Long term evolution architecture and mobility

摘要

A services node (SN) is provided that functions as a local, premise-based gateway that anchors and aggregates a group of radio nodes (RNs). Accordingly, the SN absorbs the functionalities of conventional mobility management entities (MMEs), as well as serving and packet data network gateways, where the SN appears as a single virtual eNB to a macrocellular core network. As a result, complexity associated with aggregating and controlling a large number of RNs (performed by the SN) is hidden from the core network. Additionally, micro-mobility between individual RNs controlled by an SN is completely handled at a local enterprise gateway level, thus significantly reducing mobility-related signaling from impacting an MME pool in the code network. Moreover local data offloading is made possible via the SN.

主权项

1. A method of implementing a local radio access network (RAN), comprising:
aggregating, with an aggregation node, communications interfaces between a plurality of radio nodes and a packet core network through the aggregation node, each respective one of the plurality of radio nodes communicatively coupled to the aggregation node and to user equipment (UE) devices associated with the respective one of the plurality of radio nodes; controlling, with the aggregation node, mobility of the UE devices associated with the plurality of radio nodes; and acting, with the aggregation node, as a virtual enhanced NodeB (eNB) to the packet core network, thereby hiding the aggregated communications interfaces from the packet core network, wherein the virtual enhanced eNB is connected to the packet core network via a single user plane interface and a single control plane interface.