NETWORK ELEMENTS, CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREFOR

摘要

A method and apparatus (113, 114) is provided for facilitating identification of a cell (201- 204) in a cellular communication system (200) and particularly a system which incorporates different radio access technologies. A network element such as a Radio Network Controller (RNC) (112) includes a store (114) containing a neighbour cell list, the neighbour cell list containing parameters relating to neighbour cells (201-204) wherein parameters of cells in the neighbour cell list which have a common area of coverage and which support radio access technologies different from one another are linked together. A signal processor (113) correlates measurement reports received by the RNC (112) from a user equipment (106) with the neighbour cell list to determine the identity of a cell (201- 204) in the cellular communication system (200). The invention has particular applicability to resolving the problem of Primary Scrambling Code confusion where a repeating pattern of small cells lies underneath a macrocell.