Communicatively coupling WLAN and femtocell networks utilizing a femtocell-to-WLAN network bridge and controller

摘要

Aspects of a method and system for communicatively coupling WLAN and femtocell networks utilizing a FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller are provided. In this regard, data communicated via one or more femtocells and one or more WLAN access points may be managed via a FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller communicatively coupled between a femtocell controller and an access point controller. The femtocell controller may be operable to manage and/or control operation of the one or more femtocells, and the access point controller may be operable to manage and/or control operation of the one or more WLAN access points. The FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller, the femtocell controller, and the access point controller may intemperate to manage data communicated between a first end-user device communicatively coupled to one of the femtocells and a second end-user device communicatively coupled to one of the access points.

主权项

1. A method for operating a network, the method comprising:
receiving, at a femtocell to wireless local area networking (FC-to-WLAN) network bridge and controller, information from a femtocell controller that is indicative of network load conditions on a first connection between the FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller and the femtocell controller; receiving, at the FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller, information from an access point controller that is indicative of network load conditions on a second connection between the FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller and the access point controller; determining, by the FC-to-WLAN network bridge controller, a handoff procedure to balance the network load conditions based on the information from the femtocell controller and the information from the access point controller; and executing the handoff procedure, by the FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller, to route network traffic to an end-user device between the first connection and the second connection.