BACKGROUND

When designing a cellular network, a cellular network operator may need to balance various factors, including balancing a desire to use the most efficient and newest cellular network architecture against having backwards compatibility with previous-generation cellular networks. Embodiments detailed herein allow a cellular network operator to realize the benefits of using both the most up-to-date cellular network architecture and obtaining compatibility with previous-generation equipment.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments are described related to a compound cellular network that accommodates multiple cellular communication protocols. In some embodiments, a compound cellular network that accommodates multiple cellular communication protocols is described. The system may comprise a standalone network portion of a first cellular network comprising a plurality of anchor points. The standalone network portion may operate according to only a first cellular communication protocol. The plurality of anchor points may be geographically distributed. Each anchor point of the plurality of anchor points may serve as a gateway for a user equipment with a data network. Which anchor point of the plurality of anchor points serves as the gateway for the user equipment may be varied based on latency or load. The system may comprise a converged core network portion of the first cellular network, comprising a converged anchor point distinct from the plurality of anchor points. The converged core network portion may operate according to the first cellular communication protocol and a second cellular communication protocol. When the user equipment connects with a separate, second cellular network that may use the second cellular communication protocol, the user equipment may be locked to the converged anchor point of the converged core network portion of the first cellular network as the gateway with the data network.

Embodiments of such a method may include one or more of the following features: the first cellular communication protocol may be 5G New Radio (NR). The second cellular communication protocol may be 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE). The second cellular network may be a non-standalone 5G cellular network that may comprise 4G evolved packet core (EPC) components. The data network may comprise the Internet. The converged core network portion may be located near a geographical edge of the compound cellular network such that beyond the geographical edge, the user equipment may roam on the second cellular network that uses the second cellular communication protocol. The converged core network portion may be physically located such that a coverage area of base stations of the converged core network portion overlaps a coverage area of the second cellular network that may use the second cellular communication protocol. The user equipment may not be locked to using the converged anchor point as the gateway with the data network while the user equipment may be communicating with base stations of the converged core network portion. The converged core network portion may remain used as the gateway with the data network for the user equipment regardless of where the user equipment roams on the second cellular network while remaining connected with the second cellular network.

In some embodiments, a method for using a compound cellular network that accommodates multiple cellular communication protocols is described. The method may comprise connecting, by the compound cellular network, a user equipment (UE) with a data network using a first anchor point while the UE may use a standalone network portion of the compound cellular network. The anchor points may serve as communication gateways between the data network and the UE. The standalone network portion may operate according to only a first cellular communication protocol. The method may comprise transitioning, by the compound cellular network, the UE from using the first anchor point to using a second anchor point of the compound cellular network. The method may comprise, following the transitioning, connecting, by the compound cellular network, the UE with the data network using the second anchor point while the UE may use the standalone network portion of the compound cellular network. The method may comprise following connecting the UE with the data network using the second anchor point, transitioning, by the compound cellular network, the UE from the second anchor point to a converged anchor point of the compound cellular network. The converged anchor point may be part of a converged core network portion of the compound cellular network that operates according to the first cellular communication protocol and a second cellular communication protocol. The method may comprise, following transitioning the UE from the second anchor point to the converged anchor point, locking the UE to the converged anchor point while the UE may be communicating with a second cellular network that may communicate using the second cellular communication protocol.

Embodiments of such a method may include one or more of the following features: communicating, by the UE, with the second cellular network using the second cellular communication protocol. The method may further comprise, while the UE may be communicating with the second cellular network using the second cellular communication protocol, using the converged anchor point of the compound cellular network for access to the data network regardless of where the UE roams within the second cellular network. The first cellular communication protocol may be 5G New Radio (NR). The second cellular communication protocol may be 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE). The second cellular network may be a non-standalone 5G network that may comprise 4G evolved packet core (EPC) components. The data network may comprise the Internet. The converged core network portion may be located near a physical edge of the compound cellular network such that beyond the physical edge of the system, the user equipment roams on the second cellular network that uses the second cellular communication protocol. The converged core network portion of the compound cellular network has a geographic coverage area that may overlap the second cellular network that uses the second cellular communication protocol. The user equipment may not be locked to using the converged anchor point as the communication gateway with the data network while the user equipment may be wirelessly connected with the converged core network portion of the compound cellular network. The method may further comprise, following locking the UE to the converged anchor point while the UE may be communicating with the second cellular network, connecting, by the compound cellular network, the UE with the data network using a third anchor point when the UE may be again communicating wirelessly with the compound cellular network.

