Method and apparatus for communicating data packets in a cloud cell

A base station comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises a packet manager configured to:
• identify a first network node from which at least one data packet intended for a mobile station in a cloud cell is received, wherein the first network node comprises one of a data gateway and a master base station of the cloud cell;
• identify a second network node in the cloud cell to which the at least one data packet is to be sent if the at least one data packet is received from the data gateway, wherein the second network node comprises one of the mobile station and one of slave base stations of the cloud cell;
• if the second network node is the mobile station. perform entire processing of the at least one data packet received from the data gateway and transmitting the entirely processed data packet to the mobile station;
• and
• if the second network node is the one of the slave base stations, perform partial processing of the at least one data packet received from the data gateway and transmitting the partially processed data packet to the one of the slave base stations so that the one of the slave base stations entirely processes the partially processed data packet and transmits the entirely processed data packet to the mobile station.

A method of a base station for uplink data transmission in a cloud cell, comprising:

• identifying a first network node in a cloud cell from which at least one data packet intended for an Internet Protocol (IP) network is received by a base station, wherein the first network node comprises one of a mobile station and one of slave base stations;
• identifying a second network node to which the at least one data packet is to be sent if the at least one data packet is received from the mobile station, wherein the second network node comprises one of a data gateway and a master base station of the cloud cell;
• if the second network node is the data gateway, performing complete processing of the at least one data packet received from the mobile station and transmitting the completely processed data packet to the data gateway;
• and
• if the second network node is the master base station, performing partial processing of the at least one data packet received from the mobile station and transmitting the partially processed data packet to the master base station so that the master base station entirely processes the partially processed data packet and transmits the entirely processed data packet to the data gateway.

A base station comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises a packet manager configured for:
• identifying a first network node in a cloud cell from which at least one data packet intended for an Internet Protocol (IP) network is received, wherein the first network node comprises one of a mobile station and one of slave base stations;
• identifying a second network node to which the at least one data packet is to be sent if the at least one data packet is received from the mobile station, wherein the second network node comprises one of a data gateway and a master base station of the cloud cell;
• if the second network node is the data gateway, performing complete processing of the at least one data packet received from the mobile station and transmitting the completely processed data packet to the data gateway;
• and
• if the second network node is the master base station, performing partial processing of the at least one data packet received from the mobile station and transmitting the partially processed data packet to the master base station so that the master base station entirely processes the partially processed data packet and transmits the entirely processed data packet to the data gateway.