Network elements, cellular communication system and methods therefor

摘要

A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating identification of a cell in a cellular communication system and particularly a system which incorporates different radio access technologies. A network element such as a Radio Network Controller (RNC) includes a store containing a neighbor cell list, the neighbor cell list containing parameters relating to neighbor cells wherein parameters of cells in the neighbor cell list which have a common area of coverage and which support radio access technologies different from one another are linked together. A signal processor correlates measurement reports received by the RNC from a user equipment with the neighbor cell list to determine the identity of a cell in the cellular communication system. The invention has particular applicability to resolving the problem of Primary Scrambling Code confusion where a repeating pattern of small cells lies underneath a macrocell.

主权项

1. A method for identifying a cell in a cellular communication system, the method including the steps of:
configuring a neighbor cell list containing parameters relating to neighboring cells, wherein parameters of those neighboring cells which have a common area of coverage are linked together; receiving from a wireless communication unit, measurements of a target cell identified as a candidate cell for handover from a source cell and having a specified cell parameter; identifying at least one neighboring cell, other than the source cell or target cell, in the neighbor cell list that has a common area of coverage with a cell having the specified cell parameter; transmitting an instruction to the wireless communication unit to send measurement reports of the identified at least one neighboring cell; receiving said measurement; and correlating the measurement reports with the neighbor cell list to determine the identity of the target cell.