Cell Configuration for Self-Organized Networks with Flexible Spectrum Usage

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for controlling cell configuration in a cellular network, wherein a cell identity and a local cell spectrum resource entity or profile are assigned to an access device in response to a result of sensing a local radio environment at said access device to detect possible neighbor cells. The assigned local cell spectrum resource entity or profile is used to allocate cell spectrum resource from a shared multi-operator spectrum to said access device.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more processors;   one or more memories including computer program code,   the one or more memories and the computer program code configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
 sensing a local radio environment of an access device to detect possible neighbor cells; and 
 controlling assignment of a cell identity and at least one of a plurality of local cell spectrum resource entities or profiles to said access device in response to the sensing result. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said sensing is controlled by said cellular network. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said sensing is initiated from a central control entity of said cellular network in response to an establishment of a connection of said apparatus to said central control entity. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said sensing detects physical layer cell identities of nearby cells which use the same radio access technology. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to use a previous cell configuration profile stored in said apparatus if said sensing does not indicate any notable change in said local radio environment. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said apparatus is adapted to broadcast a neighborhood status information. 
     
     
         25 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said assigned local cell spectrum resource entity or profile includes a semi-static part that is exclusive to the access device and a dynamic shareable part to enable allocation of cell spectrum resource to said access device depending on the local radio environment operable to establish implicit coordination between local cells of the cellular network based on the local radio environment, and to allocate cell spectrum resource from a shared multi-operator spectrum to said access device based on both the semi-static part and the dynamic shareable part, wherein the local cell spectrum resource entity or profile is selected from a limited set of predefined basic cell spectrum resource entities or profiles provided for cell configuration of the cellular network, and the semi-static part accommodates semi-static instances of common and control channels specific to a local access point and the dynamic shareable part is adapted to allocate the available system bandwidth or spectrum resources seen by the local access point. 
     
     
         40 . A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which a computer program is stored that, when being executed by a computer, is configured to provide instructions to control or carry out:
 sensing a local radio environment of an access device to detect possible neighbor cells; and   controlling assignment of a cell identity and at least one of a plurality of local cell spectrum resource entities or profiles to said access device in response to the sensing result.   
     
     
         41 . The computer program product according to  claim 40 , wherein said sensing is controlled by said cellular network. 
     
     
         42 . The computer program product according to  claim 41 , wherein said sensing is initiated from a central control entity of said cellular network in response to an establishment of a connection of said apparatus to said central control entity. 
     
     
         43 . The computer program product according to  claim 41 , wherein said sensing detects physical layer cell identities of nearby cells which use the same radio access technology. 
     
     
         44 . The computer program product according to  claim 40 , further comprising using a previously stored cell configuration profile if said sensing does not indicate any notable change in said local radio environment. 
     
     
         45 . The computer program product according  claim 40 , further comprising broadcasting a neighborhood status information. 
     
     
         46 . The computer program product according to  claim 40 , wherein said assigned local cell spectrum resource entity or profile includes a semi-static part that is exclusive to the access device and a dynamic shareable part to enable allocation of cell spectrum resource to said access device depending on the local radio environment operable to establish implicit coordination between local cells of the cellular network based on the local radio environment, and to allocate cell spectrum resource from a shared multi-operator spectrum to said access device based on both the semi-static part and the dynamic shareable part, wherein the local cell spectrum resource entity or profile is selected from a limited set of predefined basic cell spectrum resource entities or profiles provided for cell configuration of the cellular network, and the semi-static part accommodates semi-static instances of common and control channels specific to a local access point and the dynamic shareable part is adapted to allocate the available system bandwidth or spectrum resources seen by the local access point. 
     
     
         47 . A method, comprising:
 sensing a local radio environment of an access device to detect possible neighbor cells; and   controlling assignment of a cell identity and at least one of a plurality of local cell spectrum resource entities or profiles to said access device in response to the sensing result.   
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein said sensing is controlled by said cellular network. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said sensing is initiated from a central control entity of said cellular network in response to an establishment of a connection of said apparatus to said central control entity. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said sensing detects physical layer cell identities of nearby cells which use the same radio access technology. 
     
     
         51 . The computer program product according to  claim 48 , further comprising using a previously stored cell configuration profile if said sensing does not indicate any notable change in said local radio environment. 
     
     
         52 . The computer program product according to  claim 48 , wherein said assigned local cell spectrum resource entity or profile includes a semi-static part that is exclusive to the access device and a dynamic shareable part to enable allocation of cell spectrum resource to said access device depending on the local radio environment operable to establish implicit coordination between local cells of the cellular network based on the local radio environment, and to allocate cell spectrum resource from a shared multi-operator spectrum to said access device based on both the semi-static part and the dynamic shareable part, wherein the local cell spectrum resource entity or profile is selected from a limited set of predefined basic cell spectrum resource entities or profiles provided for cell configuration of the cellular network, and the semi-static part accommodates semi-static instances of common and control channels specific to a local access point and the dynamic shareable part is adapted to allocate the available system bandwidth or spectrum resources seen by the local access point.