conveyed thereat when the cellular network is under congestion. One or more other spectrum carriers are dedicated carriers adapted to essentially convey voice calls, and wherein user terminals are steered away from dedicated carriers to the shared carrier, so that when a data session is initiated for a user terminal camped on the shared carrier, that session will be conveyed one or more of the small cells.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing heterogeneous cellular networks. The method comprises obtaining measurement reports from wireless entities relating to the intensity at which signals are received by each wireless entity; based on these measurement reports, and/or on geographical information of HetNet elements, identifying a macro cell located at the vicinity of the small cells; selecting one of the small cells to be a gateway cell, and other small cells to be inner cells. The gateway cell is a small cell that receives, or mobile terminals connected thereto receive, signals transmitted by the macro cell at an intensity being at least similar to intensity at which these signals are received at the inner cells; identifying physical layer identifiers (PLIs) used at the macro cell; and determining PLIs for the gateway cell which are not currently used by the macro cell, and PLIs available for use by the inner cells.

Abstract: A computing platform is provided which is adapted to enable optimizing operation of a cellular network, wherein the computing platform is operative to: (a) probe for information exchanged between a mobile access network and a core network; (b) retrieve statistical KPIs generated from a plurality of network elements belonging to the cellular network; (c) generate a predictive Key Performance Indicator (pKPI) by correlating the probed information with the retrieved statistical KPIs, thereby enabling to predict a trend characterizing future performance of network elements such as cells; and (d) trigger changes in the operation of the cellular network based on the predicted trend, and wherein the probing for information exchanged between a mobile access network and a core network is carried out at a rate which is substantially higher than a rate of retrieving statistical KPIs generated from the plurality of network elements.

Abstract: A system for obtaining information relating to an idle mobile station in a cellular network is provided. The system includes a computing platform which is in communication with a radio network controller of the cellular network. The computing platform is configured for (i) generating and sending an input signal through the radio network controller to the radio access network; and (ii) identifying in data outputted by the radio network controller an output signal resulting from the input signal, the output signal including information relating to at least one idle mobile station.