Apparatus and methods for enabling mobility of a user device in an enhanced wireless network

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for unified high-bandwidth, low-latency data services provided with enhanced user mobility. In one embodiment, a network architecture having service delivery over at least portions of extant infrastructure (e.g., a hybrid fiber coax infrastructure) is disclosed, which includes standards-compliant ultra-low latency and high data rate services (e.g., 5G NR services) via a common service provider. Premises devices are used to provide the 5G-based services to users at a given premises and thereabouts. In another variant, local area (e.g., “pole mounted”) radio devices are used to provide supplemental RF coverage, including during mobility scenarios. The 5G-capable network enables uninterrupted and “seamless” exchange of data at a client device by utilizing a common waveform protocol (e.g., 3GPP-based) at a premises device and an external radio device to communicate with a client device at different locations and times while the device is moving between inside and outside the premises.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A computerized method for providing high speed data services to a computerized client device, the computerized method comprising:
 providing indoor wireless coverage inside a premises to the computerized client device via a wireless-enabled premises device backhauled by a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network; and   supplementing the indoor wireless coverage via one or more external access nodes external to the premises, the one or more external access nodes in data communication with the wireless-enabled premises device via an external antenna apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . The computerized method of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more external access nodes comprise one or more access nodes pole-mounted to a premises associated with at least one user of the wireless-enabled premises device. 
     
     
         20 . The computerized method of  claim 18 , wherein radio frequency connections between (i) the computerized client device and the wireless-enabled premises device, and (ii) the wireless-enabled premises device and the one or more external access nodes, enable delivery to the computerized client device of at least a portion of first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveforms received by the wireless-enabled premises device and at least a portion of second OFDM waveforms received by the one or more external access nodes. 
     
     
         21 . The computerized method of  claim 20 , further comprising, based on movement of the computerized client device from the inside of the premises to an outside of the premises:
 terminating the radio frequency connection between the computerized client device and the wireless-enabled premises device after a radio frequency connection between the computerized client device and the one or more external access nodes has been established; and   causing all OFDM waveforms destined for the computerized client device to be transmitted to the one or more external access nodes external to the premises.   
     
     
         22 . The computerized method of  claim 18 , further comprising selecting the one or more external access nodes from a plurality of candidate nodes, the selecting at least based on at least one of (i) spatial or physical location relative to the premises, or (ii) topological location within the HFC network. 
     
     
         23 . The computerized method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining that an established radio frequency connection between the computerized client device and the wireless-enabled premises device is insufficient to meet one or more quality of service (QoS) or quality of experience (QoE) requirements required by the computerized client device;
 wherein the supplementing of the indoor wireless coverage via the one or more external access nodes external to the premises causes the one or more QoS or QoE requirements to be met.   
     
     
         24 . A computer readable apparatus for use in a fixed wireless apparatus disposed at a user premises, the computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium configured to store one or more computer programs, the one or more computer programs configured to, when executed by a processing apparatus, cause a computerized client device to:
 establish a first radio frequency connection between computerized client device and a computerized premises device disposed at a premises;   receive at least a portion of first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveforms via the first radio frequency connection; and   based on a determination that the first radio frequency connection is at least one of (i) degrading, or (ii) not optimized, establish a second radio frequency connection between the computerized client device and a radio device external to the premises.   
     
     
         25 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the computer readable apparatus comprises a cloud-based network storage device which is remote from, yet accessible via the computerized client device. 
     
     
         26 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the computer readable apparatus comprises a fog-based storage device which is distributed across multiple nodes of varying proximity and accessible via the computerized client device. 
     
     
         27 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the first established radio frequency connection and the second established radio frequency connection are maintained simultaneously such that one or more quality of service (QoS) or quality of experience (QoE) requirements required by the computerized client device can be met. 
     
     
         28 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the establishment of the first radio frequency connection between the computerized client device and the computerized premises device is initiated by the computerized premises device and based on a detection, by the computerized premises device, of the computerized client device at first location. 
     
     
         29 . The computer readable apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more computer programs are further configured to, when executed by the processing apparatus, cause the computerized client device to:
 receive, after the establishment of the first radio frequency connection between the computerized client device, data representative of an instruction from the computerized premises device, the instruction configured to cause the computerized client device to disestablish an initial radio frequency connection between the computerized client device and at least one of (i) the radio device external to the premises or (ii) another radio device external to the premises.