Self-configuration of donor/relay node relationship
The present invention relates to a method for transferring RAN configuration data between radio access nodes. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of, by a mobility management node (MMEA): receiving a first RAN configuration transfer message ( 1 ) issued by a source radio access node (eNBA) operating a source cell (A), comprising a target node identifier (RN-IDB) of a target relay node (RNB) operating a target cell (B) and a target tracking area identifier (TAIB) of the target cell, and whereby the source radio access node requests RAN configuration data from the target relay node; decoding the target node identifier and the target tracking area identifier; and in the event of the target tracking area identifier being managed by the mobility management node and the target node identifier being not associated with any registered radio access node, broadcasting said first RAN configuration transfer message towards a plurality of registered radio access nodes (DeNBC, eNBD) associated with the target tracking area identifier. The present invention also relates to a management mobility node.
1. A method for transferring Radio Access Network (RAN) configuration data between radio access nodes, and comprising, by a mobility management node:
receiving a first RAN configuration transfer message issued by a source radio access node operating a source cell, the first RAN configuration transfer message comprising a target node identifier of a target relay radio access node operating a target cell and a target tracking area identifier of said target cell, and whereby said source radio access node requests RAN configuration data from said target relay radio access node,
decoding said target node identifier and said target tracking area identifier from said first RAN configuration transfer message,
in the event of said target tracking area identifier being managed by said mobility management node and said target node identifier being not associated with a registered radio access node, broadcasting said first RAN configuration transfer message as a further first RAN configuration transfer message towards a plurality of registered radio access nodes associated with said target tracking area identifier, wherein the further first RAN configuration transfer message is configured for requesting from a donor radio access node Self Organizing Network configuration data in a further reply message.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises, receiving from a donor radio access node out of said plurality of registered radio access nodes, and through which operation of said target relay radio access node is proxied a donor node identifier of said donor radio access node as part of a second RAN configuration transfer message, which donor node identifier is used as a target node identifier of a handover message for handing over a User Equipment from said source cell to said target cell,
and wherein said method further comprises, by said mobility management node, forwarding said second RAN configuration transfer message as a further second RAN configuration transfer message towards said source radio access node.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises, receiving from a donor radio access node out of said plurality of registered radio access nodes, and through which operation of said target relay radio access node is proxied a network address of said donor radio access node as part of a second RAN configuration transfer message, which network address is used for further connectivity between said source radio access node and said donor radio access node, and wherein said method further comprises, by said mobility management node, forwarding said second RAN configuration transfer message as a further second RAN configuration transfer message towards said source radio access node.
4. A mobility management node configured to transfer Radio Access Network (RAN) configuration data between radio access nodes, and comprising:
a receiver that receives a first RAN configuration transfer message issued by a source radio access node operating a source cell, the RAN configuration transfer message comprising a target node identifier of a target relay radio access node operating a target cell and a target tracking area identifier of said target cell, and whereby said source radio access node requests RAN configuration data from said target relay radio access node,
a decoder that decodes said target node identifier and said target tracking area identifier from said first RAN configuration transfer message,
a router that, in the event of said target tracking area identifier being managed by said mobility management node and said target node identifier being not associated with any registered radio access node, broadcasts said first RAN configuration transfer message as a further first RAN configuration transfer message towards a plurality of registered radio access nodes associated with said target tracking area identifier, wherein the further first RAN configuration transfer message is configured for requesting from a donor radio access node Self Organizing Network configuration data in a further reply message.
5. The mobility management node according to claim 4 , wherein said receiver further receives a second RAN configuration transfer message comprising a donor node identifier of a donor radio access node out of said plurality of registered radio access nodes, and through which operation of said target relay radio access node is proxied, which donor node identifier being used as target node identifier of a handover message for handing over a User Equipment from said source cell to said target cell,
and wherein said router further forwards said second RAN configuration transfer message as a further second RAN configuration transfer message towards said source radio access node.
6. The mobility management node according to claim 4 , wherein said receiver further receives a second RAN configuration transfer message comprising a network address of a donor radio access node out of said plurality of registered radio access nodes, and through which operation of said target relay radio access node is proxied, which network address being used for further connectivity between said source radio access node and said donor radio access node,
and wherein said router further forwards said second RAN configuration transfer message as a further second RAN configuration transfer message towards said source radio access node.