Small cell network architecture for servicing multiple network operators

Abstract

Systems are provided for managing a small cell telecommunication system servicing multiple network operators. In one aspect, a small cell telecommunication system can include management sub-system including a controller, multiple baseband processing units in communication with the controller, a transport module, and multiple remote antenna units. The controller can communicate with multiple core networks. Each core network is operated by a separate network operator for providing telecommunication services to terminal devices. Each of the baseband processing units can process data plane data and control plane data from at least one respective core network. The transport module can communicate signals between the baseband processing units and the remote antenna units of the small cell network. The management sub-system can provide a respective amount of capacity via the small cell network for each core network based on a respective subset of the baseband processing units assigned to the core network.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A management sub-system for managing a small cell network servicing a plurality of network operators, the system management sub-system comprising:
 a controller circuitry in communication with a plurality of core networks, wherein each of the plurality of core networks is operated by a separate network operator providing telecommunication services to terminal devices; and 
 a plurality of baseband processing units in communication with the controller circuitry, wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is configured to process data from at least one respective core network of the plurality of core networks for distribution via a plurality of remote antenna units of the small cell network; 
 wherein the plurality of remote antenna units are remotely located from the plurality of baseband processing units; 
 wherein at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units is remotely located from at least one other remote antenna unit; 
 wherein the management sub-system is configured for providing a respective amount of capacity via the small cell network for each core network of the plurality of core networks based on a respective subset of the plurality of baseband processing units assigned to the core network; and 
 wherein the controller circuitry is configured to provide, independently for each network operator, (a) small cell and macro cell handover management and (b) small cell and macro cell interference management. 
 
     
     
       2. The management sub-system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to allocate radio resources provided by the small cell network among the plurality of network operators. 
     
     
       3. The management sub-system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to allocate the radio resources by:
 determining, for each of the plurality of network operators, a respective number of terminal devices communicating with a respective core network of the network operator via the small cell network; and 
 allocating a respective portion of the radio resources to each network operator based on the respective number of terminal devices. 
 
     
     
       4. The management sub-system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to minimize interference between signals communicated from the plurality of core networks to the plurality of remote antenna units. 
     
     
       5. The management sub-system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to communicate signals between at least one data network other than the plurality of core networks and at least one of the terminal devices. 
     
     
       6. The management sub-system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to automatically integrate configure additional remote antenna units into the small cell network. 
     
     
       7. The management sub-system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to automatically reduce impacts from the perform self-healing in response to a failure of at least one component of the small cell network. 
     
     
       8. The management sub-system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is further configured to provide media access control for the respective core network. 
     
     
       9. The management sub-system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is further configured to provide radio resource control for the respective core network. 
     
     
       10. The management sub-system of  claim 1 , further comprising a combiner and backplane system in communication with the plurality of baseband processing units and the controller circuitry, wherein the combiner and backplane system is configured to communicate signals between the plurality of baseband processing units and the plurality of remote antenna units of the small cell network; and
 wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to coordinate communication of signals from different core networks by the combiner and backplane system to a common cell serviced by at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units. 
 
     
     
       11. A small cell network for servicing a plurality of network operators, the small cell network comprising:
 a management sub-system comprising:
 a controller circuitry in communication with a plurality of core networks, wherein each of the plurality of core networks is operated by a separate network operator providing telecommunication services to terminal devices, 
 wherein the controller circuitry is configured to provide, independently for each network operator, (a) small cell and macro cell handover management and (b) small cell and macro cell interference management, 
 a plurality of baseband processing units in communication with the controller circuitry, wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is configured to process data from at least one respective core network of the plurality of core networks for distribution via a plurality of remote antenna units of the small cell network, wherein the management sub-system is configured for providing a respective amount of capacity via the small cell network for each core network of the plurality of core networks based on a respective subset of the plurality of baseband processing units assigned to the core network, and 
 a combiner and backplane system in communication with the plurality of baseband processing units, wherein the combiner and backplane system is configured to communicate signals between the plurality of baseband processing units and a plurality of remote antenna units; 
 
 the plurality of remote antenna units; 
 wherein the plurality of remote antenna units are remotely located from the plurality of baseband processing units; and 
 wherein at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units is remotely located from at least one other remote antenna unit. 
 
     
     
       12. The small cell network of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to allocate radio resources provided by the small cell network among the plurality of network operators. 
     
     
       13. The small cell network of  claim 12 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to allocate the radio resources by:
 determining, for each of the plurality of network operators, a respective number of terminal devices communicating with a respective core network of the network operator via the plurality of remote antenna unit; and 
 allocating a respective portion of the radio resources to each network operator based on the respective number of terminal devices. 
 
     
     
       14. The small cell network of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to minimize interference between signals communicated from the plurality of core networks to the plurality of remote antenna units. 
     
     
       15. The small cell network of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is in communication with the combiner and backplane system via a control link bypassing the plurality of baseband processing units, wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to:
 generate control signals for coordinating communication of signals by the combiner and backplane system from different core networks to a common cell serviced by at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units; and 
 provide the control signals to the combiner and backplane system via the control link. 
 
     
     
       16. The small cell network of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to communicate signals between at least one data network other than the plurality of core networks and at least one of the terminal devices. 
     
     
       17. The small cell network of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to automatically integrate configure additional remote antenna units. 
     
     
       18. The small cell network of  claim 11 , wherein the controller circuitry is further configured to automatically reduce impacts from the perform self-healing in response to a failure of at least one component of the small cell network. 
     
     
       19. The small cell network of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is further configured to provide media access control for the respective core network. 
     
     
       20. The small cell network of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is further configured to provide radio resource control for the respective core network. 
     
     
       21. A management sub-system for managing a small cell network servicing a plurality of network operators, the management sub-system comprising:
 controller circuitry in communication with a plurality of core networks, wherein each of the plurality of core networks is operated by a separate network operator providing telecommunication services to terminal devices; and   a plurality of baseband processing units in communication with the controller circuitry, wherein each of the plurality of baseband processing units is configured to process data from at least one respective core network of the plurality of core networks for distribution via a plurality of remote antenna units of the small cell network;   wherein the plurality of remote antenna units are remotely located from the plurality of baseband processing units;   wherein at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units is remotely located from at least one other remote antenna unit;   wherein the management sub-system is configured to provide a respective amount of capacity via the small cell network for each core network of the plurality of core networks based on a respective subset of the plurality of baseband processing units assigned to the core networks;   wherein the controller circuitry comprises a self-organizing network (SON) module configured to communicate with a respective centralized SON server for each core network of the plurality of core networks;   wherein the controller circuitry is configured to provide standard management feedback to the respective centralized SON server for each core network of the plurality of core networks; and   wherein the controller circuitry is configured to apply respective configuration changes to the small cell network based on instructions received from the respective centralized SON server for each core network of the plurality of core networks.    
     
     
       22. The management sub-system of  claim 21 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to provide a standard interface for communicating with the core networks.  
     
     
       23. The management sub-system of  claim 21 , wherein the management sub-system is configured to communicate with the plurality of remote antenna units of the small cell network using an Ethernet communication protocol.  
     
     
       24. A small cell network to provide respective cell service for a plurality of network operators, the small cell network comprising:
 a plurality of baseband processing units in communication with a plurality of core networks, wherein each of the plurality of core networks is operated by a separate network operator providing telecommunication services to terminal devices;   controller circuitry in communication with the plurality of baseband processing units; and   a plurality of remote antenna units communicatively coupled to the plurality of baseband processing units using an Ethernet communication protocol;   wherein the plurality of remote antenna units are remotely located from the plurality of baseband processing units;   wherein at least one of the plurality of remote antenna units is remotely located from at least one other remote antenna unit;   wherein the controller circuitry is configured to provide a respective amount of capacity via the small cell network for each core network of the plurality of core networks based on a respective subset of the plurality of baseband processing units assigned to the core network, the respective subset of the plurality of baseband processing units assigned to each core network of the plurality of core networks configured to process data for the core network; and   wherein the small cell network is configured to provide a standard interface to communicate with the controller circuitry in connection with each network operator of the plurality of network operators separately managing the respective cell service provided therefor by the small cell network.    
     
     
       25. The small cell network of  claim 24 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to receive requests from one or more of the network operators and to respond to the requests in accordance with a predetermined policy.  
     
     
       26. The small cell network of  claim 25 , wherein the requests comprise requests for additional capacity and wherein the controller circuitry is configured to provide the additional capacity in accordance with a specified policy for allocating capacity among the network operators.  
     
     
       27. The small cell network of  claim 24 , wherein each of the remote antenna units is communicatively coupled to the plurality of baseband processing units using a respective direct link.  
     
     
       28. The small cell network of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the remote antenna units is communicatively coupled to the plurality of baseband processing units using at least one extension unit between said at least one of the remote antenna units and the plurality of baseband processing units.  
     
     
       29. The small cell network of  claim 24 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to provide, independently for each network operator, (a) small cell and macro cell handover management and (b) small cell and macro cell interference management.  
     
     
       30. The small cell network of  claim 24 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to apply respective configuration changes to the small cell network based on respective instructions received from each network operator.  
     
     
       31. The small cell network of  claim 24 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to provide standard measurement feedback to each network operator of the plurality of network operators.  
     
     
       32. The small cell network of  claim 24 , wherein the controller circuitry is configured to execute at least one server application for the small cell network.