Allocating air interface resources to relay nodes in heterogeneous networks
AssigneeSprint Spectrum L.P.
InventorSreekar Marupaduga
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Prioritizing resource allocation for relay nodes that have higher bandwidth capabilities, such as 5G EN-DC, versus other relay nodes that do not have such capabilities. The bandwidth capability can be based on a channel bandwidth allocation for different relay nodes, with the assumption that 5G or higher relay nodes will be able to utilize higher bandwidth channels.
Claims16
A method for allocating air interface resources to relay nodes in heterogeneous networks, the method comprising:
- identifying two or more relay nodes within range of a donor access node configured to participate in dual connectivity by utilizing at least a fourth generation (4G) RAT wireless air interface and a fifth generation (5G) radio access technology (RAT) wireless air interface;
- parsing attributes of each relay node to identify a bandwidth capability of each relay node;
- and
- preferentially allocating air interface resources to the two or more relay nodes based on the bandwidth capability of each relay node to serve wireless devices in a common coverage area of the relay nodes;
- wherein the bandwidth capability is associated with a RAT utilized by each relay node, and
- wherein the air interface resources are preferentially allocated to a first relay node using the 5G RAT over a second relay node using the 4G RAT at least by prioritizing uplink grant allocations to the first relay node over the second relay node.
A method for allocating air interface resources to relay nodes in heterogeneous networks, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a donor access node configured to participate in dual connectivity by utilizing at least a fourth generation (4G) RAT wireless air interface and a fifth generation (5G) radio access technology (RAT) wireless air interface, a first resource request from a first relay node utilizing a fourth generation (4G) radio access technology (RAT);
- receiving at the donor access node a second resource request from a second relay node utilizing a fifth generation (5G) RAT;
- and
- preferentially allocating air interface resources to the second relay node based on the 5G RAT utilizing a higher bandwidth capability than the 4G RAT at least by prioritizing uplink grant allocations to the second relay node over the first relay node to serve wireless devices in a common coverage area of the relay nodes.
A system for allocating air interface resources to relay nodes in heterogeneous networks, the system comprising:
- a donor access node configured to participate in dual connectivity by utilizing at least a fourth generation (4G) RAT wireless air interface and a fifth generation (5G) radio access technology (RAT) wireless air interface;
- a first relay node configured to utilize a fifth generation (5G) radio access technology (RAT) with a first channel bandwidth;
- a second relay node configured to utilize a fourth generation (4G) RAT with a second channel bandwidth, the second channel bandwidth being smaller than the first channel bandwidth;
- and
- a processing node communicatively coupled to the donor access node, the processing node configured to perform operations comprising:
- receiving connection requests from the first and second relay nodes;
- and
- preferentially allocating air interface resources to the first relay node over the second relay node based on the second channel bandwidth being smaller than the first channel bandwidth at least by prioritizing uplink grant allocations to the first relay node to serve wireless devices in a common coverage area of the relay nodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.