Apparatus and method for handoff and load balancing using cell capability stored in neighbor routing table

摘要

A user communications device, such as a mobile telephone, obtains and reports capability information to a serving base station. The capability information identifies if a neighboring UTRAN base station is HSPA/EDCH capable. The serving E-UTRAN base station can use this information to control handover decisions and load balancing performed thereby.

主权项

1. An Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) base station having an Automatic Neighbour Relation (ANR) function and comprising:
a Neighbour Relation Table (NRT) comprising cell information for cells that neighbour the E-UTRAN base station; and a measurement control module operable: i) to send to a mobile communications device a request to obtain cell information for a neighbouring cell within communication range of the mobile communications device wherein the sent request requests the mobile communications device to report whether the neighbouring cell is High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and/or Enhanced Data Channel (EDCH) capable; ii) to receive a report from the mobile communications device including the requested cell information; and iii) to store information in the NRT based on the cell information included in the report received from the mobile communications device; wherein the base station is operable to receive, in said report from the mobile communications device, data identifying if the neighbouring cell is HSPA and/or EDCH capable, and is operable to include capability information identifying if the neighbouring cell is HSPA and/or EDCH capable, based on said received data identifying if the neighbouring cell is HSPA and/or EDCH capable, in the NRT.