Hierarchical network and interference management

摘要

The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) for network management through a hierarchical architecture with a control functionality of a network server (e.g., C-SON) in relationship to clusters comprising eNBs (access points), and for implementing coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission and reception in conjunction with inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) in wireless networks such as LTE wireless networks. In particular, embodiments of the invention describe control and coordination mechanisms among the network elements for different network architectures and use-case scenarios. Such mechanisms may be managed by a centralized self-organizing network controller such as C-SON and hierarchically via localized controllers (such as cluster coordinators) residing in macro eNBs depending on system architectural constraints and network state. A fault-tolerant mechanism then may be defined to recover from failure of controlling sub-elements so that the network remains stable at all times.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
providing by a network server to one or more clusters coordination instructions comprising results of managing at least one predetermined parameter among the one or more clusters, each cluster comprising a plurality of access points communicating directly with user equipments and including a local cluster coordinator for coordinating a self-coordinated performance within said cluster and reporting the self-coordinated performance to the network server; and monitoring by the network server the self-coordinated performance of the one or more clusters individually from the reporting by each said local cluster coordinator, wherein the local cluster coordinator of said each cluster is configured to coordinate performance of the access points based at least in part on the coordination instructions, and wherein the self-coordinated performance at least comprises simultaneous coordinated multi-point operation and interference management within the each cluster.