Abstract: A method of coordinating a plurality of radio access networks (RANs) includes aggregating, with a gateway, communications interfaces between a plurality of RANs and a packet core network through the gateway. A plurality of radio nodes (RNs) in each of the RANs is communicatively coupled to the gateway and to user equipment (UE) devices associated with the RNs in each of the RANs. The gateway also controls and coordinates mobility of the UE devices within and among the RANs. In addition, the gateway acts as a virtual enhanced NodeB (eNB) to the packet core network, thereby hiding the aggregated communications interfaces from the packet core network.

Abstract: A method of joint processing of data in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes is provided. The services node provides connectivity to a core network. The method includes determining that a plurality of first UEs (User Equipment) each being serviced by a selected set of the cells is to operate in accordance with a hybrid joint processing scheme. Information is transferred between the plurality of first UEs and the radio nodes in accordance with the hybrid joint processing scheme by performing L1 layer processing on the radio nodes and L2 layer processing at the services node.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for allocating frequencies in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes. In accordance with the method, the radio nodes (RNs) in the RAN are divided into a plurality of clusters of RNs. A fractional frequency reuse (FFR) pattern is generated for each cluster. Transmission resources are allocated to the radio nodes in each cluster in accordance with the respective FFR pattern that is generated for each cluster.

Abstract: Arrangements disclosed here provide an LTE E-RAN employing a hierarchical architecture with a central controller controlling multiple LTE radio nodes (RNs). The RNs may be clustered within the small cell network. A fractional frequency reuse (“FFR”) scheme is provided that dynamically computes the FFR allocations at individual RNs and configures the corresponding schedulers within each RN to improve cell-edge users' experience. Once an FFR pattern has been generated and frequencies allocated, UE throughput can be emulated to predict the resulting bit rates for each UE. Using the prediction, a scheduler emulation may be run to predict the behavior of the system. The results of each cell may then be collected to generate the performance of the entire system, which may in turn be used to generate a new or modified FFR pattern, or new or modified clustering. Optimization of the performance results in an optimized FFR pattern.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products facilitate resource allocation to entities within a wireless communication network. Interference values are determined in the presence of entities that may or may not be controlled by the wireless communication network. Based on the determined interference values and associated statistics, throughputs associated with the user equipment within the wireless communication network are modified. These modifications enable an increase or decrease in the throughput of the user equipment, which optimizes the aggregate throughput of the wireless communication network while maintaining the interference levels within target levels.

Abstract: A radio access network, such as an LTE E-RAN, employs a hierarchical architecture and includes a services node that provides connectivity between the radio nodes in the RAN and a core network. The RAN employs a hybrid coordinated scheduling scheme in which independent schedulers are running on the services node and the radio nodes. In this way the services node can allocate scheduling resources for some of the UEs in the RAN while the radio nodes can allocate scheduling resources for the remaining UEs in their respective serving cells. In some cases a prioritization approach is used in which the radio nodes do not schedule any radio resources that have already been scheduled by the services node.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product comprises determining a rise-over-thermal (RoT) budget associated with a cell within a communication network for user equipment served by the cell, determining a number of user equipment served by the cell to receive a minimum-grant of an uplink channel, determining a high-grant for allocation to a selected user equipment, the high-grant allowing the selected user equipment to communicate in the uplink channel of the communication network, the high-grant being based on the RoT budget, and allocating the high-grant to the selected user equipment and the minimum-grant to all other user equipment served by the cell.

Abstract: A method of joint processing of data in a radio access network (RAN) that includes a plurality of radio nodes each associated with a cell and a services node operatively coupled to the radio nodes is provided. The services node provides connectivity to a core network. The method includes determining that a plurality of first UEs (User Equipment) each being serviced by a selected set of the cells is to operate in accordance with a hybrid joint processing scheme. Information is transferred between the plurality of first UEs and the radio nodes in accordance with the hybrid joint processing scheme by performing L1 layer processing on the radio nodes and L2 layer processing at the services node.

Abstract: A beacon cell adapted for use in a small cell RAN includes dual identities—a beacon identity and a regular or “live” identity—in which the identities are individually configured to address differing performance requirements in the small cell RAN. The beacon identity in the cell is specially configured to meet the performance requirements for mobile user equipment (UE) to be able to quickly and easily move from a macrocell base station in a mobile operator's network to the small cell RAN using a process called “reselection.” The live identity is configured to meet all requirements for service to be provided to the UE within the small cell RAN. Once captured by the beacon identity of the beacon cell, the UE can then immediately reselect to the live identity of the cell which operates in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A services node or central controller or coordinator is provided that dynamically computes fractional frequency reuse allocation among user equipment in a radio access network. The central controller or coordinator communicates the fractional frequency reuse allocation and configures the individual MAC schedulers within each radio node in the radio access network. Inputs to the central coordinator may include its serving radio node, a detected set of radio nodes, and information about user equipment buffer status both in the downlink and uplink. In one implementation, interference graphs are constructed for downlinks and uplink separately and the same are used with a heuristic independent set algorithm to compute the frequency allocation.

Abstract: A beacon cell adapted for use in a small cell RAN includes dual identities—a beacon identity and a regular or “live” identity—in which the identities are individually configured to address differing performance requirements in the small cell RAN. The beacon identity in the cell is specially configured to meet the performance requirements for mobile user equipment (UE) to be able to quickly and easily move from a macrocell base station in a mobile operator's network to the small cell RAN using a process called “reselection.” The live identity is configured to meet all requirements for service to be provided to the UE within the small cell RAN. Once captured by the beacon identity of the beacon cell, the UE can then immediately reselect to the live identity of the cell which operates in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A beacon cell adapted for use in a small cell RAN includes dual identities—a beacon identity and a regular or “live” identity—in which the identities are individually configured to address differing performance requirements in the small cell RAN. The beacon identity in the cell is specially configured to meet the performance requirements for mobile user equipment (UE) to be able to quickly and easily move from a macrocell base station in a mobile operator's network to the small cell RAN using a process called “reselection.” The live identity is configured to meet all requirements for service to be provided to the UE within the small cell RAN. Once captured by the beacon identity of the beacon cell, the UE can then immediately reselect to the live identity of the cell which operates in a conventional manner.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products facilitate resource allocation to entities within a wireless communication network. Interference values are determined in the presence of entities that may or may not be controlled by the wireless communication network. Based on the determined interference values and associated statistics, throughputs associated with the user equipment within the wireless communication network are modified. These modifications enable an increase or decrease in the throughput of the user equipment, which optimizes the aggregate throughput of the wireless communication network while maintaining the interference levels within target levels.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product comprises determining a rise-over-thermal (RoT) budget associated with a cell within a communication network for user equipment served by the cell, determining a number of user equipment served by the cell to receive a minimum-grant of an uplink channel, determining a high-grant for allocation to a selected user equipment, the high-grant allowing the selected user equipment to communicate in the uplink channel of the communication network, the high-grant being based on the RoT budget, and allocating the high-grant to the selected user equipment and the minimum-grant to all other user equipment served by the cell.