Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes gathering at a small cell base station information to populate a neighbor cell list of the small cell base station; gathering measurement reports from connected mode user equipment (“UE”) at the small cell base station; and determining whether uplink interference has exceeded a predetermined threshold and generating an alarm to a central node when the uplink interference has exceeded the predetermined threshold. Upon receipt of notification, the central node triggers an action on an aggressor node, wherein the aggressor node is a node servicing at least one aggressor user equipment (“UE”) that significantly contributes to the uplink interference as determined from the gathered information and reports.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a method for selecting a physical layer identifier for use in a basestation is disclosed. The basestation may be comprised within a mobile communications network, which may also comprise a plurality of other basestations. The method comprises receiving a pool of identifiers available for use by basestations within the network and assigning a temporary identifier for the basestation. The method further comprises receiving from connected UEs reports of identifiers from among the received pool that are in use by basestations detected by the connected UEs and assigning a final identifier selected from the received pool of identifiers, the final identifier being different from the temporary identifier.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request to relocate a user equipment (UE) from a source macro radio to an ambiguous small cell access point (AP), wherein the request includes a target cell identity (ID) encoded with a source macro cell identifier for the source macro radio and a target sub-carrier identifier for the ambiguous small cell AP; determining potential target small cell APs for relocation of the first UE using the using the first target cell ID, wherein each of the potential target small cell APs are within a coverage area of the source macro radio and operate using the target sub-carrier identifier; and preparing, for each of the potential target small cell APs, a common channel to receive relocation of the first UE. The first UE can relocate to a particular target small cell access point using the common channel.

Abstract: A method for controlling uplink transmit power for a plurality of basestations in a mobile communications network is disclosed. The basestations may form a second layer within the network, and the network may comprise another plurality of basestations forming a first layer. The method comprises clustering the plurality of second layer basestations according to association with first layer basestations, exchanging second layer basestation loading information between second layer basestations belonging to the same cluster, and dynamically setting uplink transmit power limits for individual second layer basestations based on the exchanged loading information. The method may further comprise updating the clustering of the second layer basestations according to dynamic variation in association of second layer basestations with first layer basestations.

Abstract: A method for controlling uplink transmit power for a plurality of basestations in a mobile communications network is disclosed. The basestations may form a second layer within the network, and the network may comprise another plurality of basestations forming a first layer. The method comprises clustering the plurality of second layer basestations according to association with first layer basestations, exchanging second layer basestation loading information between second layer basestations belonging to the same cluster, and dynamically setting uplink transmit power limits for individual second layer basestations based on the exchanged loading information. The method may further comprise updating the clustering of the second layer basestations according to dynamic variation in association of second layer basestations with first layer basestations.

Abstract: In a basestation of a cellular communications network, steps are taken to identify at least one situation, in which a user equipment device is liable to experience a rapid deterioration in a quality of a link with the base station. Measurement information is collected, related to the radio conditions experienced by a user equipment device in said situation, and at least one handover parameter is automatically adjusted in the basestation based on the collected information.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request to relocate a user equipment (UE) from a source macro radio to an ambiguous small cell access point (AP), wherein the request includes a target cell identity (ID) encoded with a source macro cell identifier for the source macro radio and a target sub-carrier identifier for the ambiguous small cell AP; determining potential target small cell APs for relocation of the first UE using the using the first target cell ID, wherein each of the potential target small cell APs are within a coverage area of the source macro radio and operate using the target sub-carrier identifier; and preparing, for each of the potential target small cell APs, a common channel to receive relocation of the first UE. The first UE can relocate to a particular target small cell access point using the common channel.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a method for classifying a basestation in a cellular communications network is provided that may include obtaining an identifier used by the basestation, comparing the identifier to a pool of identifiers reserved for a class of basestations, obtaining a frequency on which the basestation is operating, comparing the frequency to a pool of frequencies used by the class of basestations, and identifying the basestation as belonging to the class of basestations if the identifier is in the pool of identifiers and the frequency is in the pool of frequencies. Another method for classifying a basestation may comprise receiving a broadcast from the basestation including an attribute of the basestation, comparing the attribute with an attribute value range corresponding to the class of basestations, and identifying the basestation as belonging to the class of basestations if the received cell attribute falls within the attribute value range.

Abstract: A method for controlling uplink transmit power for a plurality of basestations in a mobile communications network is disclosed. The basestations may form a second layer within the network, and the network may comprise another plurality of basestations forming a first layer. The method comprises clustering the plurality of second layer basestations according to association with first layer basestations, exchanging second layer basestation loading information between second layer basestations belonging to the same cluster, and dynamically setting uplink transmit power limits for individual second layer basestations based on the exchanged loading information. The method may further comprise updating the clustering of the second layer basestations according to dynamic variation in association of second layer basestations with first layer basestations.

Abstract: A method for controlling uplink transmit power for a plurality of basestations in a mobile communications network is disclosed. The basestations may form a second layer within the network, and the network may comprise another plurality of basestations forming a first layer. The method comprises clustering the plurality of second layer basestations according to association with first layer basestations, exchanging second layer basestation loading information between second layer basestations belonging to the same cluster, and dynamically setting uplink transmit power limits for individual second layer basestations based on the exchanged loading information. The method may further comprise updating the clustering of the second layer basestations according to dynamic variation in association of second layer basestations with first layer basestations.

Abstract: A method of controlling interference in a cellular communications network comprises, in a first base station of the network: determining that the first base station is suffering from uncontrolled interference from at least one other base station of the network; based on information received from at least one other base station of the network regarding estimates of interference caused at the first base station by at least one user equipment device connected to the respective other base station, selecting a proposed action to mitigate said interference; and notifying the respective other base station of the selection of the proposed action.

Abstract: A node for a communication system that is configured to communicate with a mobile node via a first connection and to communicate with a third node via a first forwarding path is disclosed. After a procedure for handover of the first connection to a second connection between the mobile node and a target network node is initiated, data is communicated from the node to the third node for transmission to the target network node via a second forwarding path. The third node is configured to receive the data and to forward it to the target network node.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include populating a neighbor list including one or more neighbors for a cell radio using neighbor information gathered for the cell radio; receiving a detected set measurement report from a user equipment (UE), wherein the measurement report includes, at least in part, one or more primary scrambling codes (PSCs) for one or more other neighbors detected by the UE; and updating the neighbor list to include one or more of the other neighbors based, at least in part, on whether any of the one or more PSCs received in the measurement report are included in the previously gathered neighbor information.

Abstract: A method for controlling uplink transmit power for a plurality of basestations in a mobile communications network is disclosed. The basestations may form a second layer within the network, and the network may comprise another plurality of basestations forming a first layer. The method comprises clustering the plurality of second layer basestations according to association with first layer basestations, exchanging second layer basestation loading information between second layer basestations belonging to the same cluster, and dynamically setting uplink transmit power limits for individual second layer basestations based on the exchanged loading information. The method may further comprise updating the clustering of the second layer basestations according to dynamic variation in association of second layer basestations with first layer basestations.

Abstract: To provide a user equipment with a restricted access to network services in situation when authentication of the user equipment by means of a first shared secret, known only by the user equipment and an authentication center is not possible because of a system failure, the user equipment is authenticated by means of a second shared secret in an access point node, the authentication procedure being otherwise the same.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a method for selecting a physical layer identifier for use in a basestation is disclosed. The basestation may be comprised within a mobile communications network, which may also comprise a plurality of other basestations. The method comprises receiving a pool of identifiers available for use by basestations within the network and assigning a temporary identifier for the basestation. The method further comprises receiving from connected UEs reports of identifiers from among the received pool that are in use by basestations detected by the connected UEs and assigning a final identifier selected from the received pool of identifiers, the final identifier being different from the temporary identifier.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a method for selecting a physical layer identifier for use in a basestation is disclosed. The basestation may be comprised within a mobile communications network, which may also comprise a plurality of other basestations. The method comprises receiving a pool of identifiers available for use by basestations within the network and assigning a temporary identifier for the basestation. The method further comprises receiving from connected UEs reports of identifiers from among the received pool that are in use by basestations detected by the connected UEs and assigning a final identifier selected from the received pool of identifiers, the final identifier being different from the temporary identifier.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include populating a neighbor list including one or more neighbors for a cell radio using neighbor information gathered for the cell radio; receiving a detected set measurement report from a user equipment (UE), wherein the measurement report includes, at least in part, one or more primary scrambling codes (PSCs) for one or more other neighbors detected by the UE; and updating the neighbor list to include one or more of the other neighbors based, at least in part, on whether any of the one or more PSCs received in the measurement report are included in the previously gathered neighbor information.

Abstract: A method of controlling interference in a cellular communications network comprises, in a first base station of the network: determining that the first base station is suffering from uncontrolled interference from at least one other base station of the network; based on information received from at least one other base station of the network regarding estimates of interference caused at the first base station by at least one user equipment device connected to the respective other base station, selecting a proposed action to mitigate said interference; and notifying the respective other base station of the selection of the proposed action.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request to relocate a user equipment (UE) from a source macro radio to an ambiguous small cell access point (AP), wherein the request includes a target cell identity (ID) encoded with a source macro cell identifier for the source macro radio and a target sub-carrier identifier for the ambiguous small cell AP; determining potential target small cell APs for relocation of the first UE using the using the first target cell ID, wherein each of the potential target small cell APs are within a coverage area of the source macro radio and operate using the target sub-carrier identifier; and preparing, for each of the potential target small cell APs, a common channel to receive relocation of the first UE. The first UE can relocate to a particular target small cell access point using the common channel.