Releasing a radio resource (e.g. primary component carrier) based on capacities of base stations

摘要

The present invention relates to optimized radio resource utilization in a cellular telecommunication system. A base station of such a system evaluate a capacity metric of the base station and capacity metrics of neighboring base stations. In response to detecting that the capacity metric of the base station is below a threshold with respect to the capacity metrics of the neighboring base stations, the base station enters a stand-by mode and releases its radio resources that essentially define a cell associated with the base station so that the released radio resources become available for allocation to at least one of the neighboring base stations.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
evaluating, in a base station of a cellular radio access network operating on a radio resource, a capacity metric of the base station with respect to the radio resource and capacity metrics of neighboring base stations with respect to the radio resource; and in response to detecting that the evaluated capacity metrics indicate that the capacity of the base station is below a threshold calculated from the capacities of the neighboring base stations on said radio resource, configuring the base station to enter a stand-by mode and to release said radio resource that defines a cell associated with the base station so that the released radio resource becomes available for allocation to at least one of the neighboring base stations.