METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRIORITIZING SMALL CELLS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20140036868A1
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Innovative Sonic Limited
• Original Assignee: Innovative Sonic Limited
• Inventors: Guo, Yu-Hsuan, Ou, Meng-Hui
• Application Number:
  US13/955,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20140036868A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/324 by mobility data, e.g. speed data

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for prioritizing small cells in a wireless communication network. In one embodiment, the method is implemented in a UE. The method includes the UE prioritizing small cells or a frequency of the small cells in a cell selection or cell reselection evaluation process.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a UE (User Equipment) for prioritizing small cells, comprising:

the UE prioritizing small cells or a frequency of the small cells in a cell selection or cell reselection evaluation process.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE considers the small cells or the frequency of the small cells to be in a highest priority frequency.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein priorities for the small cells or the frequency of the small cells are not provided in dedicated signaling.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is in idle mode and/or in a camped normally state.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE prioritizes macro cells or a frequency of the macro cells if the UE is moving in high speed or is in a high mobility state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE de-prioritizes the small cells or the frequency of the small cells if the UE is moving in high speed or is in a high mobility state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is in low speed, is not moving in high speed, is in a normal mobility state or is in a medium mobility state.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the small cells are deployed in a frequency layer different from a frequency layer in which macro cells are deployed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the small cells are pico cells, micro cells, and/or femto cells.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a small cell would indicate its neighbor cell type in system information.

11. A UE (User Equipment) in a wireless communications system for prioritizing small cells, the UE comprising:

a control circuit for realizing functions of the communications device;

a central processing unit coupled to the control circuit for executing a program code to operate the control circuit; and

a memory coupled to the central processing unit for storing the program code;

wherein the program code comprises;

prioritizing small cells or a frequency of the small cells in a cell selection or cell reselection evaluation process.

12. The UE of claim 11, wherein the UE considers the small cells or the frequency of the small cells to be in a highest priority frequency.

13. The UE of claim 11, wherein priorities for the small cells or the frequency of the small cells are not provided in dedicated signaling.

14. The UE of claim 11, wherein the UE is in idle mode and/or in a camped normally state.

15. The UE of claim 11, wherein the UE prioritizes macro cells or a frequency of the macro cells if the UE is moving in high speed or is in a high mobility state.

16. The UE of claim 11, wherein the UE de-prioritizes the small cells or the frequency of the small cells if the UE is moving in high speed or is in a high mobility state.

17. The UE of claim 11, wherein the UE is in low speed, is not moving in high speed, is in a normal mobility state or is in a medium mobility state.

18. The UE of claim 11, wherein the small cells are deployed in a frequency layer different from a frequency layer in which macro cells are deployed.

19. The UE of claim 11, wherein the small cells are pico cells, micro cells, and/or femto cells.

20. The UE of claim 11, wherein a small cell would indicate its neighbor cell type in system information.