# US 8,787,911 B2 · Load balancing in a mobile communication network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,911 B2 - Document ID: US8787911B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/821,006 - Filed: 2010-06-22 - Published: 2011-02-17 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-11 - Assignees: Ubiquisys Limited - Applicants: Justin Gordon Johnstone; Andrea Giustina - Inventors: Justin Gordon Johnstone; Andrea Giustina - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787911B2 ## CPC - H04W 36/22: for handling the traffic - H04W 84/045: {using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A cellular access point, amongst a plurality of interconnected cellular access points receives from a first user equipment a connection attempt that would cause the access point to exceed a first predetermined capacity threshold. The cellular access point selects one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points. The cellular access point initiates a handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points and establishes a connection with the first user equipment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operation of a cellular access point amongst a plurality of interconnected cellular access points, the method comprising: receiving from a first user equipment a connection attempt that, together with previously connected user equipments, would cause the access point to exceed a first predetermined capacity threshold; in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points; in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, initiating a handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points when an additional load balancing handover criterion is met; and after initiating the handover, establishing a connection with the first user equipment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection is performed based on measurement reports from previously connected user equipments. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection is performed based only on measurement reports relating to access points of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points, and not on measurement reports relating to other base stations of the cellular network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: storing a list comprising at least one other access point of said plurality of interconnected cellular access points, and initiating a handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points only if the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points appears on the stored list. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: when initiating the handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points, indicating that the handover is initiated for reasons of capacity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first predetermined capacity threshold is equal to a maximum capacity of the access point. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first predetermined capacity threshold is less than a maximum capacity of the access point. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: receiving loading information from others of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points; and selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points, based additionally on the received loading information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments comprises prioritising candidate connected users based on a reported measured quality of an existing connection to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments comprises prioritising candidate connected users based on a type of service used by each of the candidate connected users. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments comprises prioritising candidate connected users based on whether the candidate connected users provide inter-frequency or intra-frequency measurement reports. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points comprises prioritising based on a current loading of candidate target access points. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points comprises prioritising candidate target access points based on a history of handover success to that access point. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: receiving from a first user equipment a connection attempt that would cause the access point to exceed a second predetermined capacity threshold lower than the first predetermined capacity threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the additional load balancing handover criterion relates to the current load of the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points. ### Claim 16 A method of operation of a cellular access point amongst a plurality of interconnected cellular access points, the method comprising: receiving from a first user equipment a connection attempt that, together with previously connected user equipments, would cause the access point to exceed a first predetermined capacity threshold; in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points, the selection being made based on a likelihood that said one of the previously connected user equipments will be accepted for hand-in by said associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points; in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, initiating a handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points when an additional load balancing handover criterion is met; and after initiating the handover, establishing a connection with the first user equipment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the selection is performed based on measurement reports from previously connected user equipments. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the selection is performed based only on measurement reports relating to access points of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points, and not on measurement reports relating to other base stations of the cellular network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: receiving loading information from others of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points; and selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points, based additionally on the received loading information. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising receiving said loading information from others of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points by peer-to-peer communication. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments comprises prioritising candidate connected users based on a reported measured quality of an existing connection to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments comprises prioritising candidate connected users based on a type of service used by each of the candidate connected users. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments comprises prioritising candidate connected users based on whether the candidate connected users provide inter-frequency or intra-frequency measurement reports. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points comprises prioritising based on a current loading of candidate target access points. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points comprises prioritising candidate target access points based on a history of handover success to that access point. ### Claim 26 A method of operation of a cellular access point amongst a plurality of interconnected cellular access points, the method comprising: receiving from a first user equipment a connection attempt that, together with previously connected user equipments, would cause the access point to exceed a first predetermined capacity threshold; in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, selecting one of the previously connected user equipments and an associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points; in response to receiving the connection attempt from the first user equipment, initiating a handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments to the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points when an additional load balancing handover criterion is met; after initiating the handover, establishing a connection with the first user equipment; and thereafter, allowing a handover of the selected one of the previously connected user equipments from the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points to said cellular access point only after a timer has expired. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the first predetermined capacity threshold is less than a maximum capacity of the access point. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) A method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising: receiving from a first user equipment a connection attempt that would cause the access point to exceed a second predetermined capacity threshold lower than the first predetermined capacity threshold. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the additional load balancing handover criterion relates to the current load of the associated one of the plurality of interconnected cellular access points.