TECHNIQUE FOR OPERATING COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN A HETEROGENEOUSLY DEPLOYED NETWORK

摘要

A technique for operating a wireless communication device in a heterogeneously deployed network comprising first and second serving nodes of different nominal transmit powers and at least partially overlapping coverage areas is described. The communication device is simultaneously connected to the first and second serving nodes (e.g., in accordance with a soft cell scenario) and alternately communicates with the first and second serving nodes in accordance with a communication pattern comprising communication periods and communication pauses. A method aspect of this technique, as performed by the wireless communication device, comprises detecting an event that requires an extension of the communication period with the first serving node, and transmitting a notification message to the second serving node. The notification message is indicative of a required extension of a communication pause with the second serving node.