LONG TERM EVOLUTION TO UNIVERSAL MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FEMTO MOBILITY

摘要

A system and methodology that resolves complex mobility handling issues in Long Term evolution (LTE) networks, overlaid with Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) macro and UMTS femtocells that share a common UMTS Absolute Radio Frequency Number (UARFCN), is provided. Moreover, an LTE user equipment (UE) includes a femto identification component that differentiates between the UMTS macro and UMTS femtocells by employing Location Area Code (LAC) data. In an aspect, the femto identification component ensures that the LTE UE connects to the UMTS femtocell as soon as the LTE UE enters the UMTS femtocell coverage area, even when the LTE radio frequency (RF) signal is deemed sufficient for communication. Further, the femto identification component ensures that the LTE UE stays connected to the LTE network, as long as possible, while outside of the UMTS femtocell coverage area.