One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to network optimization solutions provided as software agents (applications) executed on network nodes in a heterogenous multi-vendor environment to provide cross-layer network optimization and ensure availability of network resources to meet associated Quality of Experience (QoE) and Quality of Service (QoS). In one aspect, a network slicing engine is configured to receive at least one request from at least one network endpoint for access to the heterogeneous multi-vendor network for data transmission; receive information on state of operation of a plurality of communication links between the plurality of nodes; determine a set of data transmission routes for the request; assign a network slice for serving the request; determine, from the set of data transmission routes, an end-to-end route for the network slice; and send network traffic associated with the request using the network slice and over the end-to-end route.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to network optimization solutions provided as software agents (applications) executed on network nodes in a heterogenous multi-vendor environment to provide cross-layer network optimization and ensure availability of network resources to meet associated Quality of Experience (QoE) and Quality of Service (QoS). In one aspect, a network slicing engine is configured to receive at least one request from at least one network endpoint for access to the heterogeneous multi-vendor network for data transmission; receive information on state of operation of a plurality of communication links between the plurality of nodes; determine a set of data transmission routes for the request; assign a network slice for serving the request; determine, from the set of data transmission routes, an end-to-end route for the network slice; and send network traffic associated with the request using the network slice and over the end-to-end route.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a communication method, which includes: requesting, by a first base station, a second base station to add a cell of the second base station as a serving cell of first user equipment; when finding that a first identifier of the first user equipment is the same as an identifier of second user equipment served by the second base station, indicating, by the second base station to the first base station, that the first identifier is the same as the second identifier; and adjusting, by the first base station, the first identifier to a third identifier, and sending the third identifier to the second base station.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide: dividing, by a base station, a frequency band of a cell into N frequency ranges, where the N frequency ranges include a common frequency range and a dedicated frequency range; sending, by the base station, information about the N frequency ranges and random access resource information of the cell to a UE; mapping, by the base station, a service bearer DRB of the UE into at least one frequency range of the N frequency ranges; and transmitting, by using a radio interface technology supported by the specified frequency range into which the DRB is mapped, a service carried on the DRB with the UE. A method for using a radio interface technology includes: using, by UE, a common frequency range, and optionally, using, by the UE, a dedicated frequency range to perform wireless network access.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide: dividing, by a base station, a frequency band of a cell into N frequency ranges, where the N frequency ranges include a common frequency range and a dedicated frequency range; sending, by the base station, information about the N frequency ranges and random access resource information of the cell to a UE; mapping, by the base station, a service bearer DRB of the UE into at least one frequency range of the N frequency ranges; and transmitting, by using a radio interface technology supported by the specified frequency range into which the DRB is mapped, a service carried on the DRB with the UE. A method for using a radio interface technology includes: using, by UE, a common frequency range, and optionally, using, by the UE, a dedicated frequency range to perform wireless network access.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing spatial multiplexing in conjunction with the one or more multiple access protocols during the broadcast of information in a wireless network. One example includes transmitting a first and a second data signal to a remote unit from a respective first and a second spatially separate antenna of a base station so that the first and second data signals have a first spatial configuration, determining that the first and the second data signals are not spatially separated by the remote unit, reconfiguring the (spatial multiplexing logic 104) spatial configuration of the first and second data signals to a second spatial configuration, and transmitting a third and fourth data signal to the remote unit from a second different antenna configuration according to the second spatial configuration.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing spatial multiplexing in conjunction with the one or more multiple access protocols during the broadcast of information in a wireless network. One example includes transmitting a first and a second data signal to a remote unit from a respective first and a second spatially separate antenna of a base station so that the first and second data signals have a first spatial configuration, determining that the first and the second data signals are not spatially separated by the remote unit, reconfiguring the (spatial multiplexing logic 104) spatial configuration of the first and second data signals to a second spatial configuration, and transmitting a third and fourth data signal to the remote unit from a second different antenna configuration according to the second spatial configuration.

Network slice information indicating a characteristic of a wireless network to be provided by a base station is acquired, and whether the base station provides a predetermined network slice is determined based on the acquired network slice information. If a determination that the base station does not provide the predetermined network slice is made, connection processing for connection between a communication apparatus and the base station is canceled, or connection between the communication apparatus and the base station is disconnected.

A method and a system with which a primary user, in particular a mobile radio operator, can make a part of the radio spectrum range which is reserved exclusively for the mobile radio operator available in localized and/or time-restricted fashion to a local end user who requested the restricted usage authorization of the radio spectrum range using registered credentials at the mobile radio operator. By way of the credentials the mobile radio operator can allow the local end user limited usage of that radio spectrum range in fee-bearing fashion and can bill same. The local user can then use the assigned frequency band in accordance with his own needs. In particular the user can wirelessly transmit signals in the assigned frequency range between end devices to which no credentials are allocated and in that situation use a transmission protocol which is not defined for the mobile radio network.

Methods and arrangements for mitigating or avoiding inter cell interference on a control channel on which scheduling request are transmitted from UEs to a serving base station. The solution relates to classifying the UEs based e.g. on the type of services applied by the UEs, and allocating resources on the control channel based on the classification.