Patent ID: 9167444
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for managing a heterogeneous cellular network (“HetNet”) comprising one or more macro cells and a first plurality of small cells, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a second plurality of small cells belonging to the first plurality of small cells; obtaining information that pertains to geographical relationship between at least one of the one or more macro cells and the second plurality of small cells; based on the information obtained, identifying at least one macro cell from among the one or more macro cells, located at a geographical vicinity of at least one of the second plurality of small cells; selecting at least one small cell from among said second plurality of small cells to be a gateway cell, and selecting at least one other small cell of the second plurality of small cells to be an inner cell, and wherein the selection of the at least one cell as a gateway cell is based upon reception intensity at which communication signals transmitted by a base station located at the at least one macro cell identified, are received; identifying physical layer identifiers (PLIs) used at the at least one macro cell identified; for a frequency carrier at which the gateway cell is operative, determining one or more PLIs available for use by the gateway cell, wherein the one or more available PLIs are not currently used by the base station of the at least one macro cell at that frequency carrier; determining one or more PLIs available for use by the at least one inner small cell; and selecting for each of the at least one gateway cell and for each of the at least one inner cell, a PLI to allocate for communications for each of the at least one gateway cell and for each of the at least one inner cell, wherein each PLI is selected from among the one or more PLIs available for use by each of the at least one gateway cell and by each of the at least one inner cell.