Verizon Communications Inc.
Systems and methods for anchor selection in a non-standalone wireless network environment

Abstract:

A system described herein may provide a technique for the intelligent, automated, and dynamic selection of anchor evolved Node Bs ("eNBs") for Next Generation Node Bs ("gNBs") in a Non-Standalone ("NSA") wireless network environment. An eNB may be selected as an anchor eNB based on distance to a particular gNB, and one or more sectors of the anchor eNB may be selected as anchors based on coverage areas associated with the sectors. Sectors of additional eNBs may be identified based on frequent handovers between the identified sectors of the anchor eNB and sectors of the additional eNBs. Selected eNBs and/or sectors may be notified of the designation as an anchor, and may thus provide gNB carrier information to connected User Equipment ("UE"), which may facilitate the connection of such UEs to the gNB.