NODE DETECTION IN A CELLULAR COMMUNICATION NETWORK

摘要

A technique for detecting a neighboring node in a cellular communication network is disclosed. The neighboring node may employ a different radio access technology (RAT) and/or operate at a different frequency than adjacent nodes. The neighboring node transmits cell-specific or user equipment (UE) specific information using one or more Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframes. This information can include data and/or control signaling for handover processing. A UE currently being served by another node can monitor the MBSFN subframes and initiate a search for the neighboring node, including inter-frequency measurements, based on the information contained in the MBSFN subframes. This allows UEs located at cell boundaries to become aware of the presence of the neighboring node, and may reduce UE power consumption used in searching for neighboring nodes, particularly those operating at a different carrier frequency or having a different RAT, for example, a wireless local area network (WIAN).

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an air interface configured to receive one or more services from a first node in a cellular communication network and to receive a Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframe from a second node in the cellular communication network, the MBSFN subframe containing information about the second node; and a controller configured to Initiate a search for the second node based on the information contained in the MBSFN subframe.