Basing neighbor list updates on a radio link failure

• US 8,391,906 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Flore, Oronzo, Grilli, Francesco, Chaponniere, Etienne F., Kitazoe, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US12/267,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20090137265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/423, 455/436, 455/452.1, 455/8, 455/9, 455/525, 455/67.11, 455/515, 455/524, 455/434, 455/445, 455/446, 455/453, 455/462, 370/351, 370/389
• US Class Current: 455/515
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update

Abstract

Aspects relate to allowing a mobile device to discover missing neighbor cell relations when there is a radio link failure. At substantially the same time as connecting to a new cell that utilizes the same radio link technology, the failure is reported. If a connection is reestablished with a cell that utilizes a different radio link technology, the radio link failure information (and related missing neighbor information) is retained and reported later when a connection with a cell that utilizes the same radio link technology is established.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a neighbor list update on an access node based on a radio link failure, comprising:

detecting a radio link failure with a first access node, wherein the radio link failure indicates a missing neighbor relation;

starting a timer;

establishing a second link with a second access node before expiration of the timer; and

notifying the second access node of the missing neighbor relation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the timer is a T_valid—

<sub>infra—

relat</sub> timer and the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the second access node.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first access node and the second access node utilize similar radio link technology.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting expiration of the timer; and

discarding information related to the radio link failure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the timer is a T_miss—

_relat timer, the method further comprising;

starting a T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer of detection of the radio link failure;

establishing a communication link with an intermediary access node before expiration of the T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer; and

starting the T<sub>miss—

relat</sub> timer, wherein the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the intermediary access node and the first access node and second access node utilize similar radio link technology.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first access node and the intermediary access node utilize different radio link technology.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting expiration of the T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer; and

discarding information related to the radio link failure.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting expiration of the T<sub>miss—

relat</sub> timer; and

discarding information related to the radio link failure.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprises storing an identification of the first access node before detection of the radio link failure.

10. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to detecting a radio link failure with a first access node, starting a timer, establishing a second link with a second access node before expiration of the timer, and notifying the second access node of a missing neighbor relation, wherein the radio link failure indicates the missing neighbor relation; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

11. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first access node and the second access node utilize similar radio link technology, the timer is a T_valid—

<sub>infra—

relat</sub> timer, and the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the second access node.

12. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 10, the memory fhrther retains instructions related to detecting expiration of the timer and discarding information related to the radio link failure.

13. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 10, wherein the timer is a T_miss—

_relat timer, the memory further retains instructions related to starting a T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer after detection of the radio link failure, establishing a communication link with an intermediary access node before expiration of the T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer, and starting the T<sub>miss—

relat</sub> timer, wherein the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the intermediary access node and the first access node and second access node utilize similar radio link technology.

14. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 10, the memory further retains instructions related to detecting expiration of a T_valid—

<sub>inter—

relat</sub> timer or a T<sub>miss—

relat</sub> timer and discarding information related to the radio link failure.

15. A wireless communications apparatus that enables a neighbor list update on an access node as a function of a radio link failure, comprising:

means for detecting a radio link failure with a first access node, wherein the radio link failure indicates a missing neighbor relation;

means for starting a timer;

means for establishing a second link with a second access node before expiration of the timer; and

means for notifying, the second access node of the missing neighbor relation.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the timer is a T_valid—

<sub>infra—

relat</sub> timer and the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the second access node that utilize similar radio link technology.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the timer is a T_miss—

_relat timer, the apparatus further comprising;

means for starting a T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer after detection of the radio link failure;

means for establishing a communication link with an intermediary access node before expiration of the T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer; and

means for starting the T<sub>miss—

relat</sub> timer, wherein the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the intermediary access node and the first access node and second access node utilize similar radio link technology.

18. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to detect a radio link failure with a first access node, wherein the radio link failure indicates a missing neighbor relation;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to activate a timer;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to establish a second link with a second access node before expiration of the timer; and

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to notify the second access node of the missing neighbor relation.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the timer is a T_valid—

<sub>infra—

relat</sub> timer and the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the second access node that utilize similar radio link technology.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the timer is a T_miss—

_relat timer, the computer-readable medium further comprising;

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to activate a T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer after detection of the radio link failure;

a sixth set of codes for causing the computer to establish a communication link with an intermediary access node before expiration of the T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer; and

a seventh set of codes for causing the computer to activate the T<sub>miss—

relat</sub> timer, wherein the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the intermediary access node and the first access node and second access node utilize similar radio link technology.

21. At least one processor configured to enable updates to an access node neighbor list based on radio link failures, comprising:

a first module for detecting a radio link failure with a first access node, wherein the radio link failure indicates a missing neighbor relation;

second module for starting a timer;

a third module for establishing a second link with a second access node before expiration of the timer; and

a fourth module for notifying the second access node of the missing neighbor relation.

22. The processor of claim 21, wherein the timer is a T_valid—

<sub>inter—

relat</sub> timer and the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the second access node that utilize similar radio link technology.

23. The processor of claim 21, wherein the timer is a T_miss—

_relat timer, and further comprising;

a fifth module for starting a T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer after detection of the radio link failure;

a sixth module for establishing a communication link with an intermediary access node before expiration of the T<sub>valid—

inter—

relat</sub> timer; and

a seventh module for starting the T<sub>miss—

relat</sub> timer, wherein the missing neighbor relation is between the first access node and the intermediary access node and the first access node and second access node utilize similar radio link technology.

24. A method for facilitating updates to neighbor lists in an access node as a function of a radio link failure, comprising:

establishing a radio link with an end node;

receiving from the end node missing neighbor relationship information that is a function of a radio link failure between the end node and a first access node, wherein the missing neighbor relationship information identifies a neighbor relationship between at least two access nodes; and

reporting to a network entity the missing neighbor relationship information.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving from the network entity an update to a neighbor list, wherein the neighbor relationship is between a first access node and the access node that established the radio link with the end node.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the neighbor relationship is between a first access node and an intermediary access node that utilize different radio access technology.

27. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to establishing a radio link with an end node, receiving from the end node missing neighbor relationship information that is a function of a radio link failure between the end node and a first access node, and reporting to a network entity the missing neighbor relationship information, wherein the missing neighbor relationship information identifies a neighbor relationship between at least two access nodes; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

28. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 27, wherein the memory further retains instructions related, to receiving front the network entity an update to a neighbor list, wherein the neighbor relationship is between a first access node and the access node that established the radio link with the end node.

29. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 27, wherein the neighbor relationship is between a first access node and an intermediary access node.