Abstract: For each nth carrier frequency bandwidth of a set of N carrier frequency bandwidths there is determined interference (in which n is an index and N is an integer greater than one). For each nth carrier frequency bandwidth, there is determined a number of cells operating on the nth carrier frequency bandwidth. The number of carrier frequency bandwidths available for selection is reduced to less than N by excluding from consideration at least one carrier frequency bandwidth based on the determined number of cells operating thereon. From the reduced number is selected a carrier frequency bandwidth for use by a host femto cell. In various specific embodiments: the carrier frequency bandwidth excluded from consideration has a maximum number of cells operating thereon; and/or closed subscriber group cells having path loss exceeding a threshold are excluded from the per carrier count; and/or only femto cells are included in the per carrier count.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a node in a mobile communication network, the network comprising a mobile device, a first base station and a second base station, the first base station having a lower transmission power than the second base station and being within the coverage area of the second base station, the method in the node comprising determining (101; 111) whether the mobile device is in an imbalanced region or a part of an imbalanced region between the first base station and the second base station; and determining (103; 113-121) whether to switch the mobile device between a first connection state and a second connection state based on whether the mobile device is located in the imbalanced region or the part of the imbalanced region.

Abstract: A mobile communication system and method for managing the base station identifiers is provided. The method includes transmitting macro base station information from a terminal to a first pico base station; transmitting a Neighbor Relation Table (NRT) including the macro base station information from the first pico base station to a Self Organizing Network (SON) server; determining, at the SON server, whether a second pico base station using same Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) as the first pico base station exists by comparing a previously stored NRT with the received NRT; and reallocating, at the SON server, upon determining that the second pico base station uses the same PCI as the first pico base station, new PCIs to the first and second pico base stations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for mobility estimation in networks including small cells. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, at a user equipment, at least one of a first time value and a second time value, the first time value being configured for use towards a small cell and configured to have a duration to inhibit a hand over of the user equipment to the small cell, the second time value being configured for use towards a macro cell; and sending, by the user equipment, a measurement report including information representative of at least one of the small cell and the macro cell, the sending being delayed by the first time value, when the user equipment is evaluating the small cell, and by the second time value, when the user equipment is evaluating the macro cell. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a cluster head assisted method for converting a user terminal from device-to-device (D2D) communication to cellular communication. When quality of a D2D link between a user terminal and a cluster head is lower than a predetermined threshold, if the user terminal has to leave the cluster but still expects to continue an original the service, the user terminal performs cell search and random access, and establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a target base station of a cellular network. Switching from D2D communication to cellular communication is implemented with the assistance of the cluster head, and a communication manner after the switching is provided. The present invention implements mobile switching from D2D communication in distributed cluster communication to cellular communication, which can reduce route search delay and save wireless resources.

Abstract: A measurement reporting method for a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell and a corresponding User Equipment (UE) are provided in the present invention. The method comprises the following steps that: after detecting a neighboring accessible CSG cell which is not on a frequency in a measurement configuration, a UE in a connected state requests a network for a measurement configuration by reporting indication information which contains the frequency information of the accessible CSG cell and/or the bandwidth information of the accessible CSG cell. The present invention solves the problem about the measurement and reporting of a CSG cell by a UE, so that a network is able to make a decision in time according to a measurement report, satisfying the requirement of the UE on mobility.

Abstract: In a multi-node system including a user equipment and a plurality of nodes connected to each other, a plurality of the nodes includes a 1st node and a 2nd node and the 1st node allocates at least one portion of a plurality of the nodes to a user equipment. The present invention includes receiving a 1st information on a location of the user equipment from the 2nd node among a plurality of the nodes, determining a preset number of node candidates located close to the user equipment among a plurality of the nodes using the received 1st information, and transmitting information on the node candidates to the user equipment to allocate at least one of the node candidates to the user equipment.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a radio communication device is provided. The radio communication device may include a radio communication device control message generation circuit configured to generate a radio communication device control message including allocation information to control a radio resource allocation for radio communication devices of at least two groups of radio communication devices, the radio resource allocation being provided by another radio communication device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide embodiments of a method and apparatus for dynamically modifying cell reselection parameters and/or handover parameters. One embodiment of the method includes providing a request for a cell reselection parameter or handover parameter in response to a small cell determining that a number of cell reselections or a number of handovers between the small cell and at least one macrocell exceeds at least one threshold. In this embodiment, the cell reselection parameter or handover parameter is stored in the small cell.

Abstract: Certain embodiments herein are directed to vehicle-based small cell base stations. A vehicle-based base station may include at least one antenna; at least one transceiver coupled to the at least one antenna; at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and at least one processor in communication with the transceiver and configured to access the at least one memory. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to receive data associated with a user device from a base station; receive data from the base station; establish connection with the user device based at least in part on the data received from the macrocell base station; and transmit the data received from the base station to the user device.

Abstract: User equipment (UE) includes an architecture for handling femtocell fingerprints, and searching for femtocells. The architecture may control the frequencies for which the femtocell search is performed in various manners. For example, the architecture may schedule a round-robin list of femtocell frequencies for measurement, and may reduce the search space according to the frequency bands actually in use in the region in which the UE is located, according to whether or not reselection timers are running for specific frequencies, or in other ways.

Abstract: User equipment (UE) includes an architecture for handling femtocell fingerprints. The architecture may, as examples, maintain the validity and reliability of fingerprints and coordinate enhancement to existing fingerprints. The architecture also supports fingerprint creation, updating, and deletion.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for acquisition of an IP-based femtocell system by a user equipment are provided. A manual femtocell acquisition procedure may be invoked at a user equipment for acquiring access to a femtocell system or network of femtocell systems. The femtocell acquisition routine may be invoked by supply of a command to a femto application hosted by the user equipment. Invocation of the femtocell acquisition routine results in the user equipment seeking the femtocell system allocated a prioritized preferred routing list entry. In the event that a femtocell system is located, the femtocell system may perform electronic serial number screening to prevent unintended attachment and registration on a femtocell system with which the user equipment does not have authorized access.

Abstract: In a mobile communication network comprising a pico base station and macro base station with overlapping coverage areas, the pico base station transmits a supplemental synchronization signal to enable synchronization when the mobile terminal is operating within a link imbalance zone. The supplemental synchronization signal is transmitted using different time, frequency, and/or code resources from the primary and/or secondary synchronization signals to differentiate and separate the supplemental synchronization signals.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, a system to offload data traffic from base stations to small node devices includes a small node device. The small node device includes a macro-base-station-to-small-node-device (BS2D) communication section in communication with a source base station through a first link, and a small-node-device-to-user-equipment (D2UE) communication section in wireless communication with a mobile station through a fourth link. A control unit in the source base station determines a configuration of the fourth link, a macro-base-station-to-user-equipment (BS2UE) communication section is in wireless communication with the mobile station and the source base station through a second link, and a macro-base-station-to-macro-base-station (BS2BS) communication section is in communication with a target radio base station and the source base station through a third link, and a backhaul communication section is in communication with a server.

Abstract: A method in a first user equipment (UE 1) connectable to a second user equipment (UE 2) via a communication network or via a direct radio communication link, of using a direct radio communication link for communication between the UEs is initiated when one of the UEs receives probe signaling information comprising a first probe token via the communication network. The UEs exchange probe signaling messages including a second and/or the first probe token at least partly according to the probe signaling information, such that one of the UEs can compare the probe tokens, generate a probing report and provide the probing report to the communication network, or to the opposite UE for evaluation in case of a successful comparison and such that a direct radio communication link can be used for communication with UE 2 in response to receiving instructions to use the second direct radio communication link from the entity by which the probing report was evaluated.

Abstract: A method for operating an overlay macro base station (BS) for discovering a closed subscriber group (CSG) user equipment (UE) in a femto cell, includes: receiving a ranging request message including a CSG ID information from a UE which attempts a network entry; and after receiving the ranging request message from the UE, recommending the femto cell to monitor uplink signaling of a CSG UE belonging to the overlay macro BS.

Abstract: A method of routing call signalling to a destination address from a first cellular mobile communications network comprising a plurality of cells to one of a plurality of smaller cells collectively identified in said first mobile communications network by a single virtual cell identifier.

Abstract: A key separation method and device are provided in the embodiments of the present invention. The key separation method includes: when a User Equipment hands over from a source node to a target node, or when the User Equipment moves from the source node to the target node in idle state, determining whether or not the source node is a Home NodeB; and if the source node is a Home NodeB, triggering an Authentication and Key Agreement procedure according to the operator's policy, to update Ciphering Key and Integrity Key. By performing Authentication and Key Agreement procedure, the method and device of the embodiments separate key of the source node from the key of the target node.

Abstract: Cell relocation procedures to address handover between a macro radio network controller (RNC) and a home base station in a wireless communication network, while accounting for access control or membership verification procedures needed to support a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) at the home base station. An example method begins with the receiving of a request for handover of the mobile terminal from an RNC of the macro wireless network. A closed subscriber group (CSG) identifier for the home base station and a cell access mode for the home base station are then sent, to a core network node associated with the macro wireless network, for use by the core network node in membership verification or access control for the mobile terminal. In response, the home base station receives a CSG membership status for the mobile terminal from the core network node.

Abstract: In a method for deciding an unregistered macrocell user equipment (MUE) adjacent to a femtocell base station (home evolved node B; HeNB), a macrocell base station (macro evolved node B; MeNB) decides occurrence of an unregistered MUE influenced by interference from a HeNB among MUEs. The MeNB requests an adjacent HeNB to transmit system information (SI) of the adjacent HeNB of which interference has influence on the unregistered MUE, and the unregistered MUE searches for the SI of the adjacent HeNB and transmits the searched SI to the MeNB, when it is decided that the unregistered MUE has occurred. The MeNB informs the adjacent HeNB of existence of the unregistered MUE using a closed subscriber group identifier (CSG ID) of the SI of the adjacent HeNB, transmitted from the unregistered MUE.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing network assisted local communication offloading to unlicensed bands may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least receiving, via signaling associated with licensed band resources, information indicative of unlicensed band resources available in a particular area, and providing resource availability data, via signaling associated with the licensed band resources, to one or more devices within the particular area. The resource availability data may enable unlicensed band resource usage by at least one of the one or more devices. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: A request to establish a call involving a wireless communication device (WCD) served by a radio access network (RAN) may be received. The WCD may receive signals from the RAN via a plurality of wireless coverage areas at respective signal strengths. The plurality of wireless coverage areas may be defined by the RAN. A media codec to use for the call and a target bitrate for the media codec to use during the call may be determined. Based on the target bitrate, a set of n wireless coverage areas through which the WCD and the RAN communicate during the call may be selected. The value of n may be between one and a predetermined maximum number. The set of n wireless coverage areas may be selected from the plurality of wireless coverage areas.

Abstract: A method, NodeB and User Equipment for TDD operation in a communication system operating in TDD mode in a frequency band allocated for FDD operation. Preferably, operation is in TDD uplink and downlink mode in a first frequency band designated or normally used for FDD uplink communication, and in TDD downlink-only mode in a second frequency band designated or normally used for FDD downlink communication. The invention provides the following advantages: Provides a flexible method to deploy a time division duplex architecture in frequency division duplex spectrum. Allows flexible use of system capacity by adjusting the uplink and downlink capacity split. Removes previous FDD duplex restrictions.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for handing off an access terminal from a macro base station to a femto access point (AP). In one embodiment, the method involves receiving a facilities directive or the like from a communication network entity, such as, for example, a serving mobile switching center (MSC). The method may involve selecting the femto AP based at least in part on femto configuration information, which may include at least one global identifier of the femto AP. The method may involve determining a uniform resource identifier of the femto AP based at least in part on at least one global identifier (e.g., MSC identifier and/or cell identifier).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of PLMN selection subsequent to a change in cell for a mobile radio communications device in a multi-network cellular environment, the method including the steps of monitoring system information within a mobile radio communications device to determine the availability of a HPLMN or any other higher priority PLMN than current registered PLMN, and selecting the said HPLMN or higher priority PLMN than current registered PLMN if identified as available, and also a related network-sharing-capable UE that, when registered with a visitor PLMN, can readily check the availability of its HPLMN or any other higher priority PLMN in the system information whenever it moves to a new location area and, assuming the HPLMN or higher priority PLMN to be found, can then reselect to that PLMN.

Abstract: A method, NodeB and User Equipment for TDD operation in a communication system operating in TDD mode in a frequency band allocated for FDD operation. Preferably, operation is in TDD uplink and downlink mode in a first frequency band designated or normally used for FDD uplink communication, and in TDD downlink-only mode in a second frequency band designated or normally used for FDD downlink communication. The invention provides the following advantages: Provides a flexible method to deploy a time division duplex architecture in frequency division duplex spectrum. Allows flexible use of system capacity by adjusting the uplink and downlink capacity split. Removes previous FDD duplex restrictions.

Abstract: Mechanisms for managing interference in heterogeneous networks are disclosed. A macro node triggers a handover of a user equipment (UE) being serviced by the macro node to a low power node (LPN) operating in a closed access operating mode wherein the LPN provides service to member UEs. The UE is a non-member of the LPN. The macro node determines a trigger condition, and based on the trigger condition signals the LPN to provide service to the UE. The macro node also directs the UE to execute the handover to the LPN.

Abstract: Device, system, and method of phone call placement. A method of placing a phone call from a mobile phone includes: receiving a user command to initiate a phone call from said mobile phone using a cellular network; diverting said phone call to be carried by a detected network element of a non-cellular wireless network, instead of by said cellular network; wherein the diverting is based on at least one of: a Media Access Control (MAC) address of a detected network element of said non-cellular wireless network, an Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) of a detected network element of said non-cellular wireless network, or a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) account configuration data of a detected network element of said non-cellular wireless network.

Abstract: A mobile communication system includes a base station and a relay station. The relay station acquires a donor cell list indicating at least one candidate cell that can be used for a backhaul link. The relay station or the base station determine a donor cell used for the backhaul link from the donor cell list based on both first and second cell management information. The first cell management information relates to the at least one candidate cell and originates from the at least one base station. The second cell management information originates from the relay station.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for updating proximity information associated with a femtocell in a wireless communication system. An example of a method described herein includes identifying a location within a wireless communication network, associating the location with a femtocell for which proximity information relating to position of the femtocell is maintained, performing at least one search for the femtocell, and updating the proximity information maintained for the femtocell based on results of the at least one search. Another example of a method described herein includes obtaining a report of proximity information relating to a femtocell, identifying one or more network devices for which the proximity information is relevant, and communicating proximity information update signaling to the one or more network devices.

Abstract: A system and method determines a roaming access point (AP) using a band preference. The method includes generating a list including APs communicating in a communication network. A mobile unit is configured to connect to the communication network. The method includes determining an initial AP rating value for each of the APs as a function of a predetermined network parameter. The method includes generating a further AP rating value as a function of the initial AP rating value and a predetermined preference list of operating bands. The predetermined preference list is indicative of at least one operating bandwidth in which the MU prefers to connect. The method includes selecting one of the APs as a function of the further AP rating values. The method includes connecting the MU to the selected AP.

Abstract: A femtocell arrangement comprises a plurality of femtocells Femto 1 to Femto 13 having coverage distributed over a region, such as, for example, an office. A border femtocell, Femto 3 or Femto 10, of said plurality has coverage at an entrance to the region and is arranged to operate at a higher transmit power level to provide a larger coverage area than that provided by neighboring femtocells. In addition, the border femtocell may be allocated a specific Primary Scrambling Code (PSC) to show its designation as a border femtocell. An approaching user equipment UE 1 or UE 2 tends to attach to the higher transmit power border femtocells. The Femto Gateway managing the connection is aware of the likelihood that an approaching UE will tend to attach to a border femtocell, and this is further confirmed by the use of a specific PSC. Hence, handover is expedited as the most suitable femtocells may be chosen as targets for handover.

Abstract: A method of arranging the transmission of packet data in a system comprising a mobile terminal, a wireless local network and a mobile network that includes end-to-end service related parameters that are signalled via a separate signalling element. A resource authorization identifier is transmitted to the mobile network via the local network. Authorization is requested from the signalling element on the basis of the resource authorization identifier. A tunnel between the mobile terminal and the mobile network is bound to the end-to-end data flow of the mobile terminal on the basis of an authorization from the signalling element and tunnel identification information identifying the tunnel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a handover method, a base station and a system. The handoff method comprises: a low-power base station monitors an uplink signal which is sent by a user equipment served by a neighbor base station, and obtains signal measurement information of the uplink signal and characteristic information of the uplink signal; the low-power base station sends the signal measurement information of the uplink signal and the characteristic information of the uplink signal to at least one macro base station which covers the low-power base station, so that the macro base station, according to the signal measurement information, determines whether the user equipment to which the characteristic information corresponds is unloaded to the low-power base station.

Abstract: A server can receive, from a mobile device, a reference location and one or more measurements of signal from signal sources. Each signal source is associated with a signal source location in a location database. The server can use the measurements and the signal source locations to validate the reference location. The server can use the validated reference location to validate the signal source locations, including detecting moved signal sources.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling access to a dual stack architecture using attention (AT) commands including establishing a first subscription to a first network; establishing a second subscription to a second network; selecting a desired subscription from the first subscription and second subscription; and sending an attention (AT) command to direct at least one of a plurality of existing attention (AT) commands towards the desired subscription.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first measurement configuration at a user equipment from a wireless communication network; making measurements using the first measurement configuration; in response to a condition being satisfied resulting from the measurements that are made, transmitting an indication that an allowed small cell has been detected; receiving a second measurement configuration at the user equipment from the wireless communication network; and making measurements of the allowed small cell using the second measurement configuration, where the first measurement configuration results in measurements being made less frequently than measurements made in accordance with the second measurement configuration. An apparatus configured to perform the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A handover method and apparatus for facilitating a handover of a user equipment to a femto cell in a wireless communication system supporting both the femto and macro cells. When a handover condition is detected, the user equipment acquires identity information of a target femto cell base station from system information transmitted by the target femto cell base station, decides whether to handover to the target femto cell base station, based on the identity information; and transmits a measurement report message including the identity information to a serving base station of the user equipment, when the handover is to be made.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving System Information (SI) of a femto base station in a wireless communication system are provided. In the method, an SI transmission point is determined using unique identification information of a femto base station itself and unique identification information of a macro base station with which the femto base station is associated. Each of user equipment and the macro base station generate a measurement gap pattern representing an SI reception point using the unique identification information of the femto base station and the unique identification information of the macro base station. SI is received from the femto base station according to the generated measurement gap pattern.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) is configured to maintain an updated frequency list for pseudo-fast return handover. The UE receives a frequency list for pseudo fast return when the UE is in an idle mode in a first radio access technology (RAT). When the UE is in a connected mode in a second RAT, the list is updated based on actual UE inter- and intra-frequency measurements of the first RAT during mobility.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a handover method and a related user equipment and system, which are used for handover judgment in a CoMP handover scenario. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: obtaining a first reference signal parameter Mn of a target node in a macro neighboring cell and second reference signal parameters Mp corresponding to multiple nodes in a macro serving cell, where the macro serving cell is a cell serving a user equipment UE and the macro neighboring cell is a cell adjacent to the macro serving cell; selecting a preferred Mp that meets a predefined requirement from the Mps corresponding to the multiple nodes; and triggering a handover procedure if the preferred Mp and the Mn meet a preset handover condition. By implementing the solutions in the present invention, throughput of a communications system after a UE handover can be increased.

Abstract: A method for performing a handoff of an active communication connection for a mobile user station from a macrocell to one or more femtocells. In one aspect, the present invention provides an improved handoff for situations in which the mobile user station is moved into an indoor residential or enterprise environment within which the signal strength of the mobile user station with respect to the macrocell base transceiver station becomes relatively low. In one embodiment, the method efficiently performs a handoff of an active communication connection from a macrocell to one or more femtocells while minimizing the likelihood of dropping the active communication connection during the handoff.

Abstract: A user equipment UE determines that a neighbor cell is higher priority than a serving cell, measures neighbor cell signal strength in n>1 iterations, and analyzes them for reselecting from the serving cell to the neighbor cell. Each measurement iteration is spaced from one another by a time interval (e.g., 1 DRX) that is specific for the neighbor cell being higher priority. In various embodiments, the UE measures while in a Cell-PCH, URA-PCH or idle state/mode and the first iteration is taken at the first available measurement opportunity after transitioning to that state/mode. The UE reselects to the neighbor cell based on the analyzed signal strengths; in one embodiment the decision to reselect is without regard to signal quality of the serving cell; and in another the decision is without regard to whether a reselection condition remains satisfied for a specified time period Treselection.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates handoffs for a mobile terminal in a wireless access network that is capable of supporting different types of handoffs. The different handoff types may include soft handoffs and fast base station switching (FBSS). In operation, context information associated with supporting wireless communications between the wireless access network and the mobile terminal are determined. Based on whether the context information is shared between base stations involved in the handoff or transferred from one base station to another of the base stations involved in the handoff, a particular handoff type is selected from the different handoff types that are available. Selecting the specific type of handoff to use may also be based on the level of context information that is available, the actual content of the context information, application preferences, channel conditions, base station or mobile terminal capabilities, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods for routing a call involving an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem Centralized Services (ICS) subscriber accessing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network using a circuit switched (CS) access network are provided. The method includes receiving an incoming call request for a user at a gateway Mobile Switching Centre (GMSC); accessing a Location Register storing information relating to the user to determine if the user is an ICS subscriber; and generating and forwarding a SIP INVITE message to the IMS to establish the call if it is determined that the user is an ICS subscriber. Related Gateway Mobile Switching Centres (GMSCs) and Home Location Registers (HLR) are also provided herein.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to positioning of a user equipment in a communications network. A method in a user equipment for performing positioning measurement comprises receiving positioning assistance data from a positioning node. The positioning assistance data comprises a plurality of reference cells, wherein each reference cell may be associated with at least one respective frequency, and a set of neighbor cells comprising at least one neighbor cell. The method further comprises, for each reference cell comprised in the plurality of reference cells, identifying a respective associated set of neighbor cells, wherein the reference cell and the respective associated set of neighbor cells define a group. Furthermore, the method comprises performing at least one positioning measurement using the positioning assistance data for each respective identified group.

Abstract: A communication method of a micro base station for interference control is provided. The communication method includes determining whether to perform a handover of macro user equipment from a macro base station to a micro base station based on interference from the macro user equipment served by the macro base station to micro user equipment served by the micro base station, searching for an index of a resource allocable to the macro user equipment, and transmitting, to the macro base station, a handover request message including the index of the resource allocable to the macro user equipment.

Abstract: In a cellular telecommunications network, a mobile communication system to offload data traffic from base stations to small-node devices, includes a radio base station, a plurality of small-node devices, a macro-base-station-to-the-small-node-device (BS2D) communication section configured to receive a first control-plane message from the radio base station over a BS2D communication link, a small-node-device-to-user-equipment (D2UE) communication section configured to transmit user-plane data to a user equipment over a wireless D2UE communication link established responsive to the first control-plane message, and a center small-node device.

Abstract: An enhanced solution for controlling a handover procedure for handing a terminal device over from a source cell to a target cell in a communication network with relay nodes is provided. In the solution, the relay nodes actively assist in the handover procedure by, for instance, initiating the handover procedure, configuring a relayed link and buffering user data at the relay node.