Enhanced mobility for devices using moving relay

Abstract

Enhanced mobility for devices using a moving relay, or in a moving relay environment, may be valuable in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In particular, enhanced mobility procedures for user equipment (UE) can be useful with respect to a moving relay and the radio access network (RAN) interface (IF) between the user equipment and the moving relay. Thus, certain embodiments can improve the mobility procedures between moving relays and macro layer (stationary nodes, for example, eNodeBs). A method according to certain embodiments can include determining, by a user equipment, a stable average of a signal characteristic of a signal from a mobile access point. The method can also include limiting handover of the user equipment based on the stable average.

1 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a user equipment, a stable average of a signal characteristic of a signal from a mobile access point; and   limiting handover of the user equipment based on the stable average.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a window for the signal characteristic based on the stable average, wherein limiting handover comprises limiting handover only when the signal remains within the window.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises measuring the signal by the user equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein limiting handover comprises prohibiting measurement-based handover. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing a signal characteristic of a macro cell to the signal characteristic of the mobile access point, and   resuming normal handover procedures when the characteristics of the macro cell exceed those of the mobile access point by a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         6 . A method, comprising:
 determining that a user equipment is within or near the coverage area of a mobile access point; and   informing the user equipment that the mobile access point is an access point with mobile characteristics.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the informing the user equipment comprises sending a system information block, or by other signaling, to the user equipment, wherein the system information block or other signaling comprises an indicator that the mobile access point has mobile characteristics. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 informing the user equipment regarding a size of a window for a signal characteristic for which the user equipment is configured to determine a stable average.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one memory including computer instructions; and   at least one processor,   wherein the at least one memory and computer instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to   determine a stable average of a signal characteristic of a signal from a mobile access point to a user equipment, and   limit handover of the user equipment based on the stable average.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one memory and computer instructions are also configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to generate a window for the signal characteristic based on the stable average, wherein the at least one memory and computer instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to limit handover only when the signal remains within the window. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one memory and computer instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine the stable average by measuring the signal by the user equipment. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one memory and computer instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to limit handover by prohibiting measurement-based handover. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one memory and computer instructions are also configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to
 compare a signal characteristic of a macro cell to the signal characteristic of the mobile access point, and   resume normal handover procedures when the characteristics of the macro cell exceed those of the mobile access point by a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the mobile access point comprises a relay node. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one memory including computer instructions; and   at least one processor,   wherein the at least one memory and computer instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to   determine that a user equipment is within or near the coverage area of a mobile access point, and   inform the user equipment that the mobile access point is an access point with mobile characteristics.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the informing the user equipment comprises sending a system information block, or other signaling, to the user equipment, wherein the system information or other signaling comprises an indicator that the mobile access point has mobile characteristics. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one memory and computer instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to inform the user equipment regarding a size of a window for a signal characteristic for which the user equipment is configured to determine a stable average. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process, the process comprising:
 determining, by a user equipment, a stable average of a signal characteristic of a signal from a mobile access point; and   limiting handover of the user equipment based on the stable average.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , the process further comprising:
 generating a window for the signal characteristic based on the stable average, wherein limiting handover comprises limiting handover only when the signal remains within the window.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the determining comprises measuring the signal by the user equipment. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , the process further comprising:
 comparing a signal characteristic of a macro cell to the signal characteristic of the mobile access point, and   resuming normal handover procedures when the characteristics of the macro cell exceed those of the mobile access point by a predetermined amount.