Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in a serving base station (130) for controlling handover of a relay node (140) to a target cell (150A) controlled by a target base station (150). The method comprises the steps of obtaining information (91) indicating if the target base station and/or the target cell supports handling of relay nodes or not; avoiding handover of said relay node to said target cell in case the target base station and/or the target cell does not support handling of relay nodes (94). The invention furthermore relates to a base station for performing said method.

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: 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: A method for calculating path loss PL at a point P in a coverage area CA of an antenna at a cell site. The method comprises the steps: transmitting a signal from the antenna, the antenna having an effective antenna gain Gant, and measuring a received signal strength indicator RSSI of the transmitted signal by a receiving antenna at the point P. The method further comprises the steps: determining a dominant indirect radiation path between the antenna and the receiving antenna to establish the effective antenna gain Gant from the antenna in a direction of the dominant indirect radiation path, and calculating path loss PL at the point P using the established effective antenna gain Gant and measured received signal strength indicator RSSI. A method for mapping a coverage area, a method for simulating changes in a communication network and a system for cell planning.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for provide for an estimation of a cell radius in a mobile telecommunications network. The arrangement comprises a processor which estimates path loss by using an arbitrary path loss estimation method wherein at least a pre-defined cell radius is used as input. The use of the arbitrary path loss estimation method results in a path loss data file comprising values associated with signal strength for pixels within the cell defined by the first cell radius. The processor also estimates a first updated cell radius by excluding pixels having a signal strength below a predetermined threshold from the cell area having the pre-defined cell radius, wherein the first updated cell radius is the cell radius of the remaining cell area when the pixels are excluded.

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: By transmitting the Measurement cell identity (MCI), in addition to the PCI PLMN cell identity (PCI), in a request to a node, an MCI to PCI mismatch is early discovered by the node and reported to the source eNode B. The handover procedure can be aborted in an earlier stage, saving time and resources. The node can then also include information in the response to the source eNode B, which makes it possible for the source eNode B to blacklist MCIs and MCI to PCI combinations. This way faulty or faked MCIs or PCIs can be discovered already in the source eNode B, saving even more time and resources.

Abstract: A cell planning tool capable of determining the correctness of stored parameters regarding a cell site configuration, e.g., regarding the height of an antenna section or the output power. The correctness of the parameters is determined by importing a number of in-situ signal strength-measurements from measuring points located within the coverage area of said cell site and predicting the signal-strength at each of said measuring points, using said stored parameters. Thereafter, the difference between the imported and the corresponding predicted signal-strength is calculated for each measuring point, and a value indicating the correctness of the stored parameters is estimated, based on said calculated signal-strength differences.

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: 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 Generic Access Network Controller (GANC) for providing both location and charging information from a Generic Access Network (GAN) to a core network. During registration of a mobile station (MS) the GANC determines a Charging Cell Global Identity (Charging-CGI) and a Location Cell Global Identity, (Location-CGI) for the MS and stores the CGIs in an MS context. The MS sends to the GANC, a request to establish a signaling connection, and includes an Establishment Cause IE indicating a reason for the connection. The GANC selects from the MS context, either the Charging-CGI or the Location-CGI based upon the Establishment Cause IE, and sends the selected CGI to the core network in a message triggering a signaling connection.

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: A global licensing method and a licensing server are described in which licenses for public land mobile network (PLMNs) are allowed to cross PLMN boundaries. The licenses are moved from PLMNs of lower priority to PLMNs of higher priority. In one example, the licenses are moved on a periodic basis. In another example, the licenses are moved on an as needed basis. When demands for licenses are greater than the supply, the PLMNs are prioritized and the licenses are moved from the lower priority PLMNs to higher priority PLMNs. A global license server can be utilized to manage the licenses for the global operator.

Abstract: By transmitting the Measurement cell identity (MCI), in addition to the PCI PLMN cell identity (PCI), in a request to a node, an MCI to PCI mismatch is early discovered by the node and reported to the source eNode B. The handover procedure can be aborted in an earlier stage, saving time and resources. The node can then also include information in the response to the source eNode B, which makes it possible for the source eNode B to blacklist MCIs and MCI to PCI combinations. This way faulty or faked MCIs or PCIs can be discovered already in the source eNode B, saving even more time and resources.

Abstract: A cell planning tool capable of determining the correctness of stored parameters regarding a cell site configuration, e.g., regarding the height of an antenna section or the output power. The correctness of the parameters is determined by importing a number of in-situ signal strength-measurements from measuring points located within the coverage area of said cell site and predicting the signal-strength at each of said measuring points, using said stored parameters. Thereafter, the difference between the imported and the corresponding predicted signal-strength is calculated for each measuring point, and a value indicating the correctness of the stored parameters is estimated, based on said calculated signal-strength differences.

Abstract: A method for calculating path loss PL at a point P in a coverage area CA of an antenna at a cell site. The method comprises the steps: transmitting a signal from the antenna, the antenna having an effective antenna gain Gant, and measuring a received signal strength indicator RSSI of the transmitted signal by a receiving antenna at the point P. The method further comprises the steps: determining a dominant indirect radiation path between the antenna and the receiving antenna to establish the effective antenna gain Gant from the antenna in a direction of the dominant indirect radiation path, and calculating path loss PL at the point P using the established effective antenna gain Gant and measured received signal strength indicator RSSI. A method for mapping a coverage area, a method for simulating changes in a communication network and a system for cell planning.