MINIMIZING TRACKING AREA UPDATES IN HETEROGENEOUS RADIO ACCESS NETWORK

摘要

A communications network (20) that comprises packet core network entity (22) and a heterogeneous radio access network (23). The heterogeneous radio access network (23) comprises plural base station nodes, including at least one macro base station node (28M) and at least one low power base station node (28L). The packet core network entity (22) generates a list (30) of tracking areas using an indication of cell type (32M) for the macro base station node and an indication of cell type (32L) for the low power base station node. The list (30) generated by the packet core network entity comprises the tracking area for the macro base station node and the tracking area for the low power base station node. In an example embodiment the indication of cell type indicates whether the cell served by the respective base station node is a macro cell or a low power cell.