摘要 |
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing efficient and reliable communication for wireless devices (16, 20), e.g., Machine Type Communication devices (16), in a cellular communications network (10). In one embodiment, a network node (12) of the cellular communications network (10) identifies candidate device-anchor base stations (20), where the candidate device-anchor base stations (20) are wireless devices (20) that satisfy one or more predefined criteria for serving as a candidate device-anchor base station (20). The network node (12) then effects selection of a device-anchor base station (20) for a wireless device (16, 20) from the candidate device-anchor base stations (20) such that communication between a serving base station (12) of the wireless device (16, 20) and the wireless device (16, 20) is via the device-anchor base station (20). In this manner, communication between the wireless device (16, 20) and the serving base station (20) of the wireless device (16, 20) is assisted by the device-anchor base station (20). |