Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method (200) in a first radio access node for obtaining neighboring cell information. The method comprises the steps of transmitting via an interface a radio access node request (Si2) for set-up information related to the neighboring cell to at least one second radio access node, and receiving a radio access node response (Si3) over the interface from said at least one second radio access node. The radio access node response (Si3) comprises set-up information including an indicator related to the neighboring cell's capability for uplink transmission. The present disclosure also relates to said first radio access node.

Abstract: A technique of providing performance management (PM) data by a network element of a wireless network to an Operations and Maintenance, OAM, system to which the network element is connected. A method embodiment of the providing PM data to the OAM system to which the network element is connected, the PM data being related to one or more objects associated with the network element, includes determining, by the network element, whether at least one of the one or more objects is an unmirrored object, the unmirrored object being invisible to the OAM system. If at least one of the one or more objects is an unmirrored object, the method accumulates, by the network element, PM data of the at least one unmirrored object with PM data of further objects associated with the network element; and provides, by the network element, the accumulated PM data to the OAM system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a base-station-to-base-station (BS-BS) gateway in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular communication network and methods of operation thereof. In one embodiment, the BS-BS gateway receives information from a first base station which includes a hostname and a network address of the first base station. The BS-BS gateway then stores a mapping between the hostname and the network address. Thereafter, in one embodiment, the BS-BS gateway enables a second base station to address messages to the first base station using the hostname of the first base station. In this manner, changes in the network address of the first base station will not affect the ability of the second base station to address messages to the first base station. In some embodiments, the first base station is a low-power base station (LP-BS) and the second base station is a high-power base station (HP-BS).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a base-station-to-base-station (BS-BS) gateway in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular communication network and methods of operation thereof. In one embodiment, the BS-BS gateway receives information from a first base station which includes a hostname and a network address of the first base station. The BS-BS gateway then stores a mapping between the hostname and the network address. Thereafter, in one embodiment, the BS-BS gateway enables a second base station to address messages to the first base station using the hostname of the first base station. In this manner, changes in the network address of the first base station will not affect the ability of the second base station to address messages to the first base station. In some embodiments, the first base station is a low-power base station (LP-BS) and the second base station is a high-power base station (HP-BS).

Abstract: A method in a first network node for handling a handover preparation failure between a first cell and a second cell in a wireless communication network. The first cell is served by the first network node and the second cell is served by a second network node. The second cell is configured for downlink operation only. The first network node transmits (401) to the second network node a handover request for handover of a user equipment from the first cell to the second cell. The first network node receives (402) from the second network node an indication. The indication indicates the handover preparation failure, and further indicates that the handover preparation failure is caused by the second cell being configured for downlink operation only. The first network node selects (403) a cell for handover based on the received indication.

Abstract: A method in a first radio access node for preparing handover of a user equipment in a wireless communications network. The user equipment is to be handed over from being served by the first radio access node to being served by a second radio access node. The first radio access node is connected to a first core network node currently serving the user equipment. Based on whether or not the second radio access node is connected to the first core network node the first radio access node selects (504) an interface for signalling handover of the user equipment among: a first interface interfacing the first radio access node and the first core network node, and a second interface. The second interface is an interface between the first radio access node and the second radio access node.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a network node operating in a first RAN according to a first RAT receives a handover request for a user equipment from a cell in a second RAN operating according to a second RAT. After handover of the user equipment to a cell in the first RAN is completed, the network node configures the user equipment to measure frequencies corresponding to the second RAN. Based on measurements reported by the user equipment for the frequencies, the network node identifies detected cells exceeding a measurement threshold, and sends a handover report towards the second RAN. The handover report includes, for at least one detected cell exceeding the measurement threshold, a physical cell identifier and a frequency identifier for the detected cell. The network node obtains configuration information for the detected cell, from another node, and uses the obtained configuration information for subsequent mobility procedures.

Abstract: It is presented a method, executed in a root sequence determiner for a base station controlling a first cell, the first cell being associated with at least one root sequence used for cell differentiation on a random access channel. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining information on root sequences of neighboring cells; when a root sequence conflict is found between the first cell and a neighboring cell, here denoted a conflict cell, determining if the conflict cell is of a higher priority than the first cell, the priorities of the first cell and the conflict cell being based on properties of the respective cells; and when the conflict cell is of a higher priority than the first cell, finding a new root sequence for the first cell, avoiding the root sequences of the neighboring cells.

Abstract: A method in a first network node for handling a handover preparation failure between a first cell and a second cell in a wireless communication network. The first cell is served by the first network node and the second cell is served by a second network node. The second cell is configured for downlink operation only. The first network node transmits (401) to the second network node a handover request for handover of a user equipment from the first cell to the second cell. The first network node receives (402) from the second network node an indication. The indication indicates the handover preparation failure, and further indicates that the handover preparation failure is caused by the second cell being configured for downlink operation only. The first network node selects (403) a cell for handover based on the received indication.

Abstract: A method in a first radio network node for updating external cell information is provided. The external cell information relates to a first cell served by a second radio network node. The first radio network node determines that there is a need to update the external cell information. The first radio network node sends a first message to the second radio network node. The first message comprises a request for data representing information relating to the first cell. The first radio network node receives a second message from the second radio network node. The second message comprises the requested data. The first radio network node updates the external cell information based on the received data.

Abstract: Methods, network control nodes, network nodes and user equipments for assisting the updating of neighbor cell information when a new cell is introduced, or added, to an already existing radio access network are described in this disclosure. According to an example embodiment a signal is transmitted, from a first network control node 10 associated with RAN1 to a second network control node 20 associated with RAN2. This signal comprises a cell identity CI1, e.g. a Local Cell Identity LCI1, of the newly introduced cell C109, which is added to RAN1. Next, the second network control node 20 of RAN2 receives the signal comprising the cell identity CI1 of this newly introduced cell C109.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a network node operating in a first RAN according to a first RAT receives a handover request for a user equipment from a cell in a second RAN operating according to a second RAT. After handover of the user equipment to a cell in the first RAN is completed, the network node configures the user equipment to measure frequencies corresponding to the second RAN. Based on measurements reported by the user equipment for the frequencies, the network node identifies detected cells exceeding a measurement threshold, and sends a handover report towards the second RAN. The handover report includes, for at least one detected cell exceeding the measurement threshold, a physical cell identifier and a frequency identifier for the detected cell. The network node obtains configuration information for the detected cell, from another node, and uses the obtained configuration information for subsequent mobility procedures.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a base station in a cellular communication network and methods of operation thereof. In one embodiment, a base station determines that the base station is transitioning to an unavailable state. The base station then notifies one or more radio network nodes with which the base station conducts base-station-to-node communication that the base station is unavailable. Thereafter, in one embodiment, the one or more radio network nodes cease communication attempts with the base station. In this manner, the radio network nodes can avoid spending additional resources on attempts to re-establish communication connections to base stations that tend to be offline more often (e.g., low-power base stations (LP-BSs)).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method (200) in a first radio access node for obtaining neighbouring cell information. The method comprises the steps of transmitting via an interface a radio access node request (Si2) for set-up information related to the neighbouring cell to at least one second radio access node, and receiving a radio access node response (Si3) over the interface from said at least one second radio access node. The radio access node response (Si3) comprises set-up information including an indicator related to the neighbouring cell's capability for uplink transmission. The present disclosure also relates to said first radio access node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for communicating mobility threshold changes between peer nodes (12a, 12b) in a communications network (10) is provided. A sending peer node (12a), such as an eNB, for example, generates (104) a mobility change request message (40) to include an information element (50) having a set of mobility parameters. The set of mobility parameters includes a change value (52) that indicates a change to a threshold relative to a current value of the threshold, as well as a type value (54) indicating a mobility threshold type to be changed and an absolute threshold value (56) to apply to the mobility threshold type. Once generated, the sending peer node (12a) sends (110) the mobility change request message (40) to a receiving peer node (12b).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a base station in a cellular communication network and methods of operation thereof. In one embodiment, a base station determines that the base station is transitioning to an unavailable state. The base station then notifies one or more radio network nodes with which the base station conducts base-station-to-node communication that the base station is unavailable. Thereafter, in one embodiment, the one or more radio network nodes cease communication attempts with the base station. In this manner, the radio network nodes can avoid spending additional resources on attempts to re-establish communication connections to base stations that tend to be offline more often (e.g., low-power base stations (LP-BSs)).

Abstract: A wireless device for a cellular network comprises a receiver arranged to receive a request to report at least one second network cell suitable for handover, a processor arranged to determine the at least one second network cell suitable for handover among a set of available network cells and to form a response comprising a respective local cell identity associated with the at least one suitable second network cell, and a transmitter arranged to transmit the formed response. The processor is further arranged to determine a cell identity confusion risk involved for the set of available network cells based on information in the request and based on local cell identities associated with the set of available network cells, and measure a global cell identity for each at least one second network cell determined to be involved in a cell identity confusion risk.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a base-station-to-base-station (BS-BS) gateway in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular communication network and methods of operation thereof. In one embodiment, the BS-BS gateway receives information from a first base station which includes a hostname and a network address of the first base station. The BS-BS gateway then stores a mapping between the hostname and the network address. Thereafter, in one embodiment, the BS-BS gateway enables a second base station to address messages to the first base station using the hostname of the first base station. In this manner, changes in the network address of the first base station will not affect the ability of the second base station to address messages to the first base station. In some embodiments, the first base station is a low-power base station (LP-BS) and the second base station is a high-power base station (HP-BS).

Abstract: A technique of providing performance management (PM) data by a network element of a wireless network to an Operations and Maintenance, OAM, system to which the network element is connected. A method embodiment of the providing PM data to the OAM system to which the network element is connected, the PM data being related to one or more objects associated with the network element, includes determining, by the network element, whether at least one of the one or more objects is an unmirrored object, the unmirrored object being invisible to the OAM system. If at least one of the one or more objects is an unmirrored object, the method accumulates, by the network element, PM data of the at least one unmirrored object with PM data of further objects associated with the network element; and provides, by the network element, the accumulated PM data to the OAM system.

Abstract: Methods, user equipment (120) and target base station (130) for supporting update of neighbor cell relations in a cellular communications network (100). The user equipment (120) switches from being served in the source cell (115) by the source base station (110) to instead being served in the target cell (135) by the target base station. The user equipment sends (304, 403), to the target base station (130), in association with the switching, an identifier of the source cell (115) in the cellular communications network (100) and a request for mobility report. The request for mobility report requests the target base station (130) to send a mobility report to the source base station (110) or a management entity (140) thereof. The mobility report reporting that a successful switch has taken place between the source cell (115) and the target cell (135), thereby enabling updating of the neighbor cell relations based on the mobility report.