Establishing and Maintenance of a Neighbour Relationship Between Access Nodes in a Wireless Communications Network

Abstract

A method of establishing a relationship between access nodes in a wireless communications network is provided. An access node is registered with the network. Information about each access node registered with the network is then stored at a control node. A list is then compiled at the control node, which includes each access node registered with the network and the list indicates which access node is a neighbour of another access node. This neighbour list is sent from the control node to each access node in the network. When an access node detects other access nodes, this is reported to the control node, which updates the neighbour list to the access nodes.

1 . A method of establishing a relationship between access nodes in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 registering an access node with the network;   storing at a control node   information about each said access node registered with the network;   compiling a list at the control node including each said access node, wherein the list indicates which said access node is a neighbour of another said access node; and   sending the neighbour list from the control node to each said access node in the network.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising detecting at the access node other access nodes in the network. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising reporting information about the access node and the detected other access nodes to the control node. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising receiving at the access node the list from the control node, wherein the list indicates which of the detected other access nodes are neighbouring access nodes to said access node. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising updating the neighbour list to the access nodes. 
     
     
         6 . A method of establishing a relationship between access nodes in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 detecting at an access node other access nodes in the network;   reporting information to a control node about the access node and the detected other access nodes; and   receiving a neighbour list from the control node containing a list of access nodes which are neighbouring access nodes.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the step of receiving further comprises receiving an update of the list of access nodes which are neighbouring access nodes. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising sending a request to a subscriber station accessing the network to perform a measurement to detect an available cell in the network. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising receiving the measurement of the detected available cell from the subscriber station. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the detected available cell is triggered to be reported by the subscriber station to the access node if the measurement includes a cell parameter exceeding a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising comparing access nodes of the detected available cells with the neighbour list received from the control node. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising reporting the detected available cell if it does not have an access node contained in the neighbour list. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising informing the control node that the detected available cell is a new neighbour cell. 
     
     
         14 . A method of establishing a relationship between access nodes in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 receiving a command at a subscriber station to perform a measurement of a cell of the network;   detecting available cells in the network at the subscriber station;   performing said measurement of one of the available cells at the subscriber station; and   reporting said measurement to an access node of the net-work when the measurement is of a cell not contained in a neighbour cell list provided in the access node.   
     
     
         15 . An access node for a wireless communications net-work, the access node comprising:
 a detector configured to detect other access nodes in the network;   a transmitter configured to report information about the access node and the detected other access nodes to a control node controlling the access node; and   a receiver configured to receive a neighbour list from the control node containing a list of access nodes which are neighbouring access nodes.   
     
     
         16 . The access node according to  claim 15 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive an update of the list of access nodes which are neighbouring access nodes. 
     
     
         17 . The access node according to  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to send a request to a subscriber station accessing the network to perform a measurement to detect available cells in the network. 
     
     
         18 . The access node according to  claim 17 , wherein the transmitter is configured to send said request to the subscriber station when a cell parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         19 . The access node according to  claim 17 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the measurement of detected available cells from the subscriber station. 
     
     
         20 . The access node according to  claim 19 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to inform the control node that one of the detected available cells is a new neighbour cell. 
     
     
         21 . The access node according to  claim 19 , further comprising a comparator adapted to compare access nodes of the detected available cells with the neighbour list received from the control node. 
     
     
         22 . The access node according to  claim 19 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to report the detected available cells that do not have access nodes contained in the neighbour list. 
     
     
         23 . A control node for a wireless communications network, the control node comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive information about access nodes registered with the network;   a database configured to store said information about the access nodes;   a processor configured to derive neighbour relationships between the access nodes from said information and to create a neighbour list of the access nodes; and   a transmitter configured to send the neighbour list to the access nodes.   
     
     
         24 . The control node according to  claim 19 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to update the neighbour list to the access nodes. 
     
     
         25 . A subscriber station for accessing a wireless communications network, the subscriber station comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a command to perform a measurement of a cell of the network;   a detector configured to detect available cells;   a measurement apparatus configured to perform said measurement on one of the available cells; and   a transmitter configured to report said measurement to an access node of the network when the measurement is of a cell not contained in a neighbour cell list provided in the access node.   
     
     
         26 . A computer program product adapted to run on a processor in a control node of a wireless communications network, wherein the computer program product is adapted to control the control node to perform the steps of:
 registering an access node with the network;   storing information in the control node about each said access node registered with the network;   compiling a list at the control node including each said access node, wherein the list indicates which said access node is a neighbour of another said access node; and   sending the neighbour list from the control node to each said access node in the network.   
     
     
         27 . A computer program product adapted to run on a processor in an access node of a communications network, wherein the computer program product is configured to control the access node to perform the steps of:
 detecting at the access node other access nodes in the network;   reporting information to a control node about the access node and the detected other access nodes; and   receiving a neighbour list from the control node containing a list of access nodes which are neighbouring access nodes.   
     
     
         28 . A computer program product adapted to run on a processor in a subscriber station, wherein the computer program product is configured to control the subscriber station to perform the steps of:
 receiving a command to perform a measurement of a cell of the network;   
       detecting available cells in the network;
 performing said measurement of one of the available cells; and 
 reporting said measurement to an access node of the network when the measurement is of a cell not contained in a neighbour cell list provided in the access node.