Hierarchical network and interference management

Abstract

The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory) for network management through a hierarchical architecture with a control functionality of a network server (e.g., C-SON) in relationship to clusters comprising eNBs (access points), and for implementing coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission and reception in conjunction with inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) in wireless networks such as LTE wireless networks. In particular, embodiments of the invention describe control and coordination mechanisms among the network elements for different network architectures and use-case scenarios. Such mechanisms may be managed by a centralized self-organizing network controller such as C-SON and hierarchically via localized controllers (such as cluster coordinators) residing in macro eNBs depending on system architectural constraints and network state. A fault-tolerant mechanism then may be defined to recover from failure of controlling sub-elements so that the network remains stable at all times.