Method performed by a network node, network node and computer program for supporting cell selection of user equipments in a wireless communication network

• US 9,596,636 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. (Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Chen, Tsao-Tsen, Kronestedt, Fredric
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit, Bunjob
• Application Number:
  US14/441,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20150304924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/20 for optimising the interference level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method is described performed by a network node for supporting cell selection of user equipments, UEs, in a wireless communication network. The wireless communication network comprises low power nodes, LPN (230, 240), and high power nodes, HPN (210, 220). The LPNs and the HPNs are arranged to transmit signals wirelessly to UEs (251-254). The method comprises identifying (302) cell range expansion, CRE, areas of a group of LPNs, which CRE areas experience interference from a group of HPNs. The method further comprises counting (306) the number of HPNs in the group of HPNs and the number of LPNs in the group of LPNs, and when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs fulfills a predefined criterion, triggering (310) connection of a UE situated in any of the identified CRE areas to the LPN of the identified CRE area in which the UE is situated, and when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs does not fulfill the predefined criterion, triggering (312) connection of a UE situated in any of the identified CRE areas to one of the HPNs of the group of HPNs.

Claims

1. A method performed by a network node for supporting cell selection of user equipments, UEs, in a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network comprising low power nodes, LPN, and high power nodes, HPN, the LPNs and the HPNs being arranged to transmit signals wirelessly to UEs, the method comprising:

identifying cell range expansion, CRE, areas of a group of LPNs, which CRE areas experience interference from a group of HPNs;

counting the number of HPNs in the group of HPNs and the number of LPNs in the group of LPNs;

when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs fulfills a predefined criterion, triggering connection of a UE situated in any of the identified CRE areas to the LPN of the identified CRE area in which the UE is situated,

when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs does not fulfill the predefined criterion, triggering connection of a UE situated in any of the identified CRE areas to one of the HPNs of the group of HPNs.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the CRE areas that experience interference from a group of HPNs are geographical areas within one or more floors of one or more buildings.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying of CRE areas is performed based on measurements performed at extended LPN areas of received signal strength values for signals sent from the LPNs and the HPNs of the communication network.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying of CRE areas is performed based on statistical values of measurements performed at extended LPN areas of received signal strength values for signals sent from the LPNs and the HPNs of the communication network.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion is that the number of LPNs is higher than the number of HPNs.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the network node is an operation and maintenance node.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the network node is a distributed node, distributed among at least some of the HPNs and the LPNs in the wireless network.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein, for a UE connected to a HPN and that is moving into any of the identified CRE areas, the steps of triggering are realized by triggering handover of the UE to the LPN of the identified CRE area to which the UE has moved when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs fulfills the predefined criterion, and by letting the UE stay connected with the HPN when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs does not fulfill the predefined criterion.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein, for a UE connected to a LPN and that is moving into any of the identified CRE areas, the steps of triggering are realized by triggering handover of the UE to the LPN of the identified CRE area to which the UE has moved, when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs fulfills the predefined criterion, and triggering handover of the UE to one of the HPNs of the group of HPNs when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs does not fulfill the predefined criterion.

10. Method according to claim 1,

wherein the method is repeated a number of times for different CRE areas such that a number of LPN groups experiencing interference from different groups of HPNs are identified, the method further comprising:

determining priority for using CRE for each LPN group experiencing interference from a group of HPNs such that the fewer HPNs in a group, the higher the priority.

11. A network node configured for supporting cell selection of user equipments, UEs, in a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network comprising low power nodes, LPN, and high power nodes, HPN, the LPNs and the HPNs being arranged to transmit signals wirelessly to UEs, the network node comprising:

an identifying unit for identifying cell range expansion, CRE, areas of a group of LPNs, which CRE areas experience interference from a group of HPNs;

a counting unit for counting the number of HPNs in the group of HPNs and the number of LPNs in the group of LPNs; and

a triggering unit for triggering connection of a UE situated in any of the identified CRE areas to the LPN of the identified CRE area in which the UE is situated, when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs fulfills a predefined criterion, and for triggering connection of a UE that is situated in any of the identified CRE areas to one of the HPNs of the group of HPNs, when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs in the group does not fulfill the predefined criterion.

12. Network node according to claim 11, wherein the CRE areas that experience interference from a group of HPNs are geographical areas within one or more floors of one or more buildings.

13. Network node according to claim 11, wherein the identifying unit is arranged for identifying CRE areas based on measurements performed at extended LPN areas of received signal strength values for signals sent from the LPNs and the HPNs of the communication network.

14. Network node according to claim 11, wherein the predefined criterion is that the number of LPNs is higher than the number of HPNs.

15. Network node according to claim 11, wherein the network node is an operation and maintenance node.

16. Network node according to claim 11, wherein the network node is a distributed node, distributed among at least some of the HPNs and the LPNs in the wireless network.

17. Network node according to claim 11, wherein, for a UE connected to a HPN and that is moving into any of the identified CRE areas, the triggering unit is arranged for triggering handover of the UE to the LPN of the identified CRE area to which the UE has moved, when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs fulfills the predefined criterion, and the triggering unit is arranged for letting the UE stay connected with the HPN when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs does not fulfill the predefined criterion.

18. Network node according to claim 11, wherein, for a UE connected to an LPN and that is moving into any of the identified CRE areas, the triggering unit is arranged for triggering handover of the UE to the LPN of the identified CRE area to which the UE has moved, when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs fulfills the predefined criterion, and the triggering unit is arranged for triggering handover of the UE to one of the HPNs of the group of HPNs when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs does not fulfill the predefined criterion.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable code, which when run in a network node causes the network node to perform the following steps:

identifying cell range expansion, CRE, areas of a group of LPNs, which CRE areas experience interference from a group of HPNs;

counting the number of HPNs in the group of HPNs and the number of LPNs in the group of LPNs;

when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs fulfills a predefined criterion, triggering connection of a UE situated in any of the identified CRE areas to the LPN of the identified CRE area in which the UE is situated,

when the numerical relation between the number of LPNs and the number of HPNs does not fulfill the predefined criterion, triggering connection of a UE situated in any of the identified CRE areas to one of the HPNs of the group of HPNs.