Cisco Technology, Inc.

Intucell Ltd.

Itay Meir Mizrahi

Ziv Nuss

A method is provided for managing heterogeneous cellular networks. The method comprises obtaining measurement reports from wireless entities relating to the intensity at which signals are received by each wireless entity; based on these measurement reports, and/or on geographical information of HetNet elements, identifying a macro cell located at the vicinity of the small cells; selecting one of the small cells to be a gateway cell, and other small cells to be inner cells. The gateway cell is a small cell that receives, or mobile terminals connected thereto receive, signals transmitted by the macro cell at an intensity being at least similar to intensity at which these signals are received at the inner cells; identifying physical layer identifiers (PLIs) used at the macro cell; and determining PLIs for the gateway cell which are not currently used by the macro cell, and PLIs available for use by the inner cells.

Method for managing heterogeneous cellular networks

A method is provided for managing load balance in cellular heterogeneous networks. The method comprises: providing a plurality of spectrum carriers for conveying communication signals to/from a macro cell. At least one of the carriers is a shared carrier for conveying communication signals to/from the macro cell and to/from at least one small cell located at the geographical vicinity of the macro cell, and wherein the shared carrier is characterized in that data is the only type of communication signals being conveyed thereat when the cellular network is under congestion. One or more other spectrum carriers are dedicated carriers adapted to essentially convey voice calls, and wherein user terminals are steered away from dedicated carriers to the shared carrier, so that when a data session is initiated for a user terminal camped on the shared carrier, that session will be conveyed one or more of the small cells.

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Ness-Ziyonna, Israel

Itay Meir Mizrahi