Setup of base station connection to WLAN
A system is disclosed in which a base station performs an Automatic Neighbour Relation (ANR) operation in relation to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and obtains, from a mobile communication device (UE) or a Mobility Management Entity (MME), the Transport Network layer (TNL) address associated with a WLAN Termination node of the WLAN for establishing a connection between the base station and the WLAN Termination node.
1. A method performed by a base station of a communications network, the method comprising:
establishing an Xw connection with a WLAN Termination, ‘WT’, node of a wireless local area network, ‘WLAN’;
obtaining, from the WT node, in an Xw Setup Response message or a WT Configuration Update message, information indicating at least one neighbouring base station that has a second Xw connection with the WT node; and
considering the at least one neighbouring base station to which the received information relates to be a base station to which the WT node is connected.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising obtaining, from the WT node, at least one of: information identifying the WT node; a list of access points of the WLAN; and an identifier for identifying the WLAN.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the identifier for identifying the WLAN comprises at least one of: a Service Set Identifier, ‘SSID’; a Homogenous Extended Service Set Identifier, ‘HESSID’; and a Basic Service Set Identifier, ‘BSSID’.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising performing a handover procedure based on the obtained information.
5. A method performed by a WLAN Termination, ‘WT’, node of a wireless local area network, ‘WLAN’, the method comprising:
establishing an Xw connection with a base station;
sending, to the base station, in an Xw Setup Response message or a WT Configuration Update message, information indicating at least one neighbouring base station that has a second Xw connection with the WT node;
whereby the base station considers the at least one neighbouring base station to which the information relates to be a base station to which the WT node is connected.
6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising sending, to the base station, at least one of: information identifying the WT node; a list of access points of the WLAN; and an identifier for identifying the WLAN.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the identifier for identifying the WLAN comprises at least one of: a Service Set Identifier, ‘SSID’; a Homogenous Extended Service Set Identifier, ‘HESSID’; and a Basic Service Set Identifier, ‘BSSID’.
8. A base station for a communication network, the base station comprising:
a base station interface configured to establish an Xw connection with a WLAN Termination, ‘WT’, node of a wireless local area network, ‘WLAN’;
a memory having stored therein program instructions; and
a controller configured to execute the program instructions stored in the memory and upon execution of the program instructions obtaining, from the WT node, in an Xw Setup Response message or a WT Configuration Update message, information indicating at least one neighbouring base station that has a second Xw connection with the WT node; and
considering the at least one neighbouring base station to which the received information relates to be a base station to which the WT node is connected.
9. The base station according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to obtain, from the WT node, at least one of: information identifying the WT node, a list of access points of the WLAN; and an identifier for identifying the WLAN.
10. The base station according to claim 9 , wherein the identifier for identifying the WLAN comprises at least one of: a Service Set Identifier, ‘SSID’; a Homogenous Extended Service Set Identifier, ‘HESSID’; and a Basic Service Set Identifier, ‘BSSID’.
11. The base station according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform a handover procedure based on the obtained information.
12. A WLAN Termination, ‘WT’, node of a wireless local area network, ‘WLAN’, the WT node comprising:
a transceiver configured to send, to a base station, in an Xw Setup Response message or a WT Configuration Update message, information indicating at least one neighbouring base station that has a second Xw connection with the WT node;
whereby the base station considers the at least one neighbouring base station to which the information relates to be a base station to which the WT node is connected.