Software-defined network infrastructure having virtual range extenders

摘要

An embodiment method includes selecting, by a network infrastructure manager, a first user equipment (UE) as a destination UE and selecting a second UE as a relay UE for the destination UE. The method further includes negotiating installation of a virtual range extender (vREX) UE on the destination UE, and negotiating installation of a vREX forwarding agent (FA) on the relay UE. The vREX FA is configured to act as a FA for the vREX UE.

主权项

1. A method for network infrastructure manager operations in a network comprising:
estimating long-term signal to noise ratios (SINRs) for user equipments (UEs) in the network in accordance with network topology information of the network and channel quality feedback from UEs in the network; selecting, by the network infrastructure manager, a first UE as a destination UE in accordance with the long-term SINRs; selecting, by the network infrastructure manager, a second UE as a relay UE for the destination UE; transmitting a first request to cause installation of a virtual range extender (vREX) UE on the destination UE; transmitting a second request to cause installation of a vREX forwarding agent (FA) on the relay UE, wherein the vREX FA is configured to act as a FA for the vREX UE; transmitting, by the network infrastructure manager to a network control plane, a network topology comprising the vREX UE and the vREX FA; receiving, by the network infrastructure manager from the network control plane, transmission forwarding paths for the network; and reconfiguring, by the network infrastructure manager, the vREX UE and the vREX FA in accordance with the transmission forwarding paths.