Methods and Apparatus for Wireless Network Access

摘要

Improved mechanisms for wireless cellular access using coverage extension techniques are described. A UE needing to use coverage extension to request access to a prospective serving cell detects cells (other than the prospective serving cell) on its frequency, and then investigates each such cell (for example, by attempting to read its system information block and, if the system information block can be read, determining if the cell supports access using coverage extension. If detected cells do not support coverage extension, the UE does not use coverage extension techniques to request access, but if all detected cells support coverage extension, the UE requests access using coverage extension techniques.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; memory storing a program of instructions. wherein the memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: control a user device needing to gain access to a prospective serving cell to detect one or more additional cells within range; control the user device to, for each detected cell, attempt to establish whether the detected cell supports coverage extension access; and control the user device to, if one or more of the detected cells does not support coverage extension access, refrain from attempting access to the prospective serving cell using coverage extension techniques.