Unified Access Point Provisioning for Femto Cell Data Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for provisioning information in femto cell communication networks are inefficient, leading to data misalignment between Access Points (APs) and Access Controllers (ACs), increasing capital and operating costs, and requiring multiple management applications and interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A network management system that configures femto cell APs with all necessary information for the AC during connection setup, using a single provisioning interface (TR-069 remote management protocol) and authentication mechanisms to ensure data integrity, allowing the AP to act as an intermediary for provisioning and reducing the need for separate AC provisioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate provisioning systems are used for AP and AC, then comprehensive provisioning is achieved, but data misalignment occurs between AP and AC
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the provisioning of AP and AC into a single unified process where the AC is provisioned with all necessary information including AP identification and configuration data. This eliminates data misalignment by ensuring both entities receive consistent information from a single provisioning source, resolving the contradiction between reliability and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach where the AC acts as a mediator that receives provisioning information and uses it to both configure itself and identify/provision the associated AP. This single provisioning interface serves dual purposes, eliminating the need for separate provisioning systems while maintaining data consistency.
2Reliability
If multiple management applications and interfaces are used, then comprehensive provisioning is achieved, but capital and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal provisioning interface that performs multiple functions: provisioning the AC, provisioning the AP, and enabling AC-AP association. This single interface replaces multiple management applications, reducing both capital expenditure on multiple systems and operating costs for maintaining them, while achieving comprehensive provisioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If independent provisioning of AC and AP is performed, then flexible configuration is achieved, but provisioning time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by provisioning the AC with all necessary information including AP identification data before the AC-AP association occurs. This advance provisioning eliminates the need for subsequent separate AP provisioning steps, reducing total provisioning time while maintaining configuration flexibility through the comprehensive initial information set.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network management system (240) for managing communications in a cellular communication network comprising an access point (215) operably coupled to an access controller (235). The network management system (240) comprises an access controller configuration logic (255) arranged to configure the access controller (235) with configuration information. The network management system (240) further comprises an access point configuration logic (245) arranged to configure the access point (215) with configuration information comprising, at least in part, configuration information intended for the access controller (235).