Initial enode-b configuration over-the-air

Abstract

A method, apparatus, system, and computer program embodied on a computer readable medium is provided to define new messages to be transmitted over a broadcast channel to better support uncoordinated base station deployment in a local area environment. In this context, uncoordinated local base station deployment refers to cases where new base stations are placed, and activated, without any detailed a priori network planning and considerations for placement of already active base stations in the area.

1 . A method, comprising:
 creating a message, at a first base station, comprising network configuration information; and   broadcasting the message over a broadcast channel to a second base station,   wherein the second base station is configured to use the network configuration information to configure network parameters of the second base station.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the creating the message comprises including at least one of a cell identification, a list of internet protocol addresses of existing base stations, and a scrambling code assignment in the message. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the creating the message comprises inserting the network configuration information into a third generation partnership project long term evolution release  9  broadcast channel message or a subsequent third generation partnership long term evolution release broadcast channel message. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the broadcasting the message comprises broadcasting the message over a third generation partnership project long term evolution release  8  broadcast channel. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the broadcasting the message comprises periodically broadcasting the message over the broadcast channel to the second base station over a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         6 . A computer program, embodied on a computer readable medium, configured to control a processor to implement a method, the method comprising:
 creating a message, at a first base station, comprising network configuration information; and   broadcasting the message over a broadcast channel to a second base station,   wherein the second base station is configured to use the network configuration information to configure network parameters of the second base station.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor configured to create a message comprising network configuration information; and   a transmitter configured to broadcast the message over a broadcast channel to a base station,   wherein the base station is configured to use the network configuration information to configure network parameters of the base station.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to include at least one of a cell identification, a list of internet protocol addresses of existing base stations, and a scrambling code assignment in the message. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to insert the network configuration information into a third generation partnership project long term evolution release  9  broadcast channel message or a subsequent third generation partnership long term evolution release broadcast channel message. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to broadcast the message over a third generation partnership project long term evolution release  8  broadcast channel. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to periodically broadcast the message over the broadcast channel to the base station over a predetermined interval. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for creating a message comprising network configuration information; and   means for broadcasting the message over a broadcast channel to a base station,   wherein the base station is configured to use the network configuration information to configure network parameters of the base station.