HANDOVER FROM A RELAY NODE

摘要

In handover from an intermediate access node (relay node RN) to a new access node, the relay node transmits a single handover request message which identifies a plurality of access nodes as candidates for the new access node. The identifiers can be listed in an ECGI/composite target ID field in order of preference. The donor eNB (DeNB) to which the RN is connected sends a handover request message to all the candidates and selects the one with highest priority from which it receives and acknowledgement within a predetermined time. Alternatively a handover request is sent only to the highest priority candidate. Candidate access nodes can be divided into groups and the handover request may identify a particular group. The invention means the backhaul link to the DeNB is used only once to indicate a plurality of candidate cells for handover.