Receiving signals from surrounding basestations

摘要

A basestation for a cellular communications network is intended to provide coverage over a small area, which may be within an area that already has cellular coverage from one or more existing basestations. The basestation is therefore able to detect signals transmitted from the other basestations, in order to make measurements of the radio environment. In particular, the basestation may be able to receive signals periodically on the system downlink frequencies.

主权项

1. A basestation configured to provide coverage over a small area, for use in a cellular wireless communications network, the network having at least one downlink transmit frequency and at least one uplink transmit frequency,
wherein at least one mobile device in the cellular wireless communications network is configured such that it is capable of being wirelessly connected to the basestation, wherein the basestation is adapted to receive signals from another basestation in said network on the downlink transmit frequency during periods when the at least one mobile device having a wireless connection to the basestation is not making measurements,wherein the basestation is adapted to receive the signals from the other basestation at predetermined time intervals,
wherein, at said predetermined time intervals, the basestation is adapted to receive the signals from the other basestation for a period short enough that downlink transmission gaps for the at least one mobile device are minimized, and wherein a same receiver circuitry of the basestation is used to receive signals from the other basestation and from the at least one mobile device wirelessly connected to the basestation.