Patent ID: 9143996
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A heterogeneous network comprising: one or more macro cells, wherein each macro cell is configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device in accordance with a longer range air interface standard wherein the longer range air interface standard corresponds to cellular interface standard; and one or more small cells, wherein each small cell is configured to wirelessly communicate with the mobile device in accordance with the longer range air interface standard and a shorter range air interface standard, wherein the shorter range air interface standard corresponds to a WiFi or a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or an IEEE 802.11 air interface standard, and wherein each of the macro cells and small cells are provided by a base station (BS); wherein the one or more small cells includes a home agent node and a foreign agent node for the longer range air interface standard and a home agent node and a foreign agent node for the shorter range air interface standard, wherein the home agent node for the longer range air interface standard and the home agent node for the shorter range air interface standard are associated with different network addresses; wherein communications initiated in accordance with the longer range air interface standard utilize a communication channel between the home agent node for the longer range air interface standard and the foreign agent node for the longer range air interface standard; and wherein the one or more small cells are configured to implement intra cell handovers by utilizing a communication tunnel between the home agent node of the respective small cell for the longer range interface standard and the foreign agent node of the respective small cell for the shorter range air interface standard.