Method and system for operating coverage-limited devices

1. A method, comprising:

operating a node in a first mode to support one or more user equipment; and

operating the node in a second mode to support one or more user equipment, wherein the coverage of the second mode is enhanced compared to the coverage of the first mode, the one or more user equipment is controlled to access the node during a specified time, and the node operates in the second mode during the specified time.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising broadcasting information about when the second mode is available.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the specified time corresponds to a low-traffic/quiet time.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the broadcasting information comprises broadcasting the information periodically to inform one or more coverage-limited user equipment that the second mode is available so that the one or more coverage-limited user equipment can access the node.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the one or more coverage-limited user equipment are machine-type communications devices.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the broadcasting information about when the second mode is available comprises broadcasting information through a physical broadcast channel.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein operating the node in the second mode comprises operating the second mode during one or more periods, and a same system configuration is maintained across said one or more periods of operating in the second mode.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein operating the node in the second mode comprises operating the second mode during one or more periods, and a same user configuration is maintained across said one or more periods of operating in the second mode.

9. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the one or more coverage-limited user equipment are programmed to access the node during the second mode.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein operating the node in the second mode comprises enabling coverage extension modes on channels.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to

operate in a first mode to support one or more user equipment; and

operate in a second mode to support one or more user equipment, wherein the coverage of the second mode is enhanced compared to the coverage of the first mode, the one or more user equipment is controlled to access the apparatus during a specified time. and the apparatus operates in the second mode during the specified time.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to broadcast information about when the second mode is available.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the specified time corresponds to a low-traffic/quiet time.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the broadcasting information comprises broadcasting the information periodically to inform one or more coverage-limited user equipment that the second mode is available so that the one or more coverage-limited user equipment can access the apparatus.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the one or more coverage-limited user equipment are machine-type communications devices.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the broadcasting information about when the second mode is available comprises broadcasting information through a physical broadcast channel.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein operating in the second mode comprises operating the second mode during one or more periods, and a same system configuration is maintained across said one or more periods of operating in the second mode.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein operating the node in the second mode comprises operating the second mode during one or more periods, and a same user configuration is maintained across said one or more periods of operating in the second mode.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the one or more coverage-limited user equipment are programmed to access the node during the second mode.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein operating the node in the second mode comprises enabling coverage extension modes on channels.

21. A computer program product, embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product configured to control a processor to perform a process, comprising:

operating a node in a first mode to support one or more user equipment; and

operating the node in a second mode to support one or more user equipment, wherein the coverage of the second mode is enhanced compared to the coverage of the first mode, the one or more user equipment is controlled to access the node during a specified time, and the node operates in the second mode during the specified time.

22. A method, comprising:

accessing, via one or more coverage-limited user equipment, a node, wherein the node is operated in a first mode to support one or more user equipment, the node is operated in a second mode to support one or more user equipment, the coverage of the second mode is enhanced compared to the coverage of the first mode, the one or more coverage-limited user equipment is controlled to access the node during a specified time, the node operates in the second mode during the specified time, and the node is accessed by the one or more coverage-limited user equipment while the node is operated in the second mode.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein accessing the node comprises accessing the node with one or more coverage-limited user equipment that use a streamlined procedure if the one or more coverage-limited user equipment has previously accessed the node.