Umts reselection performance in small cell systems

Abstract

A beacon cell adapted for use in a small cell RAN includes dual identities—a beacon identity and a regular or “live” identity—in which the identities are individually configured to address differing performance requirements in the small cell RAN. The beacon identity in the cell is specially configured to meet the performance requirements for mobile user equipment (UE) to be able to quickly and easily move from a macrocell base station in a mobile operator's network to the small cell RAN using a process called “reselection.” The live identity is configured to meet all requirements for service to be provided to the UE within the small cell RAN. Once captured by the beacon identity of the beacon cell, the UE can then immediately reselect to the live identity of the cell which operates in a conventional manner.

1 . A method for configuring a small cell in a small cell radio access network (RAN), the method comprising the steps of:
 configuring a first identity in the small cell for accommodating conventional user equipment (UE) behavior, the conventional UE behavior including reselection in to the small cell network from a cell on another RAN, the other RAN not being managed by the small cell RAN;   configuring a second identity in the small cell for providing a RAN service, the RAN service facilitating service to the UE within the small cell RAN; and   optimally re-associating the UE between the first and second identities of the small cell.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in which the RAN service is implemented using reselection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which the RAN service is implemented using handover. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  in which the first identity is a beacon identity and including a further step of dynamically managing a power level of the beacon identity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  in which the dynamic management is implemented, at least in part, via a coupling to a control system or sub-system, the control system or sub-system being incorporated into small cell or being external to the small cell. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  in which the first identity is a beacon identity and the second identity is a live identity and including a further step of operating the beacon identity and live identity to have substantially similar power levels. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  including a further step of broadcasting a magic PSC in a small cell's neighbor list in SIB11 (System Information Block 11) with a relatively large hysteresis.