Mobile communications network, communications device, infrastructure equipment and methods
Methods are provided for communicating in a mobile network, the mobile network comprising a plurality of infrastructure equipment, each providing wireless connectivity within at least one cell, and a device configured to communicate wirelessly with at least a first of the infrastructure equipment in control of a first cell. In some embodiments, the method comprises determining, at the device, whether a second cell under control of a second of the infrastructure equipment is connected to a first core network operating in accordance with a first protocol or both of the first core network and a second core network operating in accordance with a second protocol, and transmitting, by the device, an automatic neighbor relation report to the first infrastructure equipment, a report comprising an indication of whether the second cell is connected to the first core network or both of the first core network and the second core network.
1. A method for use in a mobile communications network, the mobile communications network comprising
a plurality of infrastructure equipment each providing wireless connectivity within at least one cell, and
a communications device configured to communicate wirelessly with at least a first of the infrastructure equipment in control of a first cell, wherein the method comprises
determining, at the communications device, whether a second cell under control of a second of the infrastructure equipment is connected to a first core network operating in accordance with a first communications protocol, a second core network operating in accordance with a second communications protocol, or both of the first core network and a second core network, the second cell being a neighbour of the first cell,
transmitting, by the communications device, an automatic neighbour relation report to the first infrastructure equipment, the automatic neighbour relation report comprising an indication of whether the second cell is connected to the first core network, the second core network, or both of the first core network and the second core network,
initiating a handover of the communications device from the first infrastructure equipment to the second infrastructure equipment using an X2 interface between the first infrastructure equipment and the second infrastructure equipment upon determining both of the first cell and the second cell are connected to the same core networks,
initiating a handover of the communications device from the first infrastructure equipment to the second infrastructure equipment using an S1 interface between the first infrastructure equipment and a core network upon determining the first cell and the second cell are connected to different core networks operating in accordance with different communication protocols, and
initiating a handover of the communications device from the first infrastructure equipment to the second infrastructure equipment using an X2 interface between the first infrastructure equipment and the second infrastructure equipment upon determining the first cell and the second cell are connected to different core networks operating, in accordance with the same communications protocol.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises
transmitting, by the first infrastructure equipment, a connection setup request message, to the second infrastructure equipment, the connection setup request message comprising an indication of whether the first cell is connected to the first core network or both of the first core network and the second core network.
3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the method comprises
receiving, at the second infrastructure equipment, the connection setup request message, and
transmitting, by the second infrastructure equipment, based on the connection setup request message, a connection response message comprising an indication of whether the second cell is connected to the first core network or both of the first core network and the second core network.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the method comprises, if both of the first cell and the second cell are connected to the first core network or both of the first core network and the second core network,
forming an interface between the first infrastructure equipment and the second infrastructure equipment.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination is made by the communications device based on a bit broadcasted by the second infrastructure equipment, the bit indicating whether the second cell is connected to the first core network or both of the first core network and the second core network.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the determination is made by the communications device based on non-access stratum system information received from the second infrastructure equipment.
7. A communications device for use in a mobile communications network, the mobile communications network comprising a plurality of infrastructure equipment each providing wireless connectivity within at least one cell, wherein the communications device comprises
transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to the infrastructure equipment,
receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from the infrastructure equipment, and
controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry
to communicate wirelessly with at least a first of the infrastructure equipment in control of a first cell,
to determine whether a second cell under control of a second of the infrastructure equipment is connected to a first core network operating in accordance with a first communications protocol, a second core network operating in accordance with a second communications protocol, or both of the first core network and a second core network, the second cell being a neighbour of the first cell,
to transmit an automatic neighbour relation report to the first infrastructure equipment, the automatic neighbour relation report comprising an indication of whether the second cell is connected to the first core network, the second core network, or both of the first core network and the second core network,
to initiate a handover of the communications device from the first infrastructure equipment to the second infrastructure equipment using an X2 interface between the first infrastructure equipment and the second infrastructure equipment upon determining both of the first cell and the second cell are connected to the same core networks,
to initiate a handover of the communications device from the first infrastructure equipment to the second infrastructure equipment using an S1 interface between the first infrastructure equipment and a core network upon determining the first cell and the second cell are connected to different core networks operating in accordance with different communication protocols, and
to initiate a handover of the communications device from the first infrastructure equipment to the second infrastructure equipment using an X2 interface between the first infrastructure equipment and the second infrastructure equipment upon determining the first cell and the second cell are connected to different core networks operating in accordance with the same communications protocol.
8. An infrastructure equipment for use in a mobile communications network, the mobile communications network comprising one or more other infrastructure equipment, the infrastructure equipment and one or more other infrastructure equipment each providing wireless connectivity within at least one cell, and a communications device configured to communicate Wirelessly with at least the infrastructure equipment, wherein the infrastructure equipment is in control of a first cell and comprises
transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to the communications device and the other infrastructure equipment,
receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from the communications device and the other infrastructure equipment,
controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry
to receive an automatic neighbour relation report from the communications device, the automatic neighbour relation report comprising an indication of whether a second cell under control of one of the other infrastructure equipment is connected to a first core network operating in accordance with a first communications protocol, a second core network operating in accordance with a second communications protocol, or both of the first core network and a second core network, the second cell being a neighbour of the first cell,
to initiate a handover of the communications device to the other infrastructure equipment using an X2 interface with the other infrastructure equipment upon determining both of the first cell and the second cell are connected to the same core networks,
to initiate a handover of the communications device to the other infrastructure equipment using an S1 interface with a core network upon determining the first cell and the second cell are connected to different core networks operating in accordance with different communication protocols, and.
to initiate a handover of the communications device to the other infrastructure equipment using an X2 interface with the other infrastructure equipment upon determining the first cell and the second cell are connected to different core networks operating in accordance with the same communications protocol.
9. An infrastructure equipment for use in a mobile communications network, the mobile communications network comprising one or more other infrastructure equipment, the infrastructure equipment and other infrastructure equipment each providing wireless connectivity within at least one cell, wherein the infrastructure equipment is in control of a first cell and comprises
transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to the other infrastructure equipment,
receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from the other infrastructure equipment,
controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry
to transmit a connection setup request message to one of the other infrastructure equipment in control of a second cell, the connection setup request message comprising an indication of whether the first cell is connected to a first core network operating in accordance with a first communications protocol, a second core network operating in accordance with a second communications protocol, or both of the first core network and a second core network, the second cell being a neighbour of the first cell,
to initiate a handover of a communications device to the other infrastructure equipment using an X2 interface with the other infrastructure equipment upon determining both of the first cell and the second cell are connected to the same core networks,
to initiate a handover of the communications device to the other infrastructure equipment using an S1 interface with a core network upon determining the first cell and the second cell are connected to different core networks operating in accordance with different communication protocols, and
to initiate a handover of the communications device to the other infrastructure equipment using an X2 interface with the other infrastructure equipment upon determining the first cell and the second cell are connected to different core networks operating in accordance with the same communications protocol.