Abstract: The present invention relates to methods at a base station of changing Radio Access Technology (RAT) of a mobile terminal in a communications network, and related base stations performing the methods. In one embodiment, a change to be made from a serving RAT to a first target RAT is determined, and a quality measure of the first target RAT is estimated based on a quality measure of the serving RAT. The mobile terminal is instructed to change to the first target RAT responsive to determining that the estimated signal quality measure of the first target RAT exceeds a quality threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods at a base station of changing Radio Access Technology (RAT) of a mobile terminal in a communications network, and related base stations performing the methods. In one embodiment, a change to be made from a serving RAT to a first target RAT is determined, and a quality measure of the first target RAT is estimated based on a quality measure of the serving RAT. The mobile terminal is instructed to change to the first target RAT responsive to determining that the estimated signal quality measure of the first target RAT exceeds a quality threshold value.

Abstract: A device detects poor coverage associated with a source radio access technology (RAT) with which the device is connected, and connects to a target RAT. The device also measures the source RAT for a time period after connecting to the target RAT, and sends, based on the measurements, one or more measurement reports to the target RAT, where the target RAT forwards the one or more measurement reports to the source RAT. Alternatively, or additionally, the target RAT may detect that the handover was triggered too early and may inform the source RAT or command the UE to return to the source RAT. The device further stops the measuring and the sending when the time period expires. In this way, IRAT handover parameters may be automatically or manually tuned to minimize the number of handovers triggered too early, which may result in a more efficient cell configuration.

Abstract: A device detects poor coverage associated with a source radio access technology (RAT) with which the device is connected, and connects to a target RAT. The device also measures the source RAT for a time period after connecting to the target RAT, and sends, based on the measurements, one or more measurement reports to the target RAT, where the target RAT forwards the one or more measurement reports to the source RAT. Alternatively, or additionally, the target RAT may detect that the handover was triggered too early and may inform the source RAT or command the UE to return to the source RAT. The device further stops the measuring and the sending when the time period expires. In this way, IRAT handover parameters may be automatically or manually tuned to minimize the number of handovers triggered too early, which may result in a more efficient cell configuration.

Abstract: A device detects poor coverage associated with a source radio access technology (RAT) with which the device is connected, and connects to a target RAT. The device also measures the source RAT for a time period after connecting to the target RAT, and sends, based on the measurements, one or more measurement reports to the target RAT, where the target RAT forwards the one or more measurement reports to the source RAT. Alternatively, or additionally, the target RAT may detect that the handover was triggered too early and may inform the source RAT or command the UE to return to the source RAT. The device further stops the measuring and the sending when the time period expires. In this way, IRAT handover parameters may be automatically or manually tuned to minimize the number of handovers triggered too early, which may result in a more efficient cell configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement, a communication network node and a method of saving radio resources during handover in a communication network system comprising a plurality of communication network nodes (15a, 15b, 15c) communicating with one or more user equipments (18). Each network node (15a, 15b, 15c) is serving at least one cell (19) through and in which the user equipments (18) are moving. The method and arrangement is based on: collection of long term handover statistics (1); selective triggering of Multiple Cell Preparation (2); definition of a Secondary Target Cell List (3); exclusion from the Secondary Target Cell List of cells rarely used (4); preparation of the cells on the Secondary Target Cell List for handover (5).

Abstract: A base station, computer readable medium and method for determining whether a neighbor cell is a neighbor of a serving cell, where the serving cell and the neighbor cell belong to a same communication network that includes a user terminal served by the serving cell. The method includes receiving at a base station of the serving cell, via the user terminal, a first identity of the neighbor cell, a second identity of the neighbor cell, and a random number generated by a base station of the neighbor cell; sending, from the base station of the serving cell, a request to the base station of the neighbor cell, for establishing a neighbor relation, wherein the request includes the received random number; and obtaining at the base station of the serving cell a response from the base station of the neighbor cell in response to the request, the response indicating acceptance or denial of the neighbor relation.

Abstract: A device detects poor coverage associated with a source radio access technology (RAT) with which the device is connected, and connects to a target RAT. The device also measures the source RAT for a time period after connecting to the target RAT, and sends, based on the measurements, one or more measurement reports to the target RAT, where the target RAT forwards the one or more measurement reports to the source RAT. Alternatively, or additionally, the target RAT may detect that the handover was triggered too early and may inform the source RAT or command the UE to return to the source RAT. The device further stops the measuring and the sending when the time period expires. In this way, IRAT handover parameters may be automatically or manually tuned to minimize the number of handovers triggered too early, which may result in a more efficient cell configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for use in a cellular radio communication system for adjusting a handover parameter. Information is collected regarding actual handovers that have occurred between one or more pairs of cells as well as handover failures. The collected handover information is processed to determine a handover oscillation rate or a handover cost associated with the cell pair. If the handover performance is determined to be acceptable, the determined handover oscillation rate or the determined handover cost is compared with a predetermined target handover oscillation rate or a predetermined target handover cost, respectively. One or more handover parameters associated with at least one of the cells in the cell pair is adjusted based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement, a communication network node and a method of saving radio resources during handover in a communication network system comprising a plurality of communication network nodes (15a, 15b, 15c) communicating with one or more user equipments (18). Each network node (15a, 15b, 15c) is serving at least one cell (19) through and in which the user equipments (18) are moving. The method and arrangement is based on: collection of long term handover statistics (1); selective triggering of Multiple Cell Preparation (2); definition of a Secondary Target Cell List (3); exclusion from the Secondary Target Cell List of cells rarely used (4); preparation of the cells on the Secondary Target Cell List for handover (5).

Abstract: Automatic setting and/or adjusting of the threshold(s) for triggering measurements of signal strength/quality of other RATs that are needed for IRAT mobility is described. The setting and/or adjusting of the threshold(s) triggering IRAT measurements is automatically optimized and preferably performed for each BS. Initially, constraints on the optimization of the IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) are set, and a start value for the optimization of the IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) is provided or determined. Input information needed for the optimization of the IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) are then collected, and new IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) are determined and set or existing IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) are adjusted if appropriate.

Abstract: A device detects poor coverage associated with a source radio access technology (RAT) with which the device is connected, and connects to a target RAT. The device also measures the source RAT for a time period after connecting to the target RAT, and sends, based on the measurements, one or more measurement reports to the target RAT, where the target RAT forwards the one or more measurement reports to the source RAT. Alternatively, or additionally, the target RAT may detect that the handover was triggered too early and may inform the source RAT or command the UE to return to the source RAT. The device further stops the measuring and the sending when the time period expires. In this way, IRAT handover parameters may be automatically or manually tuned to minimize the number of handovers triggered too early, which may result in a more efficient cell configuration.

Abstract: A base station, computer readable medium and method for determining whether a neighbor cell is a neighbor of a serving cell, where the serving cell and the neighbor cell belong to a same communication network that includes a user terminal served by the serving cell. The method includes receiving at a base station of the serving cell, via the user terminal, a first identity of the neighbor cell, a second identity of the neighbor cell, and a random number generated by a base station of the neighbor cell; sending, from the base station of the serving cell, a request to the base station of the neighbor cell, for establishing a neighbor relation, wherein the request includes the received random number; and obtaining at the base station of the serving cell a response from the base station of the neighbor cell in response to the request, the response indicating acceptance or denial of the neighbor relation.

Abstract: Automatic setting and/or adjusting of the threshold(s) for triggering measurements of signal strength/quality of other RATs that are needed for IRAT mobility is described. The setting and/or adjusting of the threshold(s) triggering IRAT measurements is automatically optimized and preferably performed for each BS. Initially, constraints on the optimization of the IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) are set, and a start value for the optimization of the IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) is provided or determined. Input information needed for the optimization of the IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) are then collected, and new IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) are determined and set or existing IRAT measurement triggering threshold(s) are adjusted if appropriate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for use in a cellular radio communication system for adjusting a handover parameter. Information is collected regarding actual handovers that have occurred between one or more pairs of cells as well as handover failures. The collected handover information is processed to determine a handover oscillation rate or a handover cost associated with the cell pair. If the handover performance is determined to be acceptable, the determined handover oscillation rate or the determined handover cost is compared with a predetermined target handover oscillation rate or a predetermined target handover cost, respectively. One or more handover parameters associated with at least one of the cells in the cell pair is adjusted based on the comparison.