Load Distribution in a Network of Small-Cell Base Stations

1. A method comprising: in a network device of a first service provider, determining that a first backhaul connection, which serves a first base station, is congested and that a second backhaul connection, which serves a second base station, is not congested, the determining being made based on a first periodic data cap imposed on the first backhaul connection, a traffic load on the first backhaul connection, a second periodic data cap imposed on the second backhaul connection, and a traffic load on the second backhaul connection; in response to determining that the first backhaul connection is congested and the second backhaul connection is not congested, configuring a value of a cellular communication parameter utilized by one or both of the first base station and the second base station, the configuring of the value of the cellular communication parameter comprising periodic adjustments of the value of the cellular communication parameter over a predetermined period of time, wherein the configuring causes one or more mobile devices to be repeatedly handed-over between the first base station and the second base station.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving the first periodic data cap and the second periodic data cap from a database that stores constraints on backhaul connections.

3. A method comprising: performing by a network device: determining a load state of each of a plurality of network connections, wherein: each of the plurality of network connections backhauls a respective one of a plurality of base stations; and for each one of the plurality of network connections, the determining of the load state is based on a periodic data cap imposed on the one of the plurality of network connections; and configuring one or more of the plurality of base stations based on the determined load state of each of the plurality of network connections, wherein the configuring one or more of the plurality of base stations comprises adjusting a value of a parameter over a predetermined period of time such that traffic is redistributed from a more-heavily-loaded one of the plurality of network connections to a less-heavily-loaded one of the plurality of network connections.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said parameter comprises one or more of the following: minimum quality of service level, whether to accept inbound handovers, or whether to initiate outbound handovers.

5. A method comprising: performing by a network device: determining a load state of each of a plurality of network connections, wherein: each of the plurality of network connections backhauls a respective one of a plurality of base stations; and for each one of the plurality of network connections, the determining of the load state is based on a periodic data cap imposed on the one of the plurality of network connections; and configuring one or more of the plurality of base stations based on the determined load state of each of the plurality of network connections, wherein: the configuring one or more of the plurality of base stations comprises periodically adjusting of one or more parameter values over a predetermined period of time; and the periodic adjusting of one or more parameter values causes one or more mobile devices to be cyclically handed-over among the plurality of base stations.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the configuring one or more of the plurality of base stations comprises one or both of: reducing a power at which the one or more of the plurality of base stations transmit on a cellular channel; and decreasing a sensitivity with which the one or more of the plurality of base stations listen on a cellular channel.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the configuring one or more of the plurality of base stations comprises transmitting one or more network management messages over one or both of: the plurality of backhaul connections; and one or more connections that are out-of-band with the plurality of backhaul connections.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the configuring one or more of the plurality of base stations results in a handover of a mobile device from a first one of the plurality of the base stations to a second one of the plurality of the base stations.

9. A method comprising: performing by a network device: determining a load state of each of a plurality of network connections, wherein: each of the plurality of network connections backhauls a respective one of a plurality of base stations; and for each one of the plurality of network connections, the determining of the load state is based on a periodic data cap imposed on the one of the plurality of network connections; and configuring one or more of the plurality of base stations based on the determined load state of each of the plurality of network connections, wherein: cellular connections handled by the plurality of base stations are associated with one or more first service providers; and the plurality of network connections are associated with one or more second service providers.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein one or more of the plurality of network connections carry data communicated between non-base station devices in addition to carrying data communicated to and/or from a respective one of the plurality of base stations.

11. A system comprising: a network device operable to: determine a load state of each of a plurality of network connections, wherein: each of the plurality of network connections backhauls a respective one of a plurality of base stations; and for each one of the plurality of network connections, the determining of the load state is based on a periodic data cap imposed on the one of the plurality of network connections; and configure one or more of the plurality of base stations based on the determined load state, wherein the configuring comprises adjusting a value of a parameter over a predetermined period of time such that traffic is redistributed from a more-heavily-loaded one of the plurality of network connections to a less-heavily-loaded one of the plurality of network connections.

12. A system comprising: a network device operable to: determine a load state of each of a plurality of network connections, wherein: each of the plurality of network connections backhauls a respective one of a plurality of base stations; and for each one of the plurality of network connections, the determining of the load state is based on a periodic data cap imposed on the one of the plurality of network connections; and configure one or more of the plurality of base stations based on the determined load state, wherein: the configuration of one or more of the plurality of base stations comprises periodic adjustments of one or more parameter values over a predetermined period of time; and the periodic adjustments of one or more parameter values causes one or more mobile devices to be cyclically handed-over among the plurality of base stations.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the configuration of one or more of the plurality of base stations comprises one or both of: a reduction of a power at which the one or more of the plurality of base stations transmit on a cellular channel; and a reduction of a sensitivity with which the one or more of the plurality of base stations listen on a cellular channel.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the configuration of one or more of the plurality of base stations comprises configuration of a value of one or more of the following parameters: minimum quality of service level, whether to accept inbound handovers, or whether to initiate outbound handovers.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the configuration of one or more of the plurality of base stations comprises transmission of one or more network management messages over one or both of: the plurality of backhaul connections; and one or more connections that are out-of-band with the plurality of backhaul connections.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the configuration of one or more of the plurality of base stations results in a handover of a mobile device from a first one of the plurality of the base stations to a second one of the plurality of the base stations.

17. A system comprising: a network device operable to: determine a load state of each of a plurality of network connections, wherein: each of the plurality of network connections backhauls a respective one of a plurality of base stations; and for each one of the plurality of network connections, the determining of the load state is based on a periodic data cap imposed on the one of the plurality of network connections; and configure one or more of the plurality of base stations based on the determined load state, wherein: cellular connections handled by the plurality of base stations are associated with one or more first service providers; and the plurality of network connections are associated with one or more second service providers.

18. A system comprising: a network device operable to: determine a load state of each of a plurality of network connections, wherein: each of the plurality of network connections backhauls a respective one of a plurality of base stations; and for each one of the plurality of network connections, the determining of the load state is based on a periodic data cap imposed on the one of the plurality of network connections; and configure one or more of the plurality of base stations based on the determined load state, wherein one or more of the plurality of network connections carry data communicated between non-base station devices in addition to carrying data communicated to and/or from a respective one of the plurality of base stations.