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 relay node for a radio access network, arranged to be a relay node between one or more User Equipments in a cell of the radio access network and a base station serving the cell. The relay node is arranged to identify itself as a relay node in the cell in the radio access network, and is also arranged to receive a non-support indication indicating that the base station serving the cell is unable to support a relay node. The relay node is arranged to, upon receiving said non-support indication, attempt to establish itself as a relay node in another cell.

Abstract: A domain name associated with a radio network node's operator or maintenance (OM) node is determined based on at least part of a radio node identifier and a radio network operator identifier. The radio network node sends the domain name to a domain name server. In response to sending the constructed domain name, the radio network node receives from the domain server an IP address for the OM node. The radio network node then initiates a connection with the OM node using the IP address. In one non-limiting example embodiment, the part of the radio node identifier is a radio network node vendor identifier.

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: 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: A controlling node (225) for a first cell (227) in a cellular network (200), arranged to receive measurement reports from User Equipments, UEs (230, 255), in the first cell (227) on the signal strength and/or signal quality of transmissions from the controlling nodes of neighboring cells (217), and to maintain a list of neighboring cells based on such measurement reports. The list shows how many of the UEs (230, 255) in the first cell (227) that each of said neighboring cell's (217) controlling node “covers”, i.e. reaches with a signal strength and/or signal quality above a certain level. The controlling node is also arranged to decide to perform blind handover or release with redirect on one of the UEs in the first cell, and to choose one or more of the cells in the list as the target cell or cells for blind handover or release with redirect.

Abstract: Methods, user equipment (120) and target base station (130) for supporting update of neighbour 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 neighbour cell relations based on the mobility report.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and arrangement in a telecommunication system, in particular to methods and arrangements for supporting maintenance activities of units in a telecommunication network.

Abstract: A relay node for a radio access network, arranged to be a relay node between one or more User Equipments in a cell of the radio access network and a base station serving the cell. The relay node is arranged to identify itself as a relay node in the cell in the radio access network, and is also arranged to receive a non-support indication indicating that the base station serving the cell is unable to support a relay node. The relay node is arranged to, upon receiving said non-support indication, attempt to establish itself as a relay node in another cell.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided to reduce the amount of performance indicator (PI) data to retrieve from a network node (28). The performance indicator (PI) data to be retrieved may depend on the reporting mode of the node, as well as the configured reporting scope of the current reporting mode. The set of available reporting modes may depend of the node type. Moreover, the current reporting mode may depend on the time of day, week, etc., the amount of served subscribers, traffic volume, etc., over a time window, whether a specific fault has occurred, etc.

Abstract: In one aspect, the teachings herein provide an enhanced inter-base-station interface and associated processing in which a base station receives a message from a neighboring base station that zero served PLMNs are available in a neighboring cell. In response to receiving that message, the base station removes the neighboring cell from its neighbor list, or otherwise marks the neighboring cell as unavailable, but advantageously does not discard any network performance data accumulated or otherwise generated for that neighboring cell. Correspondingly, should the base station receive a subsequent message indicating that one or more served PLMNs have become available in the neighboring cell, it restores the neighboring cell to its neighbor list and reinstates links or associations, as needed, to the retained network performance data.

Abstract: A relay node (110) for a radio access network (100), arranged to be a relay node between one or more User Equipments (105) in a cell (125) of the radio access network and a base station (115) serving the cell. The relay node (110) is arranged to identify itself as a relay node in the cell (125) in the radio access network (100), and is also arranged to receive a non-support indication indicating that the base station serving the cell (125) is unable to support a relay node. The relay node (110) is arranged to, upon receiving said non-support indication, attempt to establish itself as a relay node in another cell.

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 neighbouring cells; when a root sequence conflict is found between the first cell and a neighbouring 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 neighbouring cells.

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 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 invention relates to a method in a Mobility Management Entity (10,11) for handling a setup of an S1 Application Protocol signalling connection between a first radio base station and the Mobility Management Entity (10,11) in a Long Term Evolution radio communications network. The Mobility Management Entity (10,11) receives an S1 Setup Request message from the first radio base station (12). Furthermore, the Mobility Management Entity (10,11) sends an S1 Setup Response message to the first radio base station (12) enabling the first radio base station to handle the setup of the S1 Application Protocol signalling connection. The S1 Setup Response message comprises an indication of at least one supported tracking area code of a tracking area, which tracking area is served by the Mobility Management Entity (10,11).

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided to reduce the amount of performance indicator (PI) data to retrieve from a network node (28). The performance indicator (PI) data to be retrieved may depend on the reporting mode of the node, as well as the configured reporting scope of the current reporting mode. The set of available reporting modes may depend of the node type. Moreover, the current reporting mode may depend on the time of day, week, etc., the amount of served subscribers, traffic volume, etc., over a time window, whether a specific fault has occurred, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in a radio base station (15) and a radio base station for updating information on communication network nodes (A-H) serving a tracking area (28) in which said radio base station (15) is located. The updating information is requested by sending an identity of said tracking area (28) to a communication network server (25), where after said information on said serving communication network nodes (A-H) is received from said communication network server (25).

Abstract: The technology described in this application provides a way for an O&M node or system to configure, monitor, and manage relay nodes efficiently. A base station serves a relay node in a cellular communications system that also includes the O&M node. A relay node O&M data context for the relay node is established in a memory associated with the base station. O&M data pertaining to the relay node is stored in the relay node O&M data context. The information in the relay node O&M data context is different than O&M data pertaining to the base station. The base station performs, on behalf of the relay node, O&M-related communications using the O&M data in the relay node O&M data context.

Abstract: A relay node (110) for a radio access network (100), arranged to be a relay node between one or more User Equipments (105) in a cell (125) of the radio access network and a base station (115) serving the cell. The relay node (110) is arranged to identify itself as a relay node in the cell (125) in the radio access network (100), and is also arranged to receive a non-support indication indicating that the base station serving the cell (125) is unable to support a relay node. The relay node (110) is arranged to, upon receiving said non-support indication, attempt to establish itself as a relay node in another cell.