Macro-cell assisted small cell discovery and resource activation

Abstract

A method is described for controlling a user equipment (112) to be served by a small cell base station (1041) in a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of small cell base stations (1041 - 1042) controlled by a macro base station (100). The method comprises signaling, by the small cell base station (1041), the small cell base station (1041) capabilities to the macro base station (100); signaling, by the user equipment (112), the user equipment (112) capabilities to the macro base station (100); and signaling (502), by the macro base station (100), a small cell base station (1041) configuration to the user equipment (112).

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wireless communication networks, in particular to the field of wireless communication systems including macro base stations controlling multiple small cell base stations, which are also called control / user plane separation networks. Background technique

[0002] In a wireless communication system including, for example, a heterogeneous network as a radio access network, control signals and user data signals may be separated into two different overlaid networks, namely a macro cell network and a small cell base station (also called In the network of macro cells, each macro cell includes a macro base station (for example, called MeNB), and the network of small cell base stations is controlled by a macro base station. Such an overlapping network is also referred to as a control / user plane split network or a C / U plane split network (including a control plane base station controlling multiple user plane base sta...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0080] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail. It should be noted that the four aspects of the invention will be described below in a single environment utilizing all four aspects, but it should be noted that each of the four aspects may also be used independently of the others.

[0081] image 3 Signaling flows for macro cell assisted small cell discovery and resource activation are shown according to various embodiments. Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of overlay network architectures comprising macro cells and densely deployed small cells, which address high capacity demands in radio access networks. The power saving function enables small cells not being used to be put to sleep, which is an aspect in terms of power saving and interference management. According to the aspects described below, the present invention introduces a macro-assisted mechanism to facilitate the control of small cells and user equipmen...

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wireless communication networks, in particular to the field of wireless communication systems including macro base stations controlling multiple small cell base stations, which are also called control / user plane separation networks. Background technique

[0002] In a wireless communication system including, for example, a heterogeneous network as a radio access network, control signals and user data signals may be separated into two different overlaid networks, namely a macro cell network and a small cell base station (also called In the network of macro cells, each macro cell includes a macro base station (for example, called MeNB), and the network of small cell base stations is controlled by a macro base station. Such an overlapping network is also referred to as a control / user plane split network or a C / U plane split network (including a control plane base station controlling multiple user plane base sta...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0080] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail. It should be noted that the four aspects of the invention will be described below in a single environment utilizing all four aspects, but it should be noted that each of the four aspects may also be used independently of the others.

[0081] image 3 Signaling flows for macro cell assisted small cell discovery and resource activation are shown according to various embodiments. Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of overlay network architectures comprising macro cells and densely deployed small cells, which address high capacity demands in radio access networks. The power saving function enables small cells not being used to be put to sleep, which is an aspect in terms of power saving and interference management. According to the aspects described below, the present invention introduces a macro-assisted mechanism to facilitate the control of small cells and user equipmen...

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