Method and apparatus for small cell discovery in heterogeneous networks

摘要

A method for acquiring and applying offload area information for offloading a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to a small cell in a different frequency layer is disclosed. The WTRU may enter a region or a macro cell and receive offload area information of the region in which a small cell in the vicinity of the macro cell is located. The offload information may be received in a system information block (SIB), dedicated signaling, or any other radio signal. The WTRU may perform measurements to determine the location of the WTRU and to determine whether it has entered any offload areas. Upon a determination that the offload area information is no longer valid, the WTRU may delete the offload area information.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving offload area information at a Wireless Transmit-Receive Unit (WTRU) from a network, the offload area information disclosing a location of a small cell; making a coverage area determination, based on the offload area information, of whether the WTRU may be within a coverage area of a small cell; and, responsive to the coverage area determination meeting a condition and a mobility state of the WTRU being lower than a threshold, transmitting an offload indication to the network indicating that the WTRU is a candidate for offload to the small cell.