System and method for reduced interruption time in mobile communications

1. A method for a mobile communication device wirelessly connected to a cell operated by a base station to reduce a communication interruption time when the base station stops operation, the method comprising:

measuring a received power of one or more neighboring cells;

transmitting the received power measurements of the one or more neighboring cells to the base station;

receiving, from the base station, an indication of one or more fallback cells, wherein the indication includes a cell identifier for each of the one or more fallback cells;

receiving, from the base station while the base station is operating on a backup power source and subsequent to the receiving of the indication of the one or more fallback cells, a radio network temporary identity (RNTI) value on a downlink control channel, the RNTI value to inform the mobile communication device that the base station is stopping operation and that the mobile communication device is to switch to a fallback cell of the one or more fallback cells; and

using a cell identifier of a first fallback cell of the one or more fallback cells to establish a wireless connection to the first fallback cell, said using the cell identifier to include sending a connection setup message to the first fallback cell.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of the one or more fallback cells further comprises receiving parameters for the one or more fallback cells from the base station.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising selecting the first fallback cell from among the one or more fallback cells.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein selecting the first fallback cell comprises using an application on a smart card to select the first fallback cell based on fallback selection criteria.

5. A home node B (HNB) comprising:

a processor to determine that the HNB is stopping operation due to loss of power; and to switch to a backup power source based on said determining that the HNB is stopping operation due to loss of power;

a radio module to transmit a first message to the mobile communication devices connected to the HNB that they should switch to a fallback cell, since the HNB is stopping operation, wherein the first message includes a radio network temporary identity (RNTI) value; and

a network interface to transmit a second message to the core network to indicate that the HNB is not available.

6. The HNB of claim 5 , wherein the processor is to obtain information on one or more neighboring cells prior to determining that the HNB is stopping operation.

7. The HNB of claim 6 , wherein the processor is to obtain information on one or more neighboring cells by being configured to receive measurements of the signal power of the one or more neighboring cells from the one or more mobile communication devices.

8. The HNB of claim 5 , wherein the processor is to obtain information on one or more neighboring cells by being configured to make measurements of the signal power of the one or more neighboring cells.

9. The HNB of claim 5 , wherein the network interface is to send the information on one or more neighboring cells to the core network.

10. The HNB of claim 9 , wherein the network interface is to receive parameters of one or more fallback cells from the core network.

11. The HNB of claim 10 , wherein the radio module is to send parameters of at least one of the one or more fallback cells to at least one of the mobile communication devices.

12. The HNB of claim 5 , wherein the second message is broadcast to all of the mobile communication devices.

13. The HNB of claim 5 , wherein the radio module is to transmit separate first messages to each of the mobile communication devices connected through the base station.

14. The HNB of claim 5 , wherein the radio module is to transmit parameters for a mobile communication device to establish a wireless connection to the fallback cell.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions, which when executed, cause a mobile communication device to:

measure a received power of one or more neighboring cells;

transmit the received power measurements of the one or more neighboring cells to the base station;

receive, from the base station, an indication of one or more fallback cells, wherein the indication includes a cell identifier for each of the one or more fallback cells;

receive, from the base station while the base station is operating on a backup power source and subsequent to the receiving of the indication of the one or more fallback cells, a radio network temporary identity (RNTI) value on a downlink control channel, the RNTI value to inform the mobile communication device that the base station is stopping operation and that the mobile communication device is to switch to a fallback cell of the one or more fallback cells; and

use a cell identifier of a first fallback cell of the one or more fallback cells to establish a wireless connection to the first fallback cell, said use of the cell identifier to include send a connection setup message to the first fallback cell.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in the mobile communication device:

use an application on a smart card to select the first fallback cell based on fallback selection criteria.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions, which when executed, cause a home node B (HNB) to:

determine that the HNB is stopping operation due to loss of power;

switch to a backup power source based on said determining that the HNB is stopping operation due to loss of power;

transmit a first message to the mobile communication devices connected to the HNB that they should switch to a fallback cell, since the HNB is stopping operation, wherein the first message is to include a radio network temporary identity (RNTI) value; and

transmit a second message to the core network to indicate that the HNB is not available.